Todd Wright
Manager of Product Development

Years at Wastequip:   29
How many patents do you hold either individually or with others?  16
Hometown:  Hickory, NC
Facility:  Toter (Statesville, NC)

How did one of your inventions improve the waste industry? 
The Advanced Rotational Molding ™ process and the Rugged Rim help Toter outlast our injection-molded competitors and opened the door for strong retail opportunities.

Where do you find the inspiration to invent? 
As a kid I was curious about how things worked. I would take things apart and I always liked finding new and better ways of doing things.

Any words of advice for aspiring inventors? 
Things do not always work on your first try. You have to fall to succeed most times. Just keep trying new things.

Nick Franiak
Vice President of Manufacturing Engineering and Quality

Years at Wastequip:   7
How many patents do you hold either individually or with others?  5 
(a few in process)
Hometown:  Valparaiso, Indiana
Facility:  Charlotte, NC

How did one of your inventions improve the waste industry? 
The AFX cable hoist invention is probably the most significant as this married the AF’s internal frame system (allowing for free side frame rail,  free side frame rail space for CNG, lift axles, etc.) along with the versatility of the U5 and its ability to accept ANSI and non-ANSI compliant containers, which benefits haulers who consume smaller legacy outfits that may have had an out of standard container fleet.

Where do you find the inspiration to invent? 
In everything, everywhere. All things show either opportunities or lessons in what could be done.

Any words of advice for aspiring inventors? 
Look at everything with the curiosity of a kid.

Tony Petzitillo
Intermodal Sales Manager

Years at Wastequip:   26
How many patents do you hold either individually or with others?  14 
(a few in process)
Hometown:  Williamstown, NJ
Facility:  Wastequip (Erial, NJ)

How did one of your inventions improve the waste industry? 
The 12’ high container with the autolocking door and autolocking lid have become the industry standard for moving MSW via rail in the U.S. Our 25 yard container is recognized as the industry standard for the transportation of low level radioactive waste.

Where do you find the inspiration to invent? 
I love a challenge and get satisfaction when I can solve a problem in a fun and creative way.

Any words of advice for aspiring inventors? 
Don’t just go with the flow, keep your eyes open. There are opportunities for improvement all around you.

John Downing
Engineering Manager

Years at Wastequip:   26
How many patents do you hold either individually or with others?  6
Hometown:  Pulaski, IN
Facility:  Galbreath (Winamac, IN)

How did one of your inventions improve the waste industry? 
Our AF or Above Frame hoist allowed our customers the ability to mount a roll-off cable hoist with rod type life cylinders on a truck with a CNG fuel system. This allowed many companies to expand their fleet with what many regard as a more environmentally friendly type of fuel that is abundant, which promotes sustainability. Prior to the LCH, many companies operated their container handlers loaded with the front end load (FEL) or rear end load (REL) container hanging off the rear of the truck. This allows the weight to be distributed properly on the truck which greatly improves transportation safety.

Where do you find the inspiration to invent? 
Most invention inspirations come from a need or a requirement to do something that no one else can produce.

Any words of advice for aspiring inventors? 
Some of the greatest inventions were the most overlooked, it took the tenacity and determination of a few to uncover them.

Todd Fowler
Engineering Project Manager

Years at Wastequip:   23
How many patents do you hold either individually or with others?  10
Hometown:  Washington Township, NJ
Facility:  Wastequip (Erial, NJ)

How did one of your inventions improve the waste industry? 
I believe the biggest change and improvement was the development of the autolocking lid and door technology. This revolutionized the speed in which intermodal containers can be loaded and dumped.

Where do you find the inspiration to invent? 
My biggest inspiration is my mentor, Tony Petzitillo. He presents problems that need solutions, and my wheels start spinning! I really enjoy the brainstorming and creation of new things, or methods.

Any words of advice for aspiring inventors? 
Brainstorming is key. No idea is too crazy. List all ideas that come to mind, explore them, and pan for that gold!

