# 217: The Intersection of Energy, Automation, and Construction with FTI's Kevin Senn

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2024-12-24
- Length: 48m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-12-24-217-the-intersection-of-energy-automation-and-construction-with-ftis-kevin-senn
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Kevin Senn, Director of Automation at FTI, explains how the company leverages its 50-year history in electrical contracting to offer end-to-end solutions in energy, automation, and industrialized construction. He details specific projects, including a biodigester in Middleton, Wisconsin, that converts cow manure into renewable natural gas, and the company's rapid growth in supplying prefabricated power distribution systems for data centers and EV infrastructure. Senn also discusses FTI's 'pathway to smarter energy' and the critical need for personal responsibility regarding the high energy consumption of AI technologies.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-12-24-217-the-intersection-of-energy-automation-and-construction-with-ftis-kevin-senn#t=0) Introduction and FTI Overview
- [7:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-12-24-217-the-intersection-of-energy-automation-and-construction-with-ftis-kevin-senn#t=421) Career Evolution and FTI's Service Model
- [14:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-12-24-217-the-intersection-of-energy-automation-and-construction-with-ftis-kevin-senn#t=842) Industrialized Construction and Data Center Growth
- [16:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-12-24-217-the-intersection-of-energy-automation-and-construction-with-ftis-kevin-senn#t=1008) The Pathway to Smarter Energy
- [18:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-12-24-217-the-intersection-of-energy-automation-and-construction-with-ftis-kevin-senn#t=1098) Middleton Biodigester Project Case Study
- [27:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-12-24-217-the-intersection-of-energy-automation-and-construction-with-ftis-kevin-senn#t=1626) EV Infrastructure and Energy Resilience
- [30:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-12-24-217-the-intersection-of-energy-automation-and-construction-with-ftis-kevin-senn#t=1847) Crypto Mining and Off-Grid Operations
- [35:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-12-24-217-the-intersection-of-energy-automation-and-construction-with-ftis-kevin-senn#t=2128) AI, Sustainability, and Future Trends

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- FTI (company)
- Faith Technologies (company)
- N-Tech Solutions (company)
- Accelerate (company)
- Rockwell Automation (company)
- Raised Grain Brewing (company)
- Fortinet (company)
- Skillwork (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Aligning Passion With Purpose: A Journey to Electrification and Sustainability](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-06-17-aligning-passion-with-purpose-a-journey-to-electrification-and-sustainability) (Moore's Lobby)
- [The Biotech Revolution: How Technology is Transforming Smart Buildings with Vijay Sankaran, Chief Technology Officer at Johnson Controls](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-05-31-the-biotech-revolution-how-technology-is-transforming-smart-buildings-with-vijay) (Over the Air)
- [How IoT Helps Buildings Save Energy | Argentum Electric's Erin Kelly](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-03-03-how-iot-helps-buildings-save-energy-argentum-electrics-erin-kelly) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Frontier Forum: The new power map for AI infrastructure](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-10-21-frontier-forum-the-new-power-map-for-ai-infrastructure) (Catalyst)
- [Inside Google’s massive AI capex (live)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-04-23-inside-googles-massive-ai-capex-live) (Catalyst)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-12-24-217-the-intersection-of-energy-automation-and-construction-with-ftis-kevin-senn. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Manufacturing Happy Hour.