HSI Hands-On Training

Thank you for joining us for HSI Hands-on-Training! See you next year!

HSI Hands-On: October 20-21, 2025, in Denver, Colorado

This annual HSI Hands-On program was designed to promote and develop an understanding and adoption of HSI guidelines and best practices in hose design and fabrication. Attendees participated in a series of interactive presentations, visited distributor locations for hands-on exercises, and toured a manufacturer’s warehouse.

2025 Agenda

Monday, October 20

S1: STAMPED Industrial Hose & Fittings

Dave Miller, Gates

S2: STAMPED Hydraulic Hose & Fittings

Scott Bauman, Danfoss Power Solutions

This session focused on what STAMPED means for hydraulic fluid conveyance products. The discussion was around types of hoses, why each hose is used, different fitting end types and where hydraulic hoses are used. Further, there was a brief overview about how hose is manufactured.

S3: Breakout Groups

Scott Bauman & Dave Miller

We put the STAMPED industrial and hydraulic hose information to practice!

In this interactive session, small groups formed to identify products to use and assembled based on a customer’s need. Also, some conversation points with the customer were discussed.

S4: Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to Safe Hose Systems

Rob Williams, Alliance Hose & Rubber Powered by TIPCO

This session covered Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) which included the purpose and importance of SDSs as well as who uses SDSs. Additionally, attendees learned how to interpret them and how to apply SDSs to Hose System safe practices.

S5: Account Penetration and Success Documentation

Brent Lilly, PT Coupling & Rob Williams, Alliance Hose & Rubber Powered by TIPCO

This session focused on the importance of identifying roles at an End User Account, and developing a strategy for each, which lead to successful account penetration. The focus was first on defining and identifying the Roles of: Decision Maker(s), Decision Influencer(s), Door Keeper(s), and Financial Accessors. Each of the people in these roles had their specific issues, needs, and concerns identified and addressed, prior to full support of a proposal, plan, order commitment concluding. In addition, this session demonstrated how to develop a unique consultative selling strategy to manage these. Such as; strategies for creating documentation regarding how each area of influence has been addressed, including capturing financial data, reaching agreement that the financial data is correct and accurate, and adding it to any proposals which will be forthcoming. This summary of activities resulted in Account acknowledgement of the value participants will bring through providing that partnership expertise.

S6: Role-Play of Account Penetration Implementation

S7: Panel

Moderator: Brent Lilly, PT Coupling

NAHAD Resources & Importance of HSI Designation

Networking Event at Lob Denver

Tuesday, October 21

Onsite Visits

Group 1: TIPCO Technologies
Classroom and hands-on testing including a proof test on industrial hoses, an air submersion test and an ultra-violet die test.

Group 2: Gates Customer Solutions Center

Classroom instruction plus hands-on assembly fabrication and crimper training with best-practice guidance. Included facility tour & Q&A opportunities.

Speakers

Thank you to all of our speakers!

Scott Bauman, Danfoss Power Solutions

Scott Bauman is the Rubber Hydraulics Hose & Fittings Product Manager and Product Application Engineering Manager at Danfoss Power Solutions. He has spent his entire career in the fluid conveyance business.

Scott joined as an Engineering Co-Op before completing his degree and becoming a full time Product Application Engineer in 2014. Since then, he has held roles in Program Management and now Product Management. Scott is currently located in the Maumee, Ohio Technical Center, but has previously worked in Van Wert, Ohio and Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

Scott earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) degree from Ohio Northern University in 2014 and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Cincinnati in 2021. Additionally, he is a certified Professional Engineer (PE) and Project Management Professional (PMP).

Brent Lilly, PT Coupling

Brent Lilly is a 43-year veteran of the Fluid Power & Conveyance, Hose/Accessories, Motion Control, and ‎Power Transmission segments within the Industrial Marketplace. During that time, he has worked for ‎industry leaders such as: The Gates Corporation, Titan Hose, Parker Hannifin, HBD/Thermoid, and PT ‎Coupling. Brent is PT’s Vice President- Sales & Marketing, in that capacity he manages all ‎employees and activities for their Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service Teams. In addition, he has ‎served a 4-year term on the NAHAD Board of Directors and is currently the Chairman of the NAHAD Education Committee.

