2025 marked the launch of The Downtime, WTWH Media’s weekly manufacturing podcast, co-hosted by Sarah Wynn, senior editor for Packaging OEM, and Sheri Kasprzak, executive editor for Plant Engineering, Control Engineering, and Consulting-Specifying Engineer.
During its first year, the show produced 34 weekly episodes, highlighting the technologies and innovations driving the future of manufacturing and packaging while spotlighting the individuals who bring them to life.
These top episodes are among the most viewed on Packaging OEM’s website, showing the latest in packaging machinery, robotics, industrial automation, packaging formats, workforce development, and more. Each episode is available on YouTube, SoundCloud, and Spotify.
1. How Nord Drivesystems improves packaging line automation
Packaging OEM’s most viewed episode of The Downtime featured Mark Arisman, manager of business development for control products at Nord Drivesystems. He spoke with the co-hosts about modular inverter and drive technologies that simplify packaging line automation and support efficiency gains for OEMs.
The conversation covered panel-mounted and decentralized variable frequency drives (VFDs), Nord’s U.S.-based application support, and NordCon software, which provides quick access to drive parameter management, programming, and diagnostics.
“Our products are flexible. They are modular, and in conversation with customers, we can put together a nice, configurable, customized solution that meets the application requirement,” said Arisman.
2. Fanuc’s robotic solutions for warehousing and material handling automation
Stacey Harimoto, senior engineer at Fanuc America, discussed artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tote consolidation systems for warehousing and material handling automation with Wynn and Kasprzak. The discussion covered 2D and 3D vision, and the integration of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology into simulation-driven robotic cell design, aimed at improving efficiency, throughput, and worker safety.
Harimoto also shared her journey to becoming an engineer, from the FIRST LEGO League and high school robotic competitions to cold-calling Fanuc for an internship opportunity.
“I had this one moment: I am a female in engineering, and I can do this. I can prove myself,” she said, reflecting on her high school experience.
3. JLS Automation introduces Peregrine robotic cartoner
Gary Pickett, senior director of secondary packaging at JLS Automation, covered the Peregrine robotic cartoning system with Wynn. The fully automated machine, which debuted this fall at IBIE and Pack Expo Las Vegas, forms, loads, and closes cartons for bakery and frozen food items. It integrates with upstream equipment such as flow-wrappers, thermoformers, and vertical form-fill-seal machines.
“It’s a bit of a unique solution,” said Pickett. “We incorporate JLS TRAK to precisely manage the carton throughout the process, and we incorporate what we call perpendicular flow of carton feeding. This gives us best-in-class accessibility for changeover machine operation.”
Equipped with vision-guided robotics, the system places products into top-load cartons within a compact footprint. “In some instances, it’s the only solution that fits in and up to 50% smaller than our competitors,” Pickett added.
4. Schneider Electric on open, software-defined automation for packaging
Recorded at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Wynn spoke with Ali Haj Fraj, senior vice president, digital factory, and Richella Odebrecht, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for industrial automation at Schneider Electric.
Haj Fraj highlighted the EcoStruxure Automation Expert platform, which enables open, software-defined automation to reduce downtime, simplify maintenance, and integrate third-party systems on packaging lines, including robotics, vision, and motion technologies.
“With Automation Expert, Schneider Electric has launched the world’s first open, software-defined automation,” he said. “We think that this is a huge revolution in the market, bringing a lot of big values for our customers: hardware agnosticity, distributed intelligence, application-centricity, and digital continuity.”
Odebrecht explained that the platform acts like a translator, connecting multiple systems and making life easier for operators. “We’re heading towards orbit and looking forward to multiple landings together with our customers and partners,” she said.
5. How Neugart gearboxes support packaging machinery
Neugart’s Luke Rein, sales manager, and Joey Suprick, mechanical engineer, shared insights with Wynn about the company’s gearboxes for packaging applications. They highlighted the NDF inline series for Delta robot pick-and-place tasks, options for food-grade applications, and customization needs for OEMs.
