AMPP Interview Series

In celebration of Peer Review Week 2023, Drs. Oumaïma Gharbi, with Sorbonne Universite, and Dave Kolman, with Los Alamos National Laboratories, join the CORROSION journal podcast series to discuss the importance of peer review. The episode includes a discussion of what makes for a good review; advice for reviewers; and an outlook on the future of peer review.

Based near St. Louis, Missouri, Eric Nenninger is a founding partner of 62Archer Inspection and Consulting and a member of CoatingsPro Magazine’s 2023 Editorial Advisory Group. In all, Nenninger has served the industrial coatings field for close to 20 years.

Having worked for application companies, paint manufacturers, and inspection firms, Nenninger has a broad knowledge of the industry. He is a NACE Level 3 coating inspector and an AMPP member, and he was chairman of his local NACE International chapter for many years.

As part of this “member profile,” Nenninger shares lessons learned after nearly two decades in the industry. Discussion topics include market trends; ways in which Nenninger’s many certifications have boosted his transition into inspections; advice for the next generation of coatings professionals; and how associations such as AMPP, NACE, and SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings have helped his career.

Drs. Henry Holroyd, a consultant, and Tim Burnett, with the University of Manchester, join our CORROSION journal podcast series to discuss environment-induced crack initiation and early stages of crack growth in aluminum alloys. They explain crack initiation, discuss some of the challenges encountered, and identify areas that need further exploration.

Organized by the AMPP Malaysia Chapter, the inaugural Malaysia Painters Competition 2023 was held in Teluk Kalung, Terengganu, Malaysia, on Saturday, August 19. 

With free registration, the event featured networking; opportunities to learn painting skills from peers; and sourcing for products, services, and the latest in cutting-edge technologies. 

The event’s primary objective was to showcase the skills of Malaysian surface preparation and industrial painting craftworkers, and it ultimately brought out a crowd of nearly 100 people to witness some of Malaysia's finest industrial painters.

The competition took place with support from official Paint Sponsor, Hempel, as well as esteemed partners including PETRONAS; the Malaysian Oil, Gas and Energy Services Council (MOGSC), The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM); and the AMPP Malaysia Chapter (AMC).

Aaron Williams, Managing Director of Blast Abrasives Supply as well as an AMPP Certified Coatings Inspector and a member of the AMPP Global Center Board of Directors, played a key role in putting the event together. In this podcast, Williams shares key highlights and lessons learned from the event; insight on how it aims to address broader industry trends and marketplace needs; and plans for the future. 

DeFelsko Corp., a leading U.S. manufacturer of coating thickness gauges and inspection instruments, is a multi-generational, family-owned company that has supplied simple, durable, and accurate instruments to the global coatings industry since 1965.

Since 2019, Michael Beamish has served as vice president and general manager of the equipment provider. He has degrees in mechanical engineering and law with experience in the design, production, and marketing of these instruments in a variety of international industries, including industrial painting, quality inspection, and manufacturing.

In July 2023, Beamish began serving on the Board of Directors for the AMPP Global Center. He is also a member of the Editorial Advisory Group (EAG) at CoatingsPro Magazine, a member magazine of the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP).

As part of this “member profile” interview with CoatingsPro, Beamish shares some important lessons learned after spending nearly a decade in leadership positions within the industry. Discussion topics include market trends over that time; why innovation and sustainability are among the industry’s biggest challenges; advice for the next generation of coatings professionals; and how associations like AMPP, NACE International, and SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings have helped both his individual career and DeFelsko as a company.

Jason Becker, a highly experienced welder/fabricator with 25 years of hands-on experience in the welding industry, joins our podcast to discuss why welding quality matters to AMPP members. Under the American Welding Society (AWS), Becker is a Certified Welding Inspector, Certified Welding Educator, and Certified Welder Performance Qualifier. He currently works as a full-time welding consultant and is dedicated to educating the next generation of welders through his own podcast, called Arc Junkies.

Discussion topics include tips to understand weld quality; common welding processes, materials, and inspection techniques; important codes and standards; how to prevent common welding defects; and why workforce development in skilled trades is critical to the industry's future.

Michael Van Spankeren, digital solutions manager for SLB’s production chemistry business, joins our podcast to discuss his company’s award-winning innovation, “Production Chemicals Optimization on DELFI.” The system was recently honored as a winner of MP’s 2023 Corrosion Innovation of the Year Awards.

Topics include the origins and future of the innovation; feedback from users and clients on its performance to date in field situations; future demands and market trends in corrosion control software; and more.

In 2023, PHMSA’s Mega Rule is at the forefront of the list when it comes to topical compliance issues for pipeline operators. In this sponsored episode of the Materials Performance (MP) Interview Series, Polly Stewart of Abriox—which specializes in remote monitoring and control for pipelines—shares useful background information on what the Mega Rule entails; potential consequences for companies and individuals; and how industry companies can future-proof their compliance as part of a corrosion management plan.

Andy Shingledecker, area manager for Campos EPC and chair of the CEPC Exhibits and Sponsorship Task Force, shares insight on the importance of utilizing inspectors with multiple certifications. Known as multi-certified inspectors, they can be successfully utilized on many inspection processes within the corrosion control and protective coatings industry.

Topics on AMPP’s latest podcast include common challenges or obstacles faced by individuals who are not multi-certified inspectors; strategies to maximize the project contributions of multi-certified inspectors; case studies and lessons learned from utilizing multi-certified inspectors to yield significant benefits; and advice to those in the industry who are currently pursuing or considering the pursuit of multiple certifications.

This sponsored episode featuring Ian Kinnear, product manager at GPT Industries, addresses various challenges facing corrosion professionals in 2023 and beyond. In particular, the podcast explores cathodic protection (CP) trends and challenges for the oil and gas, water, and emerging energy industries.

GPT is a manufacturer of isolation kits, gaskets, and isolation joints to mitigate corrosion and enhance CP methods. The company's products serve two major functions: to seal and to stop electrical current.