Meet the Experts

Alexander Zoller

As president of ZOLLER Inc. since 2004, Alexander Zoller has been a driving force at the family-owned, global technology company and was the visionary who implemented the expansion plan for the new North American headquarters and Industry 4.0 Tech Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The company has positioned itself and its customers to adapt to the manufacturing landscape of the future, where hardware, software, and automation work seamlessly together to achieve the highest efficiency in part production.

Zoller earned his bachelor’s degree in information technology from the University of Cooperative Education in Stuttgart in 2001 and assumed the role of managing director of E.Zoller GmbH, with managerial responsibility for ZOLLER Inc., in 2004.

Max Egan

Max Egan is CEO of Atlas Fibre and Accurate Composites. These sister companies, when combined, represent the largest vertically integrated rigid composites company in North America.

Atlas Fibre is the leading distributor of thermoset composite materials and a manufacturer of non-metallic materials, specializing in thermoset composites such as G10, G11, FR4, and canvas phenolic, as well as advanced high-performance plastics such as PEEK, Vespel, Ultem, PPS, and PVDF.

At Atlas Fibre, he has been implementing the “Atlas Batch-Size-One” concept—a lean approach that utilizes flexible fixturing, process standardization, and cutting-edge automation. Atlas Batch-Size-One enables Atlas Fibre to produce a single component at nearly the same cost per part as a batch of 10,000+ and maintain that cost advantage throughout the entire production run. This, combined with our inventory—the largest in North America—allows our company to offer the ultimate combination of fast lead times and a steady supply.

Max holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Duke University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Sam Kirkpatrick is an innovative engineering leader with over a decade of experience in automation and smart manufacturing. Since joining ANCA in 2012, he has played a key role in the development of AIMS (ANCA Integrated Manufacturing System)—a modular, intelligent automation platform designed to transform CNC tool production through connected, autonomous processes.

Sam has led global engineering teams and helped shape AIMS from concept to deployment, drawing on experience from GE Global Research and industrial automation across multiple sectors. Now, as Senior Product Manager, he drives the strategic direction of AIMS and its role in shaping the future of automated manufacturing.

He holds a B.S. in Computer Engineering and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering (Robotics) from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, USA, where his research in the VADER Lab (autonomous robotics) shaped his approach to robotics and intelligent systems.

John Leppien

Eric Brothers has been writing about aeronautics, business, and transportation technology for more than 30 years. He joined GIE Media’s Manufacturing Group of print and online publications in 2013 and serves as editor of *Today’s Medical Developments* and *Defense and Munitions*. Since 2014, he has held primary editorial responsibility for *Aerospace Manufacturing and Design*, combining a lifelong interest in aviation with a curiosity about science and technology.

Jeffrey Barlow is the President of CemeCon Inc., overseeing the company’s North American operations and coating service activities. A 2007 graduate of Pennsylvania State University’s College of Engineering, he joined CemeCon in 2015 as a service technician, repairing and maintaining coating equipment throughout the U.S. In 2019, he was promoted to Director of Coating Service and Technology before assuming the role of President in 2022. His background spans engineering, coating technology, and manufacturing operations, with a focus on practical solutions and customer support within the cutting tool industry.

Ryan Lake joined CemeCon, Inc. in 2014 as an Account Manager specializing in sales of coating and peripheral equipment. He was promoted to Sales Manager in 2019 and now oversees all sales and marketing efforts for the North American market. His responsibilities include working with cutting tool manufacturers and industry partners to identify coating and equipment solutions, support product development, drive strategic sales initiatives, and foster technical collaboration across the precision tooling industry. Ryan earned a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Ithaca College and has spent more than a decade supporting innovation and growth within the cutting tool industry.

Dietmar Moll

Dietmar Moll is the director of sales at ZOLLER Inc. and holds a master's degree in engineering from the Cooperative State University of Stuttgart.

Moll has had a long career at ZOLLER, holding a variety of international sales roles, as well as general management positions in India, Thailand, and the United States.

Overall, he has more than 18 years of experience in the field of efficient manufacturing, with a focus on machine tool applications and helping companies understand their process capabilities through tool presetting, measurement and inspection, tool management, and automation solutions.

His experience working with companies and partners across a variety of manufacturing segments—including aerospace, oil and gas, automotive, and mining—ensures that ZOLLER is well-positioned to address real-world part production challenges, as smart manufacturing, analytics, and Industry 4.0 give rise to a new generation of possibilities in integrated technologies and advanced manufacturing practices.

Rita Conroy-Martin

Rita Conroy-Martin is the director of marketing and customer experience at ZOLLER Inc. She is multilingual and has over 25 years of international professional business experience in sales and business development, marketing, and purchasing, primarily in the manufacturing sector.

She is passionate about aligning sales and marketing amid the dramatic transformation that is rewriting the rules of how companies—both large and small—engage with prospects and customers.

In her current role at ZOLLER Inc., she combines both traditional and emerging marketing and business development strategies to educate, engage, onboard, and support customers and prospects, driving them to new levels of efficiency with ZOLLER Solutions.

She is a graduate of the University of Limerick, Ireland, with a bachelor’s degree in business and German, and a master’s degree in political science from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.  

Werner Lueken

Werner Lueken is the director of tool inspection solutions at ZOLLER Inc.

He earned a degree in industrial design from the University of Applied Sciences in Kiel, Germany, in 1997.  

Lueken has been with ZOLLER Inc. for 23 intense years and has held many roles, always with a focus on supporting customers with their tool inspection needs.

