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Powering the Process℠ is a podcast for engineers, plant managers, and operations leaders focused on industrial systems, plant optimization, and manufacturing efficiency. Hosted by ProcessBarron experts, each episode delivers practical insights on material handling, air and gas systems, industrial equipment, and reducing downtime.
Jen:
This podcast is brought to you by ProcessBarron, Handle Everything Better.
Welcome to Powering the Process, the podcast focused on the real work behind industrial manufacturing. Each week, I’m your host, Jen Little, and we dive into the systems, equipment, and strategies that keep plants running efficiently. From everyday operational challenges to emerging engineering solutions, we’re here to share practical insights to help keep your process moving.
Let’s get started.
Welcome to Powering the Process, where we explore the innovations that keep America’s industries running. Today’s episode is all about Building America and how ProcessBarron powers critical infrastructure, from pulp and paper to cement, steel, utilities, and waste-to-energy.
These industries form the backbone of our economy and rely on systems that must operate efficiently and reliably. That’s where ProcessBarron comes in, with expertise in air handling, material handling, and environmental solutions, helping reduce downtime and improve performance in some of the toughest industrial environments.
Today’s guest is Tim Iori, President and CEO of ProcessBarron. Tim has been with the company for nearly six years. Thank you for joining us, Tim.
Tim:
Thanks, Jen. I appreciate you having me on.
Jen:
Of course. Let’s start with the big picture. When we talk about Building America, how does ProcessBarron fit into that mission? What does that mean to you in the context of manufacturing?
Tim:
When I think about ProcessBarron, the industries we support are the infrastructure of this country. Cement, steel, utilities, waste-to-energy, pulp and paper, these are the foundations that everything else is built on. By providing equipment and services to these industries, we’re supporting that foundation in a meaningful way.
Jen:
Why do you believe domestic manufacturing is critical to national resilience and economic growth?
Tim:
First and foremost, investing in this country matters. Creating high-tech, high-paying jobs here is important. During COVID, many companies experienced major supply chain disruptions. Add in today’s political and global uncertainty, and those challenges are even more evident.
Being able to rely on American-made products and services gives customers confidence. At ProcessBarron, everything we do, our products and services, is manufactured here in the U.S., and that reliability is a big value to our customers.
Jen:
We’re involved in so many industries, pulp and paper, cement, steel, biomass, utilities, waste-to-energy. With thousands of field service jobs and manufacturing work orders each year, is there one project that stands out to you?
Tim:
One example that comes to mind involves a customer with a fleet of fans where every unit was different. That made spare parts nearly impossible to manage. They asked us how we could help shorten lead times and create a more reliable solution.
We realized a lot of the delay was in engineering and shaft manufacturing, so we completed all engineering upfront and began stocking shafts in our shops. What once took weeks, or even a month, can now be delivered in about half the time. If they experience a catastrophic failure, we can provide a spare fan faster than anyone else. That’s a great example of collaboration, creative problem-solving, and a true win-win for both sides.
Jen:
ProcessBarron can be hard to describe in just a sentence or two. Many competitors do one or two things we do, but no one does everything. Is that our competitive advantage?
Tim:
Absolutely. We use the term turnkey for a reason. Being able to design, manufacture, install, and service equipment gives us a major advantage. Our product breadth, air handling, material handling, air pollution control, steam turbines sets us apart.
When customers face outages, their maintenance and project teams are stretched thin. Having one partner who can handle everything simplifies their lives. Customers have told us that value isn’t going away especially as maintenance teams get smaller and rely more on outside expertise.
Jen:
Looking ahead, what technologies or processes will shape the future of the industries we serve?
Tim:
We’ve made significant investments in our shops, new CNC technology and robotic welding, for example. These improvements increase quality, efficiency, and productivity, which directly benefits our customers.
On the engineering side, we have incredible talent. Watching interns and co-ops grow into full-time engineers—and seeing what they can do with CFD analysis and advanced modeling—is exciting. We’re producing some of the best fan designs we’ve ever had, thanks to both experience and technology.
Jen:
Our internship program has been a huge success, with many students returning full-time after graduation.
Tim:
It really is fun to see. They come in with real-world experience and hit the ground running. That investment pays off for them and for us.
Jen:
What advice would you give young engineers considering ProcessBarron?
Tim:
Hands-on experience is everything. You can’t replicate it in a classroom. Our interns are involved in engineering, shop work, lean initiatives, and field exposure. Whatever your interest, we can help you find a place to grow here.
Jen:
What do you see as the biggest challenges facing American manufacturing?
Tim:
Talent, especially in the trades. Fewer young people are entering welding, machining, and fabrication. We’ve partnered with trade schools, invested in apprenticeships, and expanded training programs to help close that gap. We also focus on providing exciting, long-term career paths with opportunities for advancement.
Jen:
Where do you see the greatest growth opportunities for ProcessBarron in the next 5 to 10 years?
Tim:
Infrastructure isn’t going anywhere, and that’s our core strength. One area seeing explosive growth is data centers. We support the construction materials, utilities, and power infrastructure behind them. We’re also seeing growth in efficiency projects, particularly on the steam turbine side, as customers look to get more out of aging facilities.
Jen:
After more than 45 years, ProcessBarron has grown tremendously through acquisitions, talent, and expanded capabilities. It’s a great story.
Tim:
It really is.
Jen:
Finally, when it comes to culture, what one or two words describe ProcessBarron?
Tim:
Resilient. Across engineering, field services, and manufacturing, our teams adapt, solve problems, and push forward. That resilience, and our focus on partnership, is a real strength and a big reason we deliver better products and service.
Jen:
I couldn’t agree more. Tim, thank you for your leadership and for joining us today.
Tim:
Thank you, Jen.