#industrial-automation
83 episodes · Page 3 of 4
#3107: Precision Engineering Disguised as a Paint Pen
The hidden science of markers that survive jet exhaust, salt fog, and 650°C steel.
#3103: Refillable Markers: Industrial Ink Chemistry & Nib Selection
How Molotow's modular marker system saves thousands on factory floors with lacquer and oil-based inks.
#3080: How Flags Actually Pick Their Blues
Pantone, RAL, and NCS — three systems, three philosophies, and one very blue flag.
#3075: Paint Marker vs Alcohol Marker: Which Lasts Longer?
Paint markers chip. Alcohol markers fade. Which one actually survives longer on your inventory?
#3066: Paint Markers That Actually Stick to Oily Steel
Markal, Dykem, Uni Paint — which survives on oily steel vs wet concrete? The chemistry is completely different.
#3040: How Buffets Actually Stay in Business
Plate sizes, stomach limits, and why the guy eating six plates isn't hurting profits.
#3001: Why Every Flag Is a Rectangle (Except One)
How maritime warfare and mass production made nearly every national flag a rectangle — and why Nepal's stubbornly isn't.
#2976: Industrial Supply vs Hardware Store Secrets
Why industrial suppliers sell better products for less money than hardware stores — and how anyone can shop there.
#2972: How Pallets Make Global Trade Work
The humble pallet is the unsung hero of global trade. Here’s how consolidation works from factory floor to container ship.
#2970: The $300,000 Paint Job: Inside Airliner Coating Science
Why painting a 737 costs more than a house and involves self-healing chemicals, thermal stress math, and 1,100 square meters of precision.
#2966: When Did We Stop Making Our Own Clothes?
Mass-produced clothing is only about 150 years old. Your great-great-grandparents likely wore handmade clothes.
#2953: Marker Ink vs. Synthetic Fabric: The Real Test
Oil-based vs. water-based markers on neoprene and nylon — which ink actually survives rain, flexing, and UV?
#2901: Can Ink Outlast Stone? The 5,000-Year Quest for Permanence
Egyptian lampblack lasts 4,000 years. Iron gall ink eats through paper. Which marking tech actually wins?
#2894: Dishwasher vs Marker: The Chemistry of "Permanent
Why your Sharpie fails in the dishwasher, and what actually works for plastic, fabric, and food safety.
#2887: The Red Dot Design Award: What It Actually Means
What is the Red Dot award on your mouse and vacuum? A 25% win rate, €4,000+ fees, and genuine design expertise.
#2866: What Happens to Jerusalem's Unsorted Trash?
Jerusalem doesn't ask you to sort your trash. The machines do it instead — with hyperspectral cameras and air jets.
#2851: How a Wax Stick Beats Sharpies on Steel
The industrial marking tool that outlasts Sharpies, survives 2000°F, and sticks to oily steel.
#2800: The Two Meanings of Industrial Design
Industrial design is a profession. The "industrial look" is something else entirely. Here's where they split.
#2715: Why Studebaker Owners Are Different
What drives thousands of people to obsess over a car brand that died in 1966? It's more than nostalgia.
#2596: The Hidden World of Industrial Computing
Two parallel tech worlds: industrial systems integrators and IT managed service providers. How they differ, and why one pays $300/hour.
#2399: When Permanent Means Surviving 400°C
Why do industrial markers like the Edding 780 outperform art store Sharpies? It’s all about chemistry, adhesion, and surviving harsh conditions.
#2363: The Chasm Between Breadboard and Pacemaker
How do tiny computers power everything from hobbyist projects to life-saving medical implants? The engineering constraints are worlds apart.
#2295: Why Taiwan's Automation Strategy Leaves the West Behind
Asus has achieved 85% automation in motherboard production—how did they outpace Western competitors?
#2105: The Hidden 2006 Inflection Point of ERP
Before cloud and AI, ERPs were the unglamorous engines running global business. Here's how they worked in 2006.