2025 HSS SUMMIT
Session
Equipment Manufacturer Panel
Description:
This panel brings together equipment manufacturers active in the HSS fabrication space to discuss common fabrication challenges and share best practices, trends in HSS fabrication, and present examples of efficiency / throughput gains by using/integrating their equipment. Panelists will also offer guidance for fabricators navigating equipment decisions.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify common HSS fabrication challenges.
- Discuss how various equipment facilitates easier HSS fabrication.
- Learn how automation improves efficiency / throughput in HSS fab shops.
- Examine innovations / trends in equipment used for producing or modifying HSS.
PDH credits: 1.0
Speakers:
Curt Decker, Ph.D., P.E., S.E., Senior Design Consultant, Lincoln Electric
Misgana Mulat, National Sales Manager, BLM Group
Mr. Tad Dean, Welding Engineer, Kobelco Welding of America, Inc.
Mr. Hirohisa (Chuck) Kishikawa, Service Manager, Sales Engineer, Kobelco Welding of America, Inc.
About Curt Decker:
Curt Decker is a senior structural engineer with The Lincoln Electric Company in Cleveland, Ohio specializing in the design and production of welded connections. Curt graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1992 with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering and later earned a Master’s Degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and PhD from the University of Illinois at Chicago in the field of structural engineering. He has been with The Lincoln Electric Company since 2019. Prior to Lincoln Electric, Curt’s engineering career encompassed military and private sector experience in structural design, construction, project management, education, and leadership. Significant military assignments included combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the US Army Corps of Engineers and Assistant Professor at West Point teaching courses in structures. Curt is an AWS qualified welder and Certified Welding Inspector. He is an active member of several American Welding Society and AISC committees and has published numerous articles on engineering and welding. Curt is a licensed Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer in the state of California.
About Misgana Mulat:
Misgana Mulat brings 20 years of experience in the manufacturing industry, blending deep technical expertise, strategic leadership, and a consultative approach to solving complex challenges. His career spans key roles in Tooling Support & Design Engineering at Amada America; R&D Engineering at DENSO Products; CAD/CAM Software Development at RADAN (Hexagon); Sales Engineering at Murata Machinery; and now Sales Management at BLM GROUP USA.
With a dual educational background in Computer Science and Industrial & Systems Engineering, Misgana combines analytical rigor with practical insight to support some of the most recognized names in Aerospace, Defense, Automotive, Semiconductor, Industrial Automation, and Structural/Architectural Steel manufacturing. He has consistently delivered advanced solutions that drive process optimization, automation, and measurable productivity gains.
Since joining BLM GROUP USA in 2018, Misgana has championed customer-focused growth by leading strategic sales initiatives and promoting technology adoption across industries. In his current role as National Sales Manager, he helps fabricators embrace Digital Manufacturing, integrated design-to-production workflows, predictive process control, and scalable automation—transforming traditional shops into future-ready operations that are agile, productive, and capable of true “lights-out” manufacturing.
Passionate about developing people as well as processes, Misgana is committed to elevating sales teams into trusted manufacturing consultants, empowering customers to identify critical pain points and implement industry-leading solutions that future-proof their operations.
About Mr. Tad Dean:
Tad has been working in the welding industry for the last 20 years; his time in fabrication and manufacturing, as well as on construction sites, has aided in his ability in his current role at Kobelco. He has been working at Kobelco since 2015 and is supporting both the consumable as well as the robotic businesses as a welding engineer, and supports the Kobelco sales force for technical support and product application matters. His hands-on approach and understanding of real-world problems and applications assist customers in finding solutions to common shop bottlenecks or welding-related issues.
About Mr. Hirohisa (Chuck) Kishikawa:
Chuck is a seasoned expert with 19 years of experience in robotic welding systems for structural steel, beginning his career in 2006. Having worked extensively across Japan, he visited fabrication shops of all sizes, engaging directly with welders and operators to understand real-world challenges. These insights drove the development of practical solutions, contributing to increased automation and improved working environments. Chuck led the development of advanced robotic welding systems for Japan’s structural steel requirements. His systems were engineered to comply with JASS 6 (Japanese Architectural Standard Specification), implementing tight control of critical welding parameters such as heat input to ensure mechanical integrity and high-quality welds. These systems achieved an estimated 90% market share in Japan’s structural steel sector. Currently based in North America, Chuck serves as a technical sales representative for structural steel welding automation. His unique background enables him to bridge Japanese manufacturing precision with North
American production needs, continuing to advance welding automation across diverse markets through hands-on experience and technical innovation.