Podcasts

Phil Fouche is the owner and president of oilfield equipment supplier Quatro Products dba REXCO in Odessa, Texas. Now 74 years old, he has been a member of NACE International and now the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) since 1991. 

During those years, Fouche has been active on numerous association boards and committees, including a spot on the NACE/AMPP Coating Inspector Program (CIP) Subcommittee for more than a decade. On the business side, Fouche sold heavy-duty coatings until the sale of his paint stores in 2016. 

Today, Fouche holds an AMPP Senior Certified Coatings Inspector credential and continues to travel the world as a CIP Instructor to help educate the next generation of coatings professionals across numerous countries and continents. 

Over his distinguished career as an educator, Fouche has led that mission—often by teaching the first CIP classes—in locations such as Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Dubai, Ecuador, Egypt, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Mexico, the Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Vietnam, and of course, all over the United States. During that time, Fouche advocated for Spanish and Chinese translations of many course materials and played a key role in that transition. 

As part of our “member profile” series, Fouche recently spoke with us regarding his extensive time in the corrosion control and protective coatings industries, along with some highlights and lessons learned from his decades spent as an education instructor.

Tune in! For more information on the program, visit AMPP’s CIP web page.

Jeremy Sukola, water and wastewater market manager at coatings, linings, and fireproofing manufacturer Carboline, joins our podcast to discuss key industry trends, feedback from the marketplace, and much more. 

Discussion topics include lessons learned over Sukola’s distinguished career; education initiatives, technical development, and other resources available from Carboline to address market needs; advice for the next generation of coatings professionals; and how Sukola’s work as a NACE/AMPP education instructor has proven beneficial on many levels.

Source: Carboline, www.carboline.com.

The 2023 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo will be held next March in Denver, Colorado, and the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) is actively gearing up for its annual flagship event for the corrosion control and protective coatings industries.

Greg Muha, director of conferences, exhibits, and sponsorships, tells us about what to expect in Denver and why there will be some noteworthy changes from previous years.

Source: AMPP Annual Conference + Expo, ace.ampp.org.

In a collaborative discussion, Joe Mazzella and Tom Hayden of Engineering Director, Inc. (EDI) join Enbridge’s Keith Parker to discuss the group’s engineered, integrated approach to external corrosion management (IECM).

Topics explored on the IECM-themed podcast include the roles of machine learning, data governance, and the importance of building an observable system. More information on their work is available in August and September 2022 technical articles of Materials Performance (MP) Magazine, and the panelists are delivering a symposium on the topic on March 22, 2023 at the AMPP Annual Conference + Expo in Denver, Colorado, USA.

Sources: Enbridge, www.enbridge.com; EDI, www.engineeringdirector.com.

Traditional high-performance coatings provide a strong cohesive film. But at times, this can unintentionally contribute to the undercutting effects of corrosion, leading to failures that could lead to a full rehabilitation or replacement.

In response, Induron Protective Coatings has developed a unique line of ceramic epoxies that are formulated to provide strong corrosion protection through high film build, low permeability, and self-healing properties. These coatings are used on potable water tanks; water and wastewater treatment plants; power transmission towers; and as a lining for ductile iron sewer pipes.

Davies Hood, president of Induron, joins our Materials Performance (MP) Interview Series to explain more about the company’s technologies and its keys to success.

Source: Induron, www.induron.com.

Roland Anderson, business development director at monitoring solutions company Axess Corrosion, explains how the group’s patented Janus range works to reduce risk.

With integrated alarm systems available to measure process corrosion, erosion, wall thickness, and more, Anderson elaborates on feedback from the field; trends in the marketplace; unique needs for oil and gas clients; and much more.

Source: Axess Corrosion, www.axess-corrosion.com.

Bob Chalker, CEO of the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), discusses his decision to retire in July 2023 and what the path forward looks like for the corrosion and coatings organization. 

Topics include motivations for the decision; the process of naming a replacement; highlights from Chalker’s 13-year tenure at AMPP and NACE International; and the legacy he leaves behind.

Source: AMPP, www.ampp.org.

In our latest member roundtable, longtime member Stephanie Decker discusses recent updates to AMPP’s Coating Inspection Program (CIP) with Alicia Yust, senior manager of learning and development, and Pam Nicoletti, senior director of global operations. For more information, visit AMPP’s Education Resources web page.

Source: AMPP, www.ampp.org.

Ed Kruft, CEO of American Innovations (AI), shares his insight on trends in the compliance solutions market. 

Topics discussed on the podcast include feedback from the field and evolving needs by AI’s customers; advances in remote monitoring technologies for cathodic protection; how private companies and industry associations, like AMPP, can work together to accomplish shared goals; and what the future of the industry may look like, both from technological and regulatory perspectives.

Source: American Innovations, www.aiworldwide.com.

Kim Ray, Director of Pre-Professional and Young Professional Programs at AMPP, explains how the association’s EMERG program aims to bring more people into the materials protection industry.

Topics include the EMERG mission and its available programs and resources; ways in which AMPP members can be of assistance; how EMERG relates to current industry dynamics, such as the projected craftworker shortage; and upcoming events and opportunities.

Source: AMPP, www.ampp.org.

Jim Kunkle, Manager of Engineering Specifications for North America at AkzoNobel’s International Protective Coatings, joins our “member profile” series.

Topics include how the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of our industry; what changes may be temporary, and which appear to be more permanent; key technology trends to watch for over the next decade; and how industry companies and associations like AMPP can work together to meet the various challenges.

For more information, contact: James (Jim) Kunkle, james.kunkle@AkzoNobel.com, YouTube, LinkedIn

In collaboration with industry stakeholders, the external corrosion prevention team at Enbridge is developing a unification of corrosion monitoring and mitigation strategies, with a goal of minimizing and effectively managing external corrosion risks. Known as IECM, more information is available in the April, June, and August print issues of Materials Performance (MP) Magazine.

For a deeper look about what this could mean for the corrosion industry, this panel discussion features Keith Parker, external corrosion specialist at Enbridge; Trey Johnston, principal engineer at Corrpro; and Christophe Baete, manager of corrosion engineering at Elsyca.

Sources: Enbridge, Corrpro, and Elsyca.

U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (CA-3) recently introduced H.R. 8033, the Bridge Corrosion Prevention and Repair Act, to the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation requires corrosion planning and the use of qualified and trained professionals on all bridge construction, repair, and maintenance projects throughout the country.

As part of our exclusive conversation, Garamendi explains the origins of the bill and the motivations for it; what the path forward could look like; and how AMPP members can get involved to help.

For more information and additional resources, visit Congressman Garamendi’s web site at garamendi.house.gov and AMPP’s at www.ampp.org.

Bob Baughman, CEO of HUVRdata, shares how industrial market trends led to the founding of a new company with a purpose-built inspection data management platform. Created in the cloud, the mobile-connected HUVR platform is designed to enable the aggregation, analysis, and automation of visual and quantitative inspection data from any device, sensor, robot, or field technician.

Topics discussed include feedback from the company’s users and partners in the field; inspection tools the system can be integrated with; where it fits within a corrosion management plan; and what the next steps are over the coming months and years.

Source: HUVRdata, www.huvrdata.com. 

Sam Navarro, vice president of business development and marketing at industrial solutions provider IPC Industries (Santa Fe, Texas, USA), joins our “member profile” series. 

Topics include industry trends and feedback; strategies for the future; what associations like AMPP, NACE International, and SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings have meant to Navarro’s career; and how he’s personally working with students in his local community to try and address a growing craftworker shortage in skilled trades.

Source: IPC, www.ipcindustrieslp.com.