Over the course of his career Brent has ‎participated as a Trainer, Presenter, and Panelist for Conferences, Training Sessions, and Workshops. He ‎has also authored several articles featured in industry publications, covering a variety of topics in his ‎areas of expertise.

Rob Williams, Alliance Hose & Rubber Powered by TIPCO

Alliance Hose & Rubber Co., established in Chicago in 1932 during the Great Depression, has ‎been a cornerstone of the Chicago market, serving the hose needs of the food and beverage, ‎chemical, contractor supply, large bore dewatering, and equipment manufacturing industries. ‎Now located in Elmhurst, IL, the company operates out of a 50,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility.‎

Rob Williams has over 30 years of experience in industrial sales, 22 of which have been with ‎Alliance Hose. Throughout his career, he has covered a diverse hose market, initially focusing on ‎the Midwest and now extending his expertise coast to coast. His primary areas of concentration ‎include the food, beverage, chemical, and agricultural industries. ‎

For the past 13 years, Rob has been committed to providing safety solutions. He has shared his ‎industry-specific knowledge with end users worldwide through webinars, podcasts, classroom ‎training, and conference speaking engagements.‎

Rob is actively involved in industry organizations, serving on the NAHAD HSI and Course Building ‎Committees. Additionally, he is a current committee member of various food and beverage guilds ‎and safety boards, contributing to the advancement and safety of these sectors.

David Miller, Gates Corporation

David Miller is the Strategic National Accounts Manager for the Gates Corporation where he works with Strategic Accounts developing new business in the Fluid Power and Power Transmission markets. He has worked in the fluid power industry for over 35 years.

David’s career has been divided over 20 years in distribution, and 15+ on the manufacturing side. This experience has allowed for a unique perspective allowing him to understand the points of view of both his customers and Gates. He has worked throughout many sectors of the industry, including manufacturing, transportation, marine and Oil & Gas; working in sales, engineering, and management capacities.

David has held several positions with Gates, including District Sales Manager, Strategic Account Manager, Business Development Manager and currently Strategic National Accounts Manager. David is a Gates Certified Hydraulics Trainer and a Certified Industrial Hose Safety Trainer. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, golfing, and spending time with his family.

Chad Chapman, Gates Corporation

Chad Chapman is a Mechanical Engineer by degree with a strong passion for problem solving and identifying the best solutions. He currently serves as a Product Application Engineering Manager at Gates and brings over 20 years of experience in the fluid power industry. In his current role, Chad leads a team that provides guidance, recommendations, and tailored solutions to customers utilizing Gates products and services.

Chad is passionate about collaborating with customers to understand their unique requirements and challenges, working toward solutions that deliver optimal performance. He finds it especially exciting to learn about new applications and how Gates products are applied—particularly when there is cross-over or similarity with other markets and use cases.

Hudson Keyler, Gates Corporation

Hudson Keyler has been with the Gates Corporation for 8 years, first spending 4 years as a Product Engineer working closely with manufacturing plants and engineering teams. Hudson currently works as a Global Product Line Manager, helping the company grow with product launches, cost savings, and business development.

Machines and things with wheels are more than just hobbies for this engineer; Before Gates he spent 5 years honing his skills on the factory floor at an auto plant, where he provided contributions in quality and product development for the 2016 Honda Civic.

When he’s not on the job you can find him living life in the fast lane with his family or catching the recent Formula 1 race. He also enjoys taking his wife and 2 daughters to the local cars and coffee with his classic VW Bug.

Rob Cifaldi, TIPCO Technologies

Rob Cifaldi is the General Manager for TIPCO Technologies’ Mid-Atlantic region, where he leads sales and operational strategy across a dynamic industrial hose and fluid power market. With over 20 years of experience in the fluid conveyance industry, Rob brings a deep understanding of both manufacturing and distribution to his leadership role.

Prior to joining TIPCO, Rob served as Vice President of the Industrial Group with Ideal-Tridon, where he oversaw a portfolio of companies specializing in products that connect and support pipes, tubes, and hoses. He also spent nearly 12 years at Campbell Fittings, where he held progressive roles including Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

Thank You to Our 2025 HSI Hands-On Training Sponsor

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