Q: Carl, tell us a little about your background. What led you to engineering at Nicopress?
I spent 12 years at Nicopress as the Director of Engineering. Most of my career was in R&D on electrical/mechanical devices, connectors and sensors. That work led to more than 14 patents across brands like Nicopress, PMI, Burndy, Bendix, 3M, GE and Channel Products. I also earned MSME and BSET degrees from Binghamton University’s Watson School of Engineering.
From an early age, I was the kid taking things apart and putting them back together. Things like radios, model airplanes, rockets, motorbikes and even fixing my parents’ cars. I actually started college studying physics for two years before shifting to electrical and mechanical engineering.
What drew me to Nicopress? My experience lined up well with the engineering demands here, and I wanted an environment where I could contribute directly.
Q: What trends did you watch in cable and wire rope connections? What should customers know?
New cable constructions are getting smaller yet stronger. That’s exciting, but it also raises new challenges for connector design. The big takeaway for customers: test with these newer constructions to make sure performance meets expectations in the real world.
Q: Define “innovation” at Nicopress.
It’s about staying close to customer requirements and either solving problems outright or simplifying the work to do so, where sometimes that’s a brand-new design, and other times it’s a smart revision that makes results more repeatable and satisfaction higher.
Q: Where do new product opportunities usually start?
With listening. We ask what’s happening in the field and whether a new product, or a change to an existing one, will make the job easier or more consistent. We also review current products for improvements that boost satisfaction. Trade shows help accelerate those conversations.
Q: Share a recent win you’re proud of.
Intel was a competitive situation, and by meeting directly with their manufacturing leads, we simplified the connector design. Creating new, cost-effective solutions is where we excel, and it’s why we won here.
Q: What was your leadership approach with the engineering team?
Listen first, then help clear roadblocks in the development process. Customer requirements are going to change, and Nicopress is quick to align to those needs while keeping everything grounded and well defined. Agility and that clarity are how you outperform the competition.
Q: What do you do in your free time?
Still working with my hands—carpentry, autos, motorcycles, watches, electrical and electronic repair, even house and barn renovations.
Q: Final advice for customers?
If you need a permanent, repeatable, reliable connection for wire rope or electrical cable, consider a swaged connector. It offers many advantages over other systems, and Nicopress is a leader in swaged connector technology.