ACS President Ron Rankin, has been in the CNC Cutting industry for 30 years An early adopter of automation technology, Ron started out as a welder, then after an Associate Degree in Welding Engineering on to Welding Engineering / Applications Technician with Union Carbide, LTEC, and ESAB. With accreditations and endorsements in Robotics, 5 Axis Contour Beveling, mechanized Plasma / OxyFuel / WaterJet / Laser Gantry Systems and just recently 3D Printing. Ron has continuously developed expertise in welding and cutting automation just as the industry was shifting from antiquated photocell technology to newer techniques in CNC cutting. As these rudimentary technologies became more robust, Ron became interested in automated nesting programs such as SigmaNEST that could automatically group parts, BOM’s, materials and nest them on a large scale and start processing and cutting.With the latest in automation technologies under his belt, Ron earned an executive MBA in OperationsManagement from British Columbia Institute of Technology in 1992.The combination of on-the-job know-how and business training helped Ron master the intricacies of Manufacturing Workflow and Cost Analysis – understanding how automation technologies could help companies optimize their manufacturing work flow. Ron leveraged that experience to help companies like ESAB, Jet Edge, Calypso Waterjet System to develop service and distribution models and/or building and revitalizing their territories by better understanding the needs of their customers.Based on his experience educating customers, holding seminars in sales territories, hosting open houses, and setting up service and distribution contracts, Ron founded ACS in 2009. As a passionate advocate for automation and lean manufacturing Ron built ACS into a distribution / channel partner - partnering with companies across the Northwest region to identify key technologies and training that will help them grow their business.