Chaz Schroeder of Black River Group joins The Fabricator Podcast this week to talk about evolution of his family's manufacturing business, adapting to change, staying ahead of the industry curve, and more.

Chaz explains how Black River Group, a third generation family-owned company in Mansfield, Ohio, evolved over 55 years from a marketing agency to a full-fledged manufacturing operation that offers a full range of services, including design, engineering, fabrication, and warehousing.

He also talks about how the business specializes in custom in-stock displays and components and operates out of a 175,000-sq.-ft facility.

Chris Miano joined Chaz to discuss Black River Group's partnership with X-Series USA and how it's help the company expand its metal fabrication capabilities. Miano also talked about the trends in laser cutting technology.

Chaz and Chris also talk about the growth of automation and what it means for the the metal manufacturing sector.

At the top, the guys talk about the movie "The Shawshank Redemption," which was filmed in Mansfield, Ohio, and is celebrating its 30-year anniversary. More specifically, they focus on Andy Dufresne's dubious prison escape scene and how he was able to bust open a thick metal sewer pipe with a rock.

This episode is brought to you by X-Series USA.

Email us at podcast@fmamfg.org with any comments, questions, or suggestions.