NIBA Technical Training Seminars
Hands-On Learning. World Class Trainers.
Real-world knowledge is among the most valuable assets your team can have. And with workforce constraints and high demand, access to training is more essential than ever.
But on-the-job training isn’t always enough.
Qualified trainers are not always accessible. And a dedicated and safe space for your team to learn theory and practice alongside a cohort of their peers? That’s even harder to arrange.
That’s where NIBA Technical Training Seminars come in. For years, NIBA has brought expert trainers, world-class facilities, and belting professionals of all levels together for hands-on learning that teaches practical skills that deliver immediate returns.
Training Schedule at a Glance
Track, Train, Troubleshoot
April 11-12 | Raleigh, NC
Key Principles of Lightweight Belting
May 23-24 | Grand Rapids, MI
Lightweight Splice School
May 25-26 | Grand Rapids, MI
Key Principles of Lightweight Belting
October 10-11 | Grand Rapids, MI
Track, Train, Troubleshoot
November 6-7 | Decatur, GA
Vulcanized and Mechanical Heavyweight Splice School
November 8-10 | Decatur, GA
Key Principles and Best Practices of Lightweight Belting
This course helps you avoid common and costly failures in the field. Learn the features and benefits of various styles of lightweight belting, discuss common industry standards, and more during two days of classroom work.
When It's Offered
May 23-24; Grand Rapids, MI
October 10-11; Grand Rapids, MI
Trainers
- Don Rabb - Eastern Regional Sales Manager, Chemprene
- Chad Ackerman - Strategic Accounts Manager, Flexco
- Mike Wieland - Vice President of Sales, Mulhern Belting, Inc.
- Sander Romers - Light Duty Marketing Field Specialist, Flexco
- Mark Green - Light Duty Marketing Field Specialist, Flexco
Lightweight Splice School
When It's Offered
May 25-26, 2023; Grand Rapids, MI
Trainers
- Don Rabb - Eastern Regional Sales Manager, Chemprene
- Chad Ackerman - Strategic Accounts Manager, Flexco
- Mike Wieland - Vice President of Sales, Mulhern Belting, Inc.
- Sander Romers - Light Duty Marketing Field Specialist, Flexco
- Mark Green - Light Duty Marketing Field Specialist, Flexco
Track, Train, Troubleshoot for Heavyweight Belting
This interactive classroom session details industry standards on belt conveyor operation. You'll learn real-world tips to maximize belt life from instructors with more than 75 years of combined industry experience.
When It's Offered
April 11-12; Raleigh, NC
November 6-7; Decatur, GA
Trainers
- Buddy Wilson - Services Operations, Motion Industries Conveyance Solutions Division
- Mike Hesslau - Territory Sales Manager, Flexco
- Pete Radding - Americas Conveyor Belt Distribution Sales & Commercial Director at Continental
Vulcanized and Mechanical Heavyweight Splice School
This interactive classroom session details industry standards on belt conveyor operation. You'll learn real-world tips to maximize belt life from instructors with more than 75 years of combined industry experience.
When It's Offered
November 8-10; Decatur, GA
Trainers
- Mike Hesslau - Territory Sales Manager, Flexco
- Brad Bundy - Territory Sales Manager - Mountain West, Shaw Almex Industries
- Gary Dech - Global Technical Sales Manager, The Almex Group
Meet the Trainers
Brad Bundy
Territory Sales Manager - Mountain West, Shaw Almex Industries
Brad Bundy started his belting career in 2007 with a leading global conveyor belt manufacturer and is now with the Almex Group as a territory manager and supports the splice/ technical training department. He began as a field vulcanizer he has since held positions as a technical trainer, application specialist, project manager for Heavyweight belt construction and change-outs, and operational manager for two service branches in the western United States. He has performed Heavyweight belt service from 2 miles below an ocean to more than 2 miles above sea level, on belts conveying everything from prescription medication to precious metals.
