#29 - What Success Really Takes: Simplicity, Trust & Saying No to Clients

▶️ Guest: Tim Verweij, Global Automation Expert, Lab Services B.V.

🎙 Hosts: Sura Hadi & Mike Ouren

📻 This episode of Automation in the Wild explores what actually makes automation successful - and why simplicity, trust, and saying no are more powerful than the flashiest robot on the showroom floor.

Tim Verweij walks us through his journey from hands-on scientist to global automation leader. We get into real-world system design, lessons from stubborn hardware, and why flashy tech might just be your worst investment.

🔹 When saying "no" to a client can save the whole project

🔹 Why simple beats shiny (every time)

🔹 Designing systems that don’t break

🔹 24/7 automation that outlasts its service contracts

🔹 The art of modularity, scaling, and real-world success

🔹 Why AI is more than hype—but not your replacement (yet)

🔹 And yes... automation for weed-growing in 96-well plates

🍻 Whether you're scaling your first workcell or pitching a 300m² tender, this episode breaks down the invisible work of making automation actually work.

🎧 Subscribe for more episodes, automation case studies, and raw conversations from the front lines of biotech and lab innovation:https://linktr.ee/helicalbrew

🔔 Subscribe & Like if you’ve ever had to simplify something that looked good on paper.

⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS - NAVIGATE THE EPISODE

00:00 Cold Open – Automation is inevitable

00:18 Welcome to Helical Brew + Meet Tim

03:00 From J&J to Global Automation Expert

06:30 What Real Automation Success Looks Like

10:00 The Power of Saying No to Clients

14:20 Why Flashy Tech Can Hurt Projects

18:40 Simplicity, Trust & System Design

23:00 Modularity, Scaling & Planning for Growth

28:00 AI in Lab Automation: Real Talk

33:00 Home Automation Meets Lab Logic

36:45 Picks of the Week

41:30 Final Thoughts & Sign-Off

📌 SHORTS (Grab Quick Highlights)

▶️    • Why Automation Fails in Real Labs #he...  

▶️    • AI in Science: Helpful or Making Us S...  

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