ASME TechCast

Do you ever think much about paint and coatings? Or the fact that pretty much everything in the built environment has some sort of protection on it? Paint and coatings are a $200 billion global industry, according to the American Coatings Association. Engineers are constantly developing new and innovative protections to ensure structures can withstand the elements and even improve a building’s energy savings or carbon footprint. Paul Lavallee joins ASME TechCast to share some insights into the coatings industry. Lavallee is global market manager of Kynar Coatings at Arkema, where he has spent 27 years in a variety of engineering, manufacturing, research, supply chain, and business roles. He holds a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Business Administration Executive Certificate from University of Notre Dame.

If you see a concrete structure of any kind, be it a building, road, or maybe piece of art, in all likelihood it’s supported by rebar. While there are a few varieties of steel rebar, from the standard steel to epoxy coated, they all suffer from corrosion issues. Two doctoral graduates from MIT launched a startup called Allium Engineering a few years ago that’s taking aim at that issue by manufacturing steel that's able to resist corrosion through an innovative stainless steel cladding process. The company says this technology can more than triple the lifetime of key infrastructure such as bridges, which would allow for significant cuts to steel and concrete production, two of the largest carbon dioxide emitting industries. To share more about Allium, how the company got started and the technology behind it, Allium’s co-founder and CTO Sam McAlpine stopped by for a chat with ASME TechCast.

Multiple setbacks haven’t stopped engineering student Michelle Delk from embracing opportunity and pursuing a graduate degree.

When it comes to engineering and design, no matter the end goal, be it a device or structure or sweeping plan of action, the idea that engineering is done for the betterment of humanity is a constant, whether it can be tangibly quantified or not. As Sita Syal and Julia Kramer, assistant professors in mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan, recently wrote in their study, “Design and Justice: A Scoping Review in Engineering Design,” there is “a growing priority in the engineering design research community to incorporate justice into design and to do so meaningfully and intentionally.” This paper was recently published in ASME's Journal of Mechanical Design. Both professors joined ASME TechCast to some insights into the interconnections between engineering and social justice, some of the lingering issues, and their hopes for the discourse moving forward.

What do rockets, robots, and a looming recession have in common? They're all part of the August issue of Mechanical Engineering magazine, and our top picks for today’s podcast. Reusable Rockets Don’t Just Fly, They Sweat by Nicole Imeson looks at a surprising new idea for spacecraft design. Robots as Materials? by Nancy Kristof showcases research where biology and robotics meet in unexpected ways. And Bracing for Uncertainty by Kayt Sukel asks what economic turbulence could mean for engineers and their careers.

Mike Zimmerman, CEO and founder of Z-Polymers developed a material that allows for the printing of commercial grade materials on consumer-level 3Dprinters.

In this special episode, Jeffrey Winters, editor in chief of Mechanical Engineering, looks back at some of his favorite articles from his 23 years at the magazine, and some of the writers who made them possible.

A new device is bringing together the two somewhat disparate worlds of engineering and ballet. When most folks think of ballet, often the first thing that comes to mind are pointe shoes, which help make dancing on your toes possible. Traditional pointe shoes are still made with paste, fabric and cardboard, although some makers now use synthetic materials. But when it comes to learning how to dance in these shoes, in addition to proper form and technique, alignment is everything. A team of students at Johns Hopkins University’s Whiting School of Engineering has developed a solution called PointeSense, which is a smart toe pad and ankle band designed to help prevent injuries by ensuring that dancers are achieving that elusive perfect alignment. Christine Fernandez, a biomedical engineering major, and Kaitlyn Kumar, a master’s student in robotics, are both ballet dancers and co-inventors on PointeSense. They join ASME TechCast to share some insights into how they developed the device, what makes it work, and what lies ahead.

In this final episode of our four-part series with SCHOTT, we explore the lesser-known capabilities of glass materials and why they deserve a closer look from engineers. Tina Gallo and Zach Wimmer return to share how SCHOTT collaborates with engineers across industries, guiding material selection and innovation at every stage. Learn more at schott.com.

