The Pulse on Automation: Tube Talk

ATS Life Science Systems

Tube Talk is a new venture for ATS Life Sciences Systems (LSS). ATS LSS is known for manufacturing assembly automation and innovation, and this series is the next step in connecting with manufacturers of medical devices, specifically medical tube sets. Each episode will introduce you to industry experts with a perspective on the production of a medical consumable, from someone who has witnessed the evolution of manufacturing over 30+ years, to those who are pushing the boundaries of machine capabilities. Tune in for insight, expertise, and ideas for sustainable and safer production. read less

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Episode 4: Overcoming Manufacturing Bottlenecks with ATS Technology with Ken Caflisch

Episode 4: Overcoming Manufacturing Bottlenecks with ATS Technology with Ken Caflisch

Ken Caflisch is a lead machine builder and is imparting his wisdom as an assembly expert to the next generation at ATS in Chicago. Clients have done the math and know how many parts they need off a machine every minute to justify the cost of the machine. Inspired by innovation, indexing, and The Big Bang Theory, Ken and the team work to get more seconds out of a minute and make machines deliver what the customers want.

Episodes

Episode 4: Overcoming Manufacturing Bottlenecks with ATS Technology with Ken Caflisch

Episode 4: Overcoming Manufacturing Bottlenecks with ATS Technology with Ken Caflisch

Ken Caflisch is a lead machine builder and is imparting his wisdom as an assembly expert to the next generation at ATS in Chicago. Clients have done the math and know how many parts they need off a machine every minute to justify the cost of the machine. Inspired by innovation, indexing, and The Big Bang Theory, Ken and the team work to get more seconds out of a minute and make machines deliver what the customers want.

Episode 3: Technology at the Forefront - SuperTrak and Illuminate Explained with Ben Hope, Matt Park, and Mateus Jonas

Episode 3: Technology at the Forefront - SuperTrak and Illuminate Explained with Ben Hope, Matt Park, and Mateus Jonas

Ben Hope, Director, Product Commercialization for SuperTrak CONVEYANCE, Matt Park, Marketing Manager, After Sales & Service, and Mateus de Camargo Jonas, Systems Design Engineer Team Lead, discuss innovation in linear motion technology and the use of manufacturing data to enable high-speed and complex tooling. Tune in to hear how actionable and predictive technology creates value-add in terms of efficiency, sustainability, and ROI.

Episode 7: Customer Spotlight - A Success Story in Tube Set Manufacturing with Paul Nordin

Episode 7: Customer Spotlight - A Success Story in Tube Set Manufacturing with Paul Nordin

Paul Nordin rejoins the podcast. Paul has spent many years in the operation side of the business at ATS Chicago, working in Project Management and now as Director of Applications. Paul shares the challenge a customer presented: They were producing 120 PPM but needed to scale up to 180 without a commensurate increase in cleanroom footprint. Their capital equipment ROI would not pay for two machines. Removing cams and adding new technology solved some problems but introduced others. Find out how tension and an 'infinite' blade helped deliver the solution.

Episode 6: Sustainability and Cost-Savings - Innovations in Tooling with Ken Cooley

Episode 6: Sustainability and Cost-Savings - Innovations in Tooling with Ken Cooley

Ken Cooley arrived at ATS Chicago directly out of college, and in five years has rocketed through the ranks to his current position of Engineering Manager. On his journey he was the mechanical engineering lead on successful projects including expedited equipment to manufacture COVID tests. Today, Ken talks about the way he looks for sustainability and cost saving innovations in tooling, including new ways to create motion, eliminating solvents, and using data to prove long-term efficiency.

Episode 5: The Role of Automation in Tube Set Assembly with Paul Nordin

Episode 5: The Role of Automation in Tube Set Assembly with Paul Nordin

Paul Nordin is the second longest tenured employee at ATS Life Sciences Chicago; he spent many years in the operations side of the business, working from Project Manager up to Director of Project Management. For the last six years he's supported the front end of the business as Director of Applications. In this episode, Paul discusses floor space, operator fatigue, bad parts, reputational risk, and the importance of a good cut.

Episode 2: Breaking Down the Cost vs. Quality Paradigm with Jacob Soltysiak

Episode 2: Breaking Down the Cost vs. Quality Paradigm with Jacob Soltysiak

Jacob Soltysiak is an Applications Engineer at ATS Chicago. Listen as he identifies some of the hidden costs associated with medical tube set manufacturing machinery, and how flexibility in design and accommodating multiple recipes can address these concerns. Jacob also covers variances in incoming material, efficient use of resources, and choosing the right machine for the job.

Episode 1: The Evolution of Tube Set Manufacturing with Howie Speiden

Episode 1: The Evolution of Tube Set Manufacturing with Howie Speiden

Howie Speiden, Senior Applications Engineering Specialist, is the longest-tenured employee at ATS Chicago; they call him The Oracle. Howie has seen stuff, and he has thoughts on critical-to quality-processes. Over 30+ years he's witnessed a lot in the evolution of both automation and medical tube set manufacturing. Listen in as Howie reflects on the changes to cams, linear motion technology, vision inspection systems, and manufacturing intelligence.