The world of 3D printing has seen vast changes in recent years. IP constraints on those early technologies lifted, and an explosion of offers and solutions hit the market, leading to the consolidation we are seeing in the industry today. But for Dani Mason and B9Creations success in this industry hasn’t been about outspending competition, it’s about out-listening them.

In this episode, Dani shares how B9 has built a competitive edge by prioritizing deep customer relationships over flashy R&D budgets. From customer-funded innovation to a structured voice-of-the-customer process, B9 integrates real-world feedback at every stage, ensuring products solve actual industry pain points.

Forget gimmicks and gift cards, this is a masterclass in authentic customer engagement.

How do you shift from traditional marketing to an inbound approach in the manufacturing industry? Josh Gravelle, Marketing Manager at Calvary Robotics, joins The Kula Ring to share his journey from TV production to B2B marketing and how he’s helped evolve Calvary’s marketing strategy over nearly a decade.
Josh discusses the challenges and rewards of getting engineers involved in content creation, the role of brand storytelling in establishing thought leadership, and why consistency in marketing efforts pays off. He also dives into the impact of launching a podcast, leveraging speaking engagements, and integrating HubSpot to strengthen Calvary’s inbound marketing efforts.
If you’re looking for insights on how to develop a meaningful content strategy that goes beyond just generating leads, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.

In this episode of The Kula Ring, we sit down with Alex Koepsel, Director of Product Marketing at Vention, to discuss the art of managing up and across in product marketing. Alex shares his journey from electrical engineering to product marketing, revealing how his technical background and entrepreneurial mindset shaped his approach to positioning products and influencing key stakeholders.

We explore how Vention is democratizing industrial automation, making it easier for manufacturers of all sizes to implement automation solutions. Alex also unpacks the strategies behind building trust, aligning with leadership goals, and persuading decision-makers to invest in marketing initiatives. Whether you’re in product marketing, sales, or leadership, this episode is packed with insights on navigating cross-functional teams and driving meaningful change within an organization.

Tune in to hear how product marketers can act as “mini CEOs” and leverage influence to move the business forward.

For decades, Pack-Smart has been at the forefront of packaging automation, seamlessly integrating robotics and software to deliver turnkey solutions. Yet, despite its technological leadership, the company relied almost exclusively on YouTube for lead generation—until now.
In this episode of The Kula Ring, we explore how Pack-Smart is embracing digital marketing for the first time. With new strategies in SEO, CRM integration, and thought leadership content, the company is expanding its brand presence and driving data-driven decision-making across the organization. We dive into the challenges of shifting from product-focused messaging to industry leadership and how Pack-Smart is positioning itself as a go-to resource for emerging trends and regulatory changes.
Tune in to hear how a company that has innovated in manufacturing for years is now innovating in marketing—creating a stronger, more connected approach to customer engagement.

Deploying marketing automation at scale in the manufacturing sector comes with an array of challenges and opportunities. In this week’s episode of The Kula Ring, Carlicia Layosa shares her firsthand experience implementing and refining marketing automation strategies. She discusses the importance of data integration, audience segmentation, and behavior-based campaign triggers to create personalized customer journeys. Carlicia also reflects on lessons learned, including the need for an early focus on data quality, the power of AB testing, and the balance between personalization and crossing the “creepy” line. Plus, we explore the evolving role of AI in automation and what the future holds for engagement-driven marketing.