Speaking Robotics & Automation: Insights & Risks for Mechanical Design Professionals

Marcel Almonte
Mechatronics Applications Engineer
Harmonic Drive

Marcel Almonte graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology in 2022 with a degree in Electro-mechanical Engineering and a minor in Applied Mathematics. During college, he worked as a Quality and Safety Engineer at Philips, testing medical devices for CE compliance.

Post-graduation, Marcel served as a Field Engineer for Alert Innovation, troubleshooting hardware and software bugs and communicating issues to development teams. He then joined Infranor USA, a servo motor and drive sales office, helping customers find custom motion control solutions.

Currently, Marcel is a Mechatronics Applications Engineer at Harmonic Drive, focusing on the Integrated Actuator Product Line. He develops tests to verify motor specifications, troubleshoot software, electrical, and hardware bugs, and collaborates with customers, sales, and design teams.

Jonathan Mitchell
Senior Applications Engineer
Emerson

Jonathan Mitchell has more than 10 years of experience in technical sales and engineering roles. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science Engineering and has spent the past decade working in industrial automation.

At Emerson, Jonathan has developed extensive expertise in fluid control and fluid power products. Over the past year, he has expanded his focus to include industrial controllers and edge devices. His professional interests include Continuous Improvement, Infrastructure Resilience, Process Automation, and Systems Design.

Jonathan thrives in customer-facing engineering roles, where he can engage with diverse industrial processes and apply insights across industries. He enjoys leveraging lessons learned in one sector to sol

Dustin Kloempken
3D Printing Application Engineer
HP, Inc.

Dustin’s journey into additive began in the aftermath of the 2008 great recession, a period that witnessed the closure of his boot-strapped startup. Unfazed by adversity, he embarked on a new chapter dedicated to the global advancement of additive manufacturing. Collaborating closely with some of the most forward-thinking enterprises driven by a shared vision of a better world, Dustin’s track has been defined by innovation and progress.

Over recent years, his endeavours have included:

• Pioneering investigations into the comparative efficacy of 3D-printed orthotic and prosthetic devices in contrast to traditional methodologies.
• Unearthing the potential of designing and deploying expansive 3D-printed robotic grippers, unveiling a realm of possibilities previously unexplored.
• Cultivating partnerships with esteemed research institutes to unearth novel application for additive manufacturing in the realm of lighting.

Rehana Begg
Editor-in-Chief
Machine Design

As Machine Design’s content lead, Rehana Begg is tasked with elevating the voice of the design and multi-disciplinary engineer in the face of digital transformation and engineering innovation. Begg has more than 25 years of editorial experience and has spent the past decade in the trenches of industrial manufacturing, focusing on new technologies, manufacturing innovation and business. Her B2B career has taken her from corporate boardrooms to plant floors and underground mining stopes, covering everything from automation & IIoT, robotics and mechanical design to plant operations, maintenance, reliability and continuous improvement. Begg holds an MBA, a Master of Journalism degree, and a BA (Hons.) in Political Science. She is committed to lifelong learning and feeds her passion for innovation in publishing, transparent science and clear communication by attending relevant conferences and seminars/workshops.

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