The Fabricator Podcast Fabricators and Manufacturers Association

In this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, Caleb Chamberlain, co-founder and CEO of OSH Cut, discusses his company’s unique approach to sheet metal fabricating.


Chamberlain explains how OSH Cut offers an online platform that allows customers to upload their designs and receive instant quotes for laser cutting and bending services. He also describes how they have developed their own software to automate the quoting and production processes, as well as their efforts to expand their capabilities to include other services such as welding.


Chamberlain also discusses their use of digital advertising and their focus on customer satisfaction and continuous improvement. He emphasizes OSH Cut’s aim to streamline the metal fabricating process and provide a more efficient and user-friendly experience for their customers.


Chamberlain also addresses the issue of the wage gap in the industry and stresses the importance of paying livable wages to attract and retain skilled workers.


At the top, hosts Dan Davis and Tim Heston talk about the impact OSH Cut's "web shop" business model is making on the metal fabrication sector, especially with its design for manufacturing (DFM) services on top of its automated online ordering and instant quoting systems to support its laser cutting and press brake capabilities.


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In this podcast episode, Brian Steel, CEO of Cadrex Manufacturing, discusses the challenges of acquiring, merging, and integrating multiple metal fabrication businesses under one organization.


He emphasizes the importance of aligning technical expertise, managing capacity, and implementing ERP systems. Steel highlights the need for speed and agility in the industry and the importance of people and culture in the integration process. He also discusses the use of data and automation in improving efficiency and decision-making. Steel sees the acquisition strategy as a way to build trusted partnerships with innovative companies and rapidly bring their ideas from concept to scale.


Steel believes there is a need for large, fully integrated mechanical solution providers in North America and sees the opportunity for organic growth in the industry as well. He also emphasizes how he’s optimistic about the future of the fabrication industry and sees it as a great time to be in the business.


At the top, the guys talk about Cadrex's impressive and aggressive roll-up strategy, and how's it's impacted The Fabricator's FAB 40 list. There's also a mention of Dig Dug.


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This week on The Fabricator Podcast, Jason Becker, host of the Arc Junkies Podcast and owner of Underground Metal Works, shares his journey into welding and how the trade has opened doors he never would have expected, leading him to become an ironworker, educator, podcaster, and business owner.


Becker talks about how he earned his first welding certificates before he even learned how to drive, and how he carried over that trade when he joined the Marine Corps. After leaving the military, he worked as a structural steel ironworker before transitioning into teaching welding at Florida colleges and working for weld.com.


Becker talks about how those opportunities eventually led him to taking over the Arc Junkies Podcast, buying Underground Metal Works, and partnering with American Welding Society (AWS). He discusses the challenges and rewards of teaching welding, the importance of hands-on instruction, and the diverse career opportunities available in the welding industry. He also shares his passion for the podcasting and the opportunity it provides to learn from and connect with experts across the metal fabrication and welding industry.


At the top, a conversation about Becker working on various Florida theme parks lead to a discussion about how Austin Hargett of weld.com took to TikTok to rate welds at a Six Flags.


This episode was recorded on location at the 2024 FMA Annual Meeting in Clearwater, Fla.


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Omar Nashashibi, co-founder of The Franklin Partnership and a lobbyist representing manufacturing trade associations, joins The Fabricator Podcast to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing sheet metal fabricators and other manufacturers in the current political climate.


He emphasizes the importance of workforce development, stable tax policies, and understanding government regulations. Nashashibi also discusses the impact of tariffs, the need for education and advocacy on behalf of manufacturers, and the role of government incentives in promoting profitability and viability. He encourages manufacturers to stay informed, work with trade associations, and take advantage of available resources and opportunities.


At the top, the guys call-back a reference Omar made to the movie "Tommy Boy" and how it depicts sheet metal stamping at Callahan Auto. It led to a conversation about other movies set in manufacturing and fabricating facilities, like "Mr. Mom" with Michael Keaton, "Nobody" with Bob Odenkirk, and "Fatman" with Mel Gibson.


This episode was recorded on location at the 2024 FMA Annual Meeting in Clearwater, Fla.


Email us at podcast@fmamfg.org with any comments, questions, or suggestions. Learn more about podcast sponsorship opportunities.

After Ludlow Manufacturing Inc. (LMI) received The Fabricator's 2024 Industry Award, Todd Ludlow, founder and president of the Waukegan, Ill.-based metal fabrication business, joined us on the podcast to expound on it all.


Ludlow discusses his journey of starting and growing his own fabrication business. He reflects on his early days as a machine operator and how transitioning into sales sales role helped him learn the industry. He emphasizes three important points that helped transform his business to the success it is today:



The importance of having a strong company culture
Giving up power to those better suited to serve the business
An all-in approach on establishing a safe shop floor


Ludlow also discusses the impact of automation on his operations, including the use of robotic welding and parts sorting. He shares his optimism for the future and his plans for further growth, including expanding into tube laser cutting and investing in more robotic welding. He also mentions the involvement of his family in the business and the challenges and rewards that come with it.


At the top, the guys chat about a California-based welder/fabricator named Shaun Graham who was inspired enough by a previous episode to create an awesome sculpture of Garbage Pail Kids character Adam Bomb. Not to mention, he also fabricated a Michael Myers mask out of metal.


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In this episode, Michael Bennett, a welder and metal artist based in Wadsworth, Ill., joins The Fabricator Podcast to discuss how an unfortunate car accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down reignited his passion for working with metal, particularly scrap metal.


Michael talks about how attending mechanic school helped instill a mindset of continuous learning and adapting to new technologies, which he says inspired him to relearn how use his tools after he lost strength in his preferred left hand. It also gave him the skills to build robots to help assist him around his farm.


He also goes into detail about his love of creating metal sculptures from recycled materials and how it led him creating Michael Bennett Designs and participating in an annual event in Lansing, Mich., called ScrapFest.


At the top, a mention of a now-banned plastic toy welder that Michael said he played with as a child, sparked a conversation about other banned toys made out of metal, like sharp-tipped lawn darts and a belt buckle revolver.


Email us at podcast@fmamfg.org with any comments, questions, or suggestions. Learn more about podcast sponsorship opportunities.