He is passionate about helping cutting tool manufacturers and end users solve their tool geometry challenges and provide assurance regarding tool quality, and is recognized as an »expert« in this field both in the U.S. and globally.

Matt Brothers

Matt Brother is the manager of the Industry 4.0 Technology Center at ZOLLER Inc.

With over 20 years of experience in the inspection and manufacturing of special-form cutting tools, he brings a unique skill set to ZOLLER, particularly his expertise in the development of cutting tool inspection processes and troubleshooting.

In the past, Brothers has worked with both Starcutter and Northern Tool. He has been with ZOLLER since 2017.

Nelu Bilba

Nelu Bilba is a manufacturing productivity specialist at ZOLLER Inc. He works with both new and existing customers to improve their manufacturing processes by recommending suitable ZOLLER solutions. He specializes in cutting tools and toolholders.

Before joining ZOLLER Inc., he was a ZOLLER customer at companies in the U.S. and Germany. He received his technical training in Romania and Germany. After completing his advanced studies in Germany, he held various manufacturing positions ranging from prototyping to five-axis machining to cutting tool manufacturing.

Since moving to the U.S. in 2011, Bilba has held a series of leadership positions in manufacturing, including as a department manager and a production/plant manager.

Cedric Hasenfratz

Cedric Hasenfratz is the North America sales and partnership manager for the ZOLLER TMS Tool Management Solutions portfolio and is passionate about bringing efficiency solutions to the manufacturing industry.

Prior to his position at ZOLLER, he served as the U.S. account manager for Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division in the software sales segment of the business.

He has extensive knowledge and experience in digital tool management and process optimization for modern manufacturing. 

Clayton Springer

Clayton Springer is the video production specialist for the marketing department at ZOLLER Inc.

He has experience working in sports broadcasting, live television news, and corporate marketing, producing social media content, cable TV commercials, promotional materials, product videos, and livestreams.

He graduated from Ferris State University with a bachelor’s degree in television and digital media production.

ANCA CNC Machines

ANCA is a world leader in the design and manufacture of CNC tool grinding machines, laser markers, automation solutions, motion controls, and sheet metal components.

In the CNC milling machine sector, HERMLE AG is a leading manufacturer of gantry milling machines, machine tools, and CNC special-purpose machines. As a machine manufacturer, our motto, “milling at its best,” underscores our commitment to delivering products that consistently exceed expectations in terms of performance, machining precision, and service.

Furthermore, with nearly 90 years of experience as a machine manufacturer, HERMLE AG comprehensively meets the demand for enhanced precision and machining capacity across all sectors requiring advanced machine performance. We develop and produce CNC milling machines and special-purpose machines for the medical technology sector and general tool and mold making, as well as for the optical, aerospace, and automotive industries. We also manufacture custom CNC machine tools as special-purpose machines, which are tailored to meet our customers’ unique needs. 

SW

For manufacturers seeking to reduce production costs and floor space requirements and address challenges related to labor shortages, SW offers a wide range of single- and multi-spindle CNC machines, automation, and complete system solutions. SW has a long history of supplying machinery to many industries, including those subject to ITAR and FFL regulations. Our integrable automation solutions reduce labor costs, and our multi-spindle concept maximizes available floor space.

PraesiDM

PraesiDM is an engineering-based manufacturing company that autonomously produces high-precision components for the U.S. industrial base. Our all-in-one digital suite of software tools modernizes part design and standardizes production within an intelligently connected manufacturing ecosystem. Through data capture, our machines learn and self-optimize, providing comprehensive solutions for all advanced industries.

A leader in the design and manufacture of highly innovative production and automation systems for nearly 100 years, GROB is a family-owned company known for its first-class products, forward-looking technologies, and absolute reliability. From sales to engineering and from production to commissioning—GROB’s qualified engineers and technicians meet even the most demanding customer requirements. 

MachiningCloud

MachiningCloud is the premier data-driven resource revolutionizing the way manufacturers find, select, and utilize cutting tools, workholding, and machines. More than just a parts catalog, the platform provides a comprehensive and connected digital ecosystem that includes rich and standardized product data, intelligent tool selection, comprehensive feed rates and speeds, and much more.

By bridging the gap between physical tools and the digital world, MachiningCloud helps manufacturers achieve greater efficiency, reduce costs, and improve overall productivity. It’s the essential platform for anyone looking to make smarter, data-driven decisions in their machining operations.

CGTech

Headquartered in Irvine, California, CGTech specializes in numerical control (NC/CNC) simulation, verification, optimization, post-processing, and analysis software for manufacturing. Since 1988, the company’s Vericut software has become the industry standard for simulating CNC machining to detect errors, potential collisions, or areas of inefficiency. Vericut enables NC programmers to reduce proof-outs, virtually eliminate errors, and optimize NC programs for faster, more efficient machining. Vericut supports a wide range of CNC machine tools and can operate as a standalone solution or be integrated with leading CAM systems. With offices in 12 countries and a global network of resellers, Vericut is committed to providing comprehensive support to its users worldwide. For more information, visit the Vericut website at vericut.com.

CHIRON Group SE

CHIRON is a global leader in CNC vertical and mill-turn machining centers, offering high-speed, precision, and fully automated manufacturing solutions.

Founded in 1921, Chiron Group SE has grown into a world-leading provider of machining centers and turnkey manufacturing solutions, serving small, medium, and large-scale engineering and manufacturing industries. The company emphasizes performance, precision, and innovation, with a global presence and dedicated service teams to support customers worldwide.