David Grant
Product Development Engineer

Years at Wastequip:   6
How many patents do you hold either individually or with others?  1
Hometown:  Chester, PA
Facility:  Wastequip (Erial, NJ)

How did one of your inventions improve the waste industry? 
I made compactors easier to clean out.

Where do you find the inspiration to invent? 
In a previous compactor design, an engineer at Wastequip made a similar improvement and I believed it would be of value to extend it to other product lines and incorporate them into the scope of the patent.

Any words of advice for aspiring inventors? 
Understand what we do and how we do it, but never believe that there is not a better way. Find pain points for our coworkers or customers and look for ways to remove/reduce those. Whenever possible, back up and take a larger view before getting caught up in the details.

Matthew Mock
Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Years at Wastequip:   3
How many patents do you hold either individually or with others?  
1 patent granted, 1 patent pending
Hometown:  Peru, Indiana
Facility:  Galbreath (Winamac, IN)

How did one of your inventions improve the waste industry? 
Our invention for improving Galbreath’s container handler fork assembly allows vertical adjustment of the forks while loading front end load (FEL) & rear end load (REL) containers. This makes it easier to load FEL & REL containers and increases the versatility of our container handler products.

Where do you find the inspiration to invent? 
My inspiration to invent comes from helping our customers. By knowing that I can help improve the capabilities and the ease of use of our products for our customers, I am inspired to innovate.

Any words of advice for aspiring inventors? 
Don’t be afraid to share your ideas and be patient throughout the design process – there will be roadblocks.

Steve Kopka
Technical Services and Support Manager

Years at Wastequip:   32
How many patents do you hold either individually or with others?  1
Hometown:  Winamac, IN
Facility:  Galbreath (Winamac, IN)

How did one of your inventions improve the waste industry? 
My invention provides versatility to the hauler market by helping them to lift multiple containers at one time for different types of jobs.

Where do you find the inspiration to invent? 
My coworkers. Through the interaction of people around me, I am inspired to see a need and look for an answer to that need.

Any words of advice for aspiring inventors? 
If you have an idea, don’t give up on it.

Sam Sedory
Operational Excellence Manager

Years at Wastequip:   6 months (full-time), interned for 2 years
How many patents do you hold either individually or with others?  1
Hometown:  Pittsburgh, PA
Facility:  Charlotte, NC

How did one of your inventions improve the waste industry? 
The spring-loaded sensor mount device that I developed while interning at Wastequip (in 2014) serves to protect inductive proximity sensors on front load refuse vehicles. These sensors are commonly used to relay information about the truck – the position of the forks, for example – to the driver.  Without the device, even minor impacts to a sensor can cause total failure and require the sensor to be replaced.  The sensor mount protects the sensor by allowing the assembly to flex back and forth when impacted, and ultimately return to its starting point to continue the job.  Decreased part failure means less downtime for our customers and less frustration for drivers.

Where do you find the inspiration to invent? 
My grandfather was an inventor, and one of my goals from a young age was to one day receive a patent too.

Any words of advice for aspiring inventors? 
Just because something has never been done before does not mean it is impossible – if this were the case, there would be no inventors!  Inventing is filled with lots of unknowns and sometimes that can get uncomfortable.  Push through, you never know what can be unless you try!

Gabriel “Alex” Ghibaudo
President

Years at Wastequip:   1
How many patents do you hold either individually or with others?  1
Hometown:  Huntington Beach, CA
Facility:  Amrep MFG (Ontario, CA)

How did one of your inventions improve the waste industry? 
By reducing the amount of routine maintenance required on the automated loading mechanism while at the same time increasing lift capacity. The design also alleviates stress on automated cart lids by controlling the speed at which the can exits packer body.

Where do you find the inspiration to invent? 
My father was the driving force behind my desire to push our refuse equipment beyond the idea that it is “Just a trash truck”. It is my belief that there is always something we can do to provide a more efficient product to our customers.

Any words of advice for aspiring inventors? 
Failures drive the engine of success. To quote Thomas Edison, “I have not failed 10000 times—I’ve successfully found 10000 ways that will not work.”