# STL: The SawStop Bandsaw with CEO Matt Howard

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2026-09-25
- Length: 53m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-25-stl-the-sawstop-bandsaw-with-ceo-matt-howard
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl-the-sawstop-bandsaw-with-ceo-matt-howard

## Summary

Matt Howard, CEO of SawStop (now part of Festool North America), discusses the launch of the SawStop Professional Bandsaw, which integrates Sensic safety technology to stop the blade in milliseconds upon contact. He details the engineering challenges, including the sacrificial cartridge system, tool-free blade changes, and advanced guide adjustments designed to make maintenance easier and faster. The conversation also covers SawStop's history, from Steve Gass's invention in a barn to its acquisition by Festool, and the strategic integration of Shaper Tools into the Festool brand to expand distribution and ecosystem integration.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-25-stl-the-sawstop-bandsaw-with-ceo-matt-howard#t=6) Introduction: Shop Talk Live and SawStop Bandsaw Launch
- [1:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-25-stl-the-sawstop-bandsaw-with-ceo-matt-howard#t=90) Matt Howard's Background and SawStop History
- [2:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-25-stl-the-sawstop-bandsaw-with-ceo-matt-howard#t=158) The Journey to Launching the Professional Bandsaw
- [5:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-25-stl-the-sawstop-bandsaw-with-ceo-matt-howard#t=340) Sensic Safety Technology and Sacrificial Cartridge
- [8:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-25-stl-the-sawstop-bandsaw-with-ceo-matt-howard#t=501) Blade Change Mechanism and Guide Adjustments
- [12:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-25-stl-the-sawstop-bandsaw-with-ceo-matt-howard#t=752) Integrated Motor Brake and Response Speed
- [17:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-25-stl-the-sawstop-bandsaw-with-ceo-matt-howard#t=1049) SawStop's Origins: Steve Gass and Early Product Development
- [24:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-25-stl-the-sawstop-bandsaw-with-ceo-matt-howard#t=1464) Product Lineup, Accessories, and Customer Preferences
- [31:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-25-stl-the-sawstop-bandsaw-with-ceo-matt-howard#t=1895) Future Roadmap: Dust Management and Safety Challenges
- [44:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-25-stl-the-sawstop-bandsaw-with-ceo-matt-howard#t=2668) Festool Acquires Shaper Tools and Brand Integration

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- SawStop (company)
- Festool (company)
- Shaper Tools (company)
- SawStop Professional Bandsaw (product)
- Sensic (other)
- Revolution Miter Gauge (product)
- Shaper Origin (product)
- Bench Pilot (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 131: Monopoly and safety](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-08-18-episode-131-monopoly-and-safety) (Making It)
- [461: Check Out My Immune System!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-11-08-461-check-out-my-immune-system) (Making It)
- [479: The One](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-04-18-479-the-one) (Making It)
- [Episode 224: Jumping-in-furing-out-i-tiv-ness](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-08-16-episode-224-jumping-in-furing-out-i-tiv-ness) (Making It)
- [Episode 235: Dreams of Modified Tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-11-01-episode-235-dreams-of-modified-tools) (Making It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-25-stl-the-sawstop-bandsaw-with-ceo-matt-howard. 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 Shop Talk Live.