Shows
The Shapemakers by The Aluminum Extruders CouncilInvesting in the Future: How the AEC is Tackling Workforce Development with Apprenticeship Programs Episode Summary: In this episode of SHAPEMAKERS, host Bennett McEvoy, President of Western Extrusions and AEC Board Member, is joined by Duncan Crowdis, former CEO of Bonnell Aluminum and AEC Workforce Development lead. Together, they shine a light on the aluminum extrusion industry's growing need for skilled talent—and what the Council is doing about it. With over 175 extrusion plants operating across 37 states, the industry supports more than 40,000 U.S. jobs. But as experienced workers retire and demand for aluminum products rises, attracting and training the next generation of skilled professionals has become mission-critical. Ben...
2025-06-1011 min
The Shapemakers by The Aluminum Extruders CouncilAluminum Extrusion Design Competition Winner Drew KlopfensteinAluminum Extrusion Design Competition Winner Drew Klopfenstein First-place winner in the 2023 Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition, Drew Klopfenstein from Purdue University, with AEC members Duncan Crowdis, Alexandria Industries, and Craig Werner, Werner Extrusion Solutions talk about Drew's award-winning design. Duncan and Craig get into the details about the Design Competition and what the judges are looking for when evaluating the entries. They discuss Drew's design of a modular aluminum extruded traffic light and his learning curve about the aluminum extrusion design process, his tips to other students on participating in the competition, including getting feedback from fellow design...
2023-08-3034 min
The Shapemakers by The Aluminum Extruders CouncilQualities Today's Students Want in a Future CareerThe competition for today's talent has never been more fierce. Young talent graduating and searching for a career are faced with a variety of options and most manufacturing companies are struggling to find ways to attract this needed talent to help them run and grow their business. The aluminum extrusion industry is no exception. Duncan Crowdis, leader of AEC's Academic Engagement and New Talent Development Team and Shane Tredup of Custom Aluminum Products interview Savanah Kinney, a graduating engineering student with Illinois State University, to explore those seemingly elusive characteristics, both in the type of industry and the type...
2022-05-2545 min
The Shapemakers by The Aluminum Extruders Council2022 Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition Helps Schools and StudentsDuncan Crowdis and Craig Werner provide an overview of the Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition, the benefits for students and instructors and they talk with a student, Andrew Schoenjahn, from Grand Valley State University in Michigan, and leader of the GVSU Design Club. Andrew shares his thoughts on how the Design Competition will help his fellow Design Club members in their future careers and how AEC's resources have already given them a better understand of aluminum extrusions.
2022-03-2441 min
The Shapemakers by The Aluminum Extruders CouncilThe Wonders of Aluminum Extrusions – The Manufacturing ProcessThe second podcast in this series is once again a discussion between long time industry players, Craig Werner of Werner Extrusion Solutions and Duncan Crowdis of Alexandria Industries, as they explore and describe the process that creates an aluminum extrusion by following the metal from a raw material to a finished aluminum extruded product.
2021-08-2322 min
The Shapemakers by The Aluminum Extruders CouncilThe Wonders of Aluminum Extrusions –the Material and ProductsThe first podcast in this series is a discussion between long time industry players Craig Werner of Werner Extrusion Solutions and Duncan Crowdis of Alexandria Industries. Hear about the benefits of using aluminum as a material in product design and the versatility and benefits of using aluminum extrusions as a solution to product design challenges.
2021-08-0226 min
The Shapemakers by The Aluminum Extruders CouncilDeveloping Talent in the Aluminum Extrusion IndustryMany aluminum extruders (as well as manufacturers in general) are challenged to hire talent with the critical skills needed in today's manufacturing environment to operate and maintain equipment that is becoming increasingly higher tech. Duncan Crowdis, AEC Academic Engagement Leader, Chuck Stout of Pennex Aluminum, and Jessica Borza of the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition discuss the collaborative efforts between regional manufacturers in eastern Ohio and a local technical college to develop, implement and manage a balanced training program—in this case focused on robotics. Learn why this initiative was so important, how they got started, how the training program wor...
2021-04-2837 min
The Shapemakers by The Aluminum Extruders CouncilCareer Opportunities in the Aluminum Extrusion Industry: Engaging Middle and High Schools StudentsStudies have shown that students and parents start to make curriculum choices that will guide potential career paths as early as middle school. This podcast focuses on the hands-on, interactive work that is being done by a company in the Richmond, Virginia area to engage and start to educate middle and high school students, their parents and school guidance counsellors on the attractive career opportunities within today's aluminum extrusion manufacturing industry. Duncan Crowdis, Director with Alexandria Industries discusses this topic with Congetta Kelly, Vice President Career Development with Service Center Metals in Virginia.
2021-03-0922 min
The Shapemakers by The Aluminum Extruders CouncilAluminum Extrusion Design Competition: How Students & Instructors Can BenefitThe AEC Student Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition is a yearly scholarship opportunity for university, technical college and high school students. It provides an opportunity for students to earn money for school while also learning about a manufacturing process that is universal yet widely under-represented in school curriculum. Duncan Crowdis, AEC's Academic Engagement Team Chair, interviews competition judges Craig Werner of Werner Extrusion Solutions and Todd Boyer of Mid-States Aluminum to discuss how the competition can be used as a teaching tool by instructors, the qualities of a good competition entry, and what resources are available from AEC to assist...
2021-01-2836 min
The Shapemakers by The Aluminum Extruders CouncilCareer Opportunities in the Aluminum Extrusion IndustryAs students and parents look at choices for desirable career paths, this podcast focuses on the changes in the work environment and attractive career opportunities within today's aluminum extrusion manufacturing industry. This includes broad opportunities that come from the adoption of advanced technologies, a variety of educational qualification levels required for different positions within the manufacturing business, excellent earning potential at various skill levels, available training and development support and upward mobility within these type of operations. Duncan Crowdis, President-retired of Bonnell Aluminum discusses this topic with Chuck Stout, President of Pennex Aluminum and Jessica Borza, Executive Director of...
2021-01-2035 min