R-e-s-p-e-c-t.

Alex Muncy was still an apprentice at STIHL Inc. when the company enlisted him in revamping an automated packaging process. The package would contain the outdoor power equipment manufacturer’s signature trimmer line, the colorful cord used to give lawns a precise, neat appearance. The goal: satisfy the customer while cutting production costs. Muncy’s team developed a concept, designed the packaging machine, and fabricated components using advanced techniques, all while smoothly integrating robots, scanners, vision systems, and sophisticated machine controls. “He has all the ingredients to be a future leader,” enthuses his boss, Andreas Garstenauer, STIHL’s director of manufacturing engineering. “He’s a good communicator and a great engineer with a lot of potential.”