In this episode, Chris sits down with Troy Ellison of Cloacina to talk about what it takes to build infrastructure that works in the real world, not just on paper. Troy explains what membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are in a way that you and I can understand, then pulls back the curtain on why so many systems fail the people who have to run them.

A big theme here is end-user experience. Troy makes the case that operators have been ignored for too long, and that designing systems around spreadsheets instead of humans is why so many projects struggle.

We also get into scaling a manufacturing business, what it’s really like growing from a handful of people to well over a hundred, and the highs and lows of being in business with your family.

If you’re building something meant to last, whether that’s equipment, a team, or a company, there’s a lot in here worth sitting with.

In this episode, find out:

• What an MBR (membrane bioreactor) is, and why it’s become Cloacina’s core focus.
• Why Troy compares wastewater systems to race cars, and what happens when operators are handed something poorly designed.
• How prioritizing the operator changes everything from layout to long-term performance.
• What scaling a manufacturing business looks like when you’re buying equipment, hiring people, and fixing problems nonstop.
• Why Cloacina stopped listening to voices that slowed progress and focused on building the right team.
• How taking on single-point responsibility removes friction instead of adding risk.
• Where Troy sees the future of MBRs heading.

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “The Cloacina difference is the end user experience. We're hyper focused on that. It's all we care about at the end of the day.”
• “We were essentially building the airplane as it was on fire and falling out of the sky for many, many years.”
• “We are on a relentless pursuit for the perfect MBR. But the reason it's relentless is we will never get there; we will never achieve perfection. Perfection is the process, it's not a destination.”

Links & mentions:

• Cloacina - Troy Ellison’s company, focused on membrane bioreactor (MBR) wastewater treatment systems
• Cloacina Rentals - Rental MBRs for immediate wastewater treatment solutions
• Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs) - The core wastewater technology discussed throughout the episode
• Extreme Ownership - Leadership principle referenced (popularized by Jocko Willink)
• Jocko’s - The local bar that Troy references

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Mentioned in this episode:

Industrial Marketing Summit 2026

Industrial robots on a factory floor can be difficult, to say the least. Industrial robots on a concert stage, in front of 20,000 people, on a two-minute setup clock are a whole different challenge.

In this episode, we talk with Andy Flesser - computer animator turned “robot animator,” whose work has helped bring robotics into live entertainment and film - about what that kind of pressure does to how you think about automation. Why preparation starts way earlier than most teams realize. And why some of the best lessons for manufacturing come from places that don’t look like factories at all.

We also get into where Andy thinks robotics actually makes sense, where it probably doesn’t, and why the future of robots might be less about machines walking around and more about environments doing work around us.

If you’ve ever operated an automated system and felt that knot in your stomach when something didn’t behave the way you expected, you’ll recognize a lot of what he’s talking about here.

In this episode, find out:

1. How Andy went from animation into robotics, and why early robot programming felt more like deciphering a code than writing software
2. What it was like putting robots on tour with Bon Jovi, and why live entertainment turned out to be one of the toughest automation environments imaginable
3. Why a robot failing on a concert stage creates a very different kind of pressure than a robot failing behind factory walls
4. What really happens on a movie set when robotics are involved (including Black Adam), and why even “small” changes still need serious testing
5. Why Andy sees huge potential for robotics in medical applications, especially in areas most people don’t talk about
6. A take on the future of robotics that skips the humanoids and focuses on buildings, rooms, and systems doing the work instead
7. How entertainment can be a surprisingly effective way to pull people into robotics and automation careers

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

1. “Every single show, every inch, every second of time is so expensive. When something goes wrong, it’s happening right in front of everybody.”
2. “All the research and development in the world doesn’t exist unless you actually have sales.”
3. “I think the future isn’t robots walking around your house. I think the house will be the robot and you’ll be inside of it.”

Links & mentions:

1. andyRobot / Robotic Arts – Andy’s website and studio, where industrial robots get repurposed for live shows, touring, and film
2. Robot Animator – The software Andy built to let...

In true Manufacturing Happy Hour style, we head back to Pittsburgh, PA to drink the region's most iconic beer - Iron City - in an iconic Pittsburgh manufacturing facility. We sit down with Alex Gonzalez, Plant Manager at Pittsburgh Brewing Company. Part of our Made Here Series with the Industrial Solutions Network.

Mentioned in this episode:

Industrial Marketing Summit 2026

The Industrial Marketing Summit is the go-to gathering for marketers working in the manufacturing, engineering and industrial sectors. Built by Gorilla 76 and TREW Marketing, IMS delivers strategic insight, hands-on learning and true community. Whether you’re a team of one, or leading a scaled marketing department, you’ll walk away ready to market smarter, lead stronger and impact your business. Make sure to use the code "happy hour" at checkout for $100 off registration.

Industrial Marketing Summit 2026