Technician Tuesday Spotlight: Tony Drakeford

   This week, we’re excited to highlight Tony Drakeford, one of the newest members of the AGT technician family! Tony is originally from Plainfield, New Jersey, and made the move to Ohio in 2015 to be closer to family. He officially joined the AGT family in August 2023, and we’re glad to have him on the team.

Tony’s favorite part of working at AGT is learning the science behind what we do and seeing how that knowledge directly helps our customers. He enjoys meeting new people on the job and values the relationships built while supporting operations across the industry.

When he’s not in the field, Tony loves traveling back to the East Coast to spend time with family. He’s also a big fan of our office workouts and staying active—while still fully embracing his love for good food.

We’re proud to have Tony on the team and appreciate the energy, curiosity, and dedication he brings to AGT every day!

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Mill Steel has recently placed an order for AGT400 system upgrades, reinforcing their commitment to precision measurement and consistent quality across their operations. These upgrades will enhance real-time thickness monitoring, improve data visibility, and support tighter process control on the line. AGT is proud to support Mill Steel as they continue investing in reliable, proven measurement technology to drive efficiency and product confidence.

At Advanced Gauging Technologies, accurate measurement starts with the people behind the equipment.

Our field service technicians work directly on customer lines, ensuring our gauging systems are installed, maintained, and performing exactly as they should; even in the toughest mill environments.

This week’s Technician Tuesday spotlight features Jim Russell, one of the dedicated professionals who helps keep our customers’ operations running smoothly.

Jim has been part of the AGT team for 13 years, and his favorite part of the job has always been the people he’s met along the way. One of his most memorable experiences was traveling to Korea for a startup; a trip that was originally planned for one week but unexpectedly turned into three due to a surprise quarantine. Despite the unexpected extension, Jim says, “I will never forget the kind people I met and how serene everything was…and the food was incredible.”

Outside of work, Jim’s favorite place to visit is Grand Cayman, a destination that never fails to impress. He also loves cheering on the Buckeyes every Saturday during football season and is a big Joe Burrow fan. Bonus tip: if you ever get the chance to grab a meal with Jim, you can’t go wrong with Italian.

From on-site troubleshooting to preventative maintenance and system optimization, our technicians bring expertise, reliability, and a customer-first mindset to every service visit.

👏 Thank you, Jim Russell, for the work you do and the value you bring to our customers every day!

Time concert is similar to gauge sampling rate. It’s how often the measurement system takes a reading. Usually this is expressed as readers per second (Hz). For instance, a time concert of 1,000 Hz means the gauge is capturing 1,000 measurements per second.

Why It Matters

A higher time concert allows your gauge to:

• Detect rapid thickness or width changes
• Capture short defects or variations
• Provide smoother, more detailed data across the strip

If the time concert is too low, your system may miss critical variations, leading to inaccurate averages, undetected defects, and potential quality issues downstream.

Real-World Impact

In high-speed lines slitting, leveling, or rolling, material moves fast. A high time concert ensures your measurements keep up with production speed. This protects yield, reduces scrap, and improves confidence in your data.

The steel industry is evolving quickly, and 2025 is shaping up to be a major year for modernization. From sustainability initiatives to smarter production lines, here are the key trends reshaping steel processing—and what they mean for quality, measurement, and plant performance.

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1. The Rise of Green Steel

More mills are shifting toward low-carbon steelmaking using electric arc furnaces, higher scrap content, and emerging hydrogen-based processes. These changes increase variability in coil characteristics, making accurate thickness and width measurement more critical than ever to maintain quality and reduce scrap.

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2. Smart Manufacturing & Automation

Plants are investing in automation, digital twins, IIoT sensors, and AI-driven process control. As production becomes more connected, real-time measurement systems play a central role in feeding reliable data to these platforms. Upgrading older gauges is now one of the easiest ways for processors to modernize without a full line overhaul.

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3. Advanced Coatings & High-Strength Steels

Automotive, appliance, and construction markets continue pushing for coated and high-strength materials. These tighter-tolerance products demand higher gauge accuracy, better edge detection, and consistent repeatability to stay within spec.

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4. Scrap Reduction & Efficiency

With rising costs, plants are hyper-focused on reducing waste, minimizing rework, and improving yield. Measurement systems directly support these goals—better gauge accuracy means fewer rejects and improved profitability per coil.

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5. Workforce Training & Skills

As automation increases, operators need stronger technical skills to manage data, troubleshoot issues, and interpret gauge readings. Clear training, simple interfaces, and dependable support are becoming essential parts of any equipment purchase.

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Conclusion

In 2025, steel processors are prioritizing sustainability, precision, and automation. Modern measurement technology—accurate, reliable, and easy to integrate—will play a major role in helping plants stay competitive.

If you’re exploring upgrades or looking to improve measurement accuracy on your line, AGT can help you choose the right solution for your operation.