The trio also walked through a real-world solution where Neugart developed a custom keyed input coupling to prevent motor shaft slippage, reducing registration loss, product jamming, and machine crashes on a packaging line.
“This tailored approach not only solved the OEM’s immediate problem, but it also enhanced the long-term reliability and performance of their packaging line,” said Rein.
6. Getting flexible with packaging and workforce development
Episode nine of The Downtime highlights flexible packaging innovations, including materials, barrier properties, sustainability, and consumer convenience features.
The co-hosts also conversed with four recent high school graduates who were hired by Hoosier Feeder full-time, emphasizing the value of trade school and workforce development.
Kasprzak also interviewed Steve Musick, smart manufacturing engineer at Purdue Polytechnic’s Smart Learning Factory, about the institute’s new automated warehouse created with Element Logic.
7. Women in the Trades Day, National Safety Month
This special Women in the Trades Day episode of The Downtime features co-hosts Wynn and Kasprzak connected with four women in manufacturing and engineering:
· Hoosier Feeder’s Ashley Davis
· Morrison Container Handling Solutions’ Mia Stevens
· Reliance Worldwide Corporation’s Amber Fritz
· Arup’s Sushmitha (Sushi) Sudhir
The panel shares advice for women considering careers in the trades. “If you have a valid idea to bring to the table, don’t hold back. Don’t be shy,” Sudhir said. “Don’t be afraid to be the loudest voice in the room.”
The episode also highlights National Safety Month, including workforce horror stories from Reddit.
8. Digital transformation in manufacturing, AI for visual inspection
Deb Anderson, chief information officer at Webster Industries, discussed the company’s digital transformation with the co-hosts. Anderson described how the Ohio-based company, which specializes in engineered conveying and processing equipment, moved from an on-premises ERP system to cloud-based software with Epicor.
“Moving to the cloud when you’re on premises can be a little bit frightening,” said Anderson. “But I would highly recommend making that change, because it has saved us a significant amount of time and money.”
The episode also covered Antares Vision Group’s AI-GO platform, developed with Oròbix, which uses AI for visual inspection to detect defects, reduce false rejects, and improve packaging line efficiency.
9. Garvey debuts aluminum Bi-Flo accumulation table for non-washdown applications
Bill Reese, general manager of accumulation and senior director of engineering at Columbus McKinnon, walked through Garvey’s aluminum Bi-Flo accumulation table with Wynn. The system uses three modular chains driven by a single motor to accumulate, buffer, or feed product, offering energy efficiency and simpler maintenance.
“We teamed with Dorner to develop the aluminum Bi-Flo and touch markets that might be more industrial, where stainless steel isn’t required,” said Reese.
Those markets include consumer goods, machine parts, and nutraceuticals, where the system has already been deployed to buffer pills during labeling changeovers, improving throughput and freeing up labor.
10. Emerson on Floor-to-Cloud packaging technology for OEMs
Jonathan Mitchell, senior applications engineer at Emerson, shared insights with Wynn and Kasprzak about the company’s Floor-to-Cloud approach, which connects packaging line operations from sensors and devices up to cloud-based analytics.
The system helps OEMs, integrators, and plant operators monitor equipment performance, predict maintenance needs, optimize energy efficiency, and make data-driven decisions.
Mitchell also highlighted Emerson’s modular actuator and control systems to help OEMs quickly adapt packaging lines with easy retooling.
“It makes it possible to take an existing system and add or change one of the actuators in a set of actuators to get slightly different motion, so you can adopt a new design without having to scrap everything on your packaging line,” said Mitchell.
Continuing the conversation into 2026
The Downtime returns for season two, premiering January 8, 2026, featuring Wynn’s interview with Christine Bush, director of the robotic center of excellence at Schneider Electric.
The upcoming season will also highlight digital transformation, including discussions regarding Sunrise 2027 – the industry’s date to transition to 2D barcodes at point-of-sale systems, remote management for OEMs, servo drives with new safety functions from Festo, and the latest in packaging machinery.
New episodes will be published every Thursday on Packaging OEM’s website and Plant Engineering’s website.