In this episode, we speak with Zach Wimmer, Director of Applications Engineering at SCHOTT, about a specialty glass-ceramic engineered to withstand continuous use at up to 1100°F and thermal shocks from temperatures as high as 1700°F. Listen in on how NEXTREMA® is helping engineers solve tough challenges in high-heat environments. This episode is part three of a four-part series. To learn more about how SCHOTT’s specialty glass solutions can support your next breakthrough, visit schott.com.

Aaron Wemhoff, professor of mechanical engineering at Villanova University, examines waste heat generated by data centers and posits that the situation is as much an opportunity as a challenge.

Tina Gallo of SCHOTT joins us in this episode to discuss the remarkable versatility of borosilicate glass. From its pharmaceutical origins to its role in fusion reactors, space telescopes, and microelectronics, learn how Borofloat® is helping engineers meet the demands of today’s most advanced technologies. This episode is part two of a four-part series. To learn more about how SCHOTT’s specialty glass solutions can support your next breakthrough, visit schott.com⁠.

Brown University doctoral student in fluid and thermal sciences, Eva Erickson, brought her engineering mindset to Survivor Season 48. As the show’s first openly autistic contestant, she went the distance—making it to the finale and finishing second overall. Erickson is one of 25 engineers selected for ASME's 2025 Watch List. Full list to be published in the June issue of Mechanical Engineering magazine. In this episode, she shares insights on her engineering research, her autism advocacy, and the surprising inspiration behind her decision to join Survivor. The episode was recorded shortly after the airing of S48 E05.

The editors of Mechanical Engineering magazine and ASME.org return with their picks of the most interesting stories they've come across over the past couple months. Join Louise Poirier, Cathy Cecere, Sarah Alburakeh, and Jeffrey Winters as they talk about: SKETCHPAD VERSUS TABLETPatriots Pick Mechanical Engineer in the 2025 NFL DraftLEVELING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG WOMEN ELECTRIC GEOGRAPHY The Brakes That Got America Moving and more.

Although AI and robotics are distinctly different fields, together, the two are unlocking incredible new possibilities. One company that’s making waves in this area is Milpitas, California-based RoboForce, an AI robotics startup that has developed an advanced “Robo-Labor” system. The company's robots are capable of 1mm precision in fine motor movements and manipulations. When combined with its internally designed and developed AI expert model, a fleet of these machines are able to install and secure solar modules for large-scale commercial and utility-scale projects. RoboForce will be launching pilot projects throughout 2025, with plans for a commercial launch at the end of this year. The company's founder and CEO Leo Ma is a 15-year veteran in the AI robotics space. He joins ASME TechCast to share insights into his journey, the robotic solutions at RoboForce, and what lies ahead.

Being both an elite athlete and studying mechanical engineering at a top school is not easy, yet with a strong work ethics and perseverance Ella Escobar pursues both her passions.

What’s the hype around Czinger hypercars? Besides holding records as some of the fastest street legal cars on the planet, the California-based brand is out to pioneer a new era in the automotive space by fundamentally changing the way performance cars are designed and manufactured. Chief Engineer Ewan Baldry shares what it’s like behind the scenes of engineering hypercars with Czinger’s additive manufacturing technology.

In this episode of ASME TechCast, we chat with SCHOTT’s Tina Gallo and Zach Wimmer about how specialty glass is pushing the limits of what’s possible in engineering. From its 19th-century roots with Otto Schott to today’s high-performance tech, they break down what makes this material so unique—and why it’s shaping the future of innovation. This episode is part one of a four-part series. Visit schott.com to learn more about leveraging SCHOTT’s expertise to elevate your projects.

Mechanical engineers are in high demand and Addison Group’s Jim Gerlock examines what recent graduates and seasoned MEs need when it comes to skills and training in the current and future job market.

A new governing trifecta has swept into Washington and has set out to bring immediate changes to the way the Federal government does business. What does that mean for engineers in industry and research? Paul Fakes, director of ASME’s Government Relations education and outreach programs, explains what policy changes engineers should keep an eye out for in 2025.