Brad has conducted splice training classes in multiple countries for thousands of students and believes he is as much a student as an instructor in this industry. Brad has written and revised new and worn belt splicing and repair procedures, created industry-related tooling and his hands-on approach focuses on Safety, Quality, and Efficiency in that order.
Buddy Wilson
Motion Industries - Motion Industries Conveyance Solutions Division
Buddy Wilson has spent his entire professional life in the belting industry. Over the past 22 years, he has worked on all sides of the belting industry, including belting and component sales, applications engineering, conveyor service operations management and international project management. Buddy especially enjoys the process of conveyor troubleshooting and optimization.
In his current role, Buddy is implementing the start-up of Motion Industries’ Birmingham Belt Shop. In addition, he also assists in developing and executing tailored conveyor belting and systems training for the organization. Buddy has authored several technical papers published in the NIBA Beltline.
Chad Ackerman
Strategic Accounts Manager, Flexco
Chad Ackerman recently joined the Flexco Team as a Strategic Accounts Manager after five years at Ammeraal Beltech. His experience includes working and developing strategies with end user and distributor customers in various industries.
Don Rabb
Eastern Regional Sales Manager, Chemprene
Don Rabb has been with Chemprene for 9 years as the Eastern Regional Manager and prior to that with Forbo-Siegling for 10 years in a Sales role. Utilizing these years of experience in LW Belting, he has taken an active role to lend this experience in this teaching role.
Gary Dech
Global Technical Sales Manager, The Almex Group
Gary Dech began working in the conveyor belting business over 35 years ago and brings firsthand knowledge of splicing, sales and application engineering in both heavyweight and lightweight belting as well as peripheral equipment such as pulleys, idlers and belt cleaning components.
As the Global Technical Sales Manager for The Almex Group Gary has facilitated and led multi-day conveyor belt splice training classes on three continents and brings experience, humor and a lighthearted attitude to any training or technical seminar.
Mark Green
Light Duty Marketing Field Specialist, Flexco
Green has been with Flexco for more than 25 years, working in various roles such as manufacturing, ISO9001 implementation, engineering support, project management and more. In his current position, Green works with a variety of departments at Flexco in a global capacity to conduct internal and external product testing, develop and conduct product training and demonstrations, and is the customer service liaison to answer technical questions from the customers and convey customer feedback to the product team.
Michael Wieland
Vice President of Sales, Mulhern Belting, Inc.
Michael Wieland is Vice President of Sales at Mulhern Belting, Inc. He has over 30 years of experience dealing with distributors and OEMS in all aspects of the belting industry. He has worked with lightweight and heavyweight belting equally during his career. He has a background in all areas from food, automotive, and aggregate.
Mike Hesslau
Territory Sales Manager, Flexco
Michael Hesslau has been with Flexco for 24 years. He spent nine years in Flexco’s Customer Service/Inside Sales. Then moved to the marketing department creating, writing, filming & editing Flexco training videos and as a lead instructor in Flexco’s BCP training classes.
The next eight years were spent in North America (western United States & Canada) & Asia (China, India, South East Asia) working with colleagues, distributors, and end-users performing training, troubleshooting, installation, and sales. The last five years have been spent as Territory Sales Manager for Flexco in Northern Illinois, Southern/Eastern Wisconsin, and Eastern Iowa.
Pete Radding
Director of Sales, Continental Conveying Solutions
Radding has spent 26 years in the conveyor belt industry split between application engineering and product development, and commercial (marketing/sales).
Sander Romers
Light Duty Marketing Field Specialist, Flexco
Romers came to Flexco in 2010 with 20 years of industry experience. In his role, Romers travels the world providing technical support for the light-duty fastener and endless splicing product lines. He is also heavily involved in internal and external product testing and conducts regular training and demonstrations as an instructor for our distributor training schools and employee onboarding. Romers' specialty is working with the product design, development, and marketing teams to ensure Flexco products are designed and built with the customer in mind.