Additive Manufacturing & the Future of Engineering with AmPd's Timothy Neal
Timothy Neal, CEO of AmPd Labs, joins the pod to talk about the future of manufacturing and the industry side of 3D printing. Standing for “additive manufacturing product design,” AmPd Labs is a Houston-based additive manufacturing startup with capabilities that span the entire product lifecycle, from design to production. As the first CEO of AmPd, Tim talks with Chris about his “make it or break it” questions for joining the company, additive manufacturing’s potential to smash supply chain issues, and the future of industry and entrepreneurship in major hub cities like Houston.
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Produced by Speakerbox Media. Visit softeq.com/forging-the-future-podcast for more episodes, detailed show notes, and access to additional resources.
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Key Insights & Timestamps:
- [00:00]: Podcast begins
- [01:32]: Additive manufacturing/3D printing vs traditional manufacturing
- [04:47]: Time, cost & quality differentials for additive manufacturing
- [10:52]: The future of 3D printing at home & in the industrial supply chain
- [17:55]: Cradle to grave manufacturing processes at AmPd Labs
- [20:59]: Raising $100 million in 5 rounds as the founder of GoExpedi
- [25:18]: New age of entrepreneurship in Houston & large scale manufacturing worldwide
Guest Spotlight:
Timothy Neal, CEO of AmPd Labs
Two-time founder Timothy Neal has always had the entrepreneurial mindset for as long as he remembers. Tracing his roots back to being a young professional working overseas in China, Tim recalls noticing opportunities in the oil and gas industry that others weren’t willing to explore and feeling inspired to take the red pill as an entrepreneur in the US. After two successful entrepreneurship ventures (GoExpedi and Rockhopper Industrial) in Houston, Tim took over his current role as the first CEO of AmPd Labs, LLC (Additive Manufacturing Product Design).
Key Takeaways:
- While traditional manufacturing subtracts components and layers of steel, additive manufacturing starts with a blank canvas that builds layer by layer. Additive manufacturing, also known to the general public as 3D printing, starts with a powder and ends with a finished product, and that powder can often be recaptured and recycled, reducing wasted materials.
- Although many outside the industry see additive manufacturing as a hobbyist market, Tim explains that this technology could be the future solution to today’s biggest problems, including supply chain inconsistencies and obsolescence of parts. Use cases where this technology especially thrives for AmPd customers have been complex geometries and products with a lot of assembly requirements.
- With 2 successful entrepreneurial ventures under his belt, Tim is focusing his attention not only on the future of AmPd Labs, but also on mentoring up-and-coming founders and aspiring entrepreneurs in the Houston area. When Tim was first starting out as a founder of GoExpedi, he had very little resources to tap into to build his network. Now, with so many opportunities available within the community, Tim is excited to be a part of the Houston ecosystem.
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