November 26

Curing the Bottleneck: Finishing Innovation with Ryan Randell 

In this episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond is joined by Ryan Randell, National Director at Elevated Finishing, to dive deep into one of the most overlooked, and most painful, parts of a shop’s workflow: finishing. 

From long cure times to inconsistent results, finishing can often feel like a mysterious “black art.” But Ryan brings clarity, process, and serious innovation to the conversation, introducing us to a game-changing solution: the SCHUBOX. Designed for real-world millwork and cabinetry shops, this compact, catalytic IR curing system slashes drying times, eliminates bottlenecks, and makes finishing predictable. 

Whether you’re struggling with air-dry lag, overwhelmed by rework, or just tired of crowding your shop with drying racks, this episode offers insight into how smarter curing can transform production flow and profitability. 

About Our Guest 

Ryan Randell is the National Director at Elevated Finishing and a long-time expert in the world of finishing and coatings. His journey, from remodeling contractor roots to application engineering at Stiles Machinery, gave him hands-on insight into the real challenges millwork and cabinetry shops face daily. Now, he leads Elevated Finishing’s mission to bring European-style catalytic IR technology to the U.S. market through their signature product, the SCHUBOX. 

What You’ll Learn in This Episode 

  • Why Finishing Is the Bottleneck: Discover why finishing delays jobs more than any other phase, and how curing times, environmental conditions, and rework compound the issue. 
  • The Origin of the SCHUBOX: Learn how a partnership between Advanced Machinery and UK-based Schuberts led to the development of a flexible, mid-size finishing solution tailored for North American shops. 
  • How the SCHUBOX Works: Understand catalytic infrared curing technology, why it penetrates coatings from the bottom up, reduces VOCs, and eliminates the need for high-heat ovens or massive footprint systems. 
  • The Middle Ground Between Spray Booths and Full Lines: See how the Schubox fills a critical gap for shops too small for full finishing lines but too advanced to keep waiting overnight for parts to dry. 
  • Impact on Production Flow: Hear how shops cut cure time from 12–24 hours down to 30 minutes, shrinking WIP (work in progress), reducing errors, and creating more predictable scheduling. 
  • Maintenance and Operation Made Simple: Find out why the Shoebox is low-maintenance, easy to clean, and doesn’t require complex setups or utility overhauls. 
  • Debunking Finishing Myths: Ryan breaks down common misconceptions about “dry to touch” versus “fully cured” and explains how proper curing dramatically reduces rework and damaged parts. 
  • Who It’s For (and Not For): While ideal for liquid finishes on wood, PVC, and MDF, Ryan clarifies that the Shoebox is not for powder coating and doesn’t replace all ovens, it complements your system. 
  • The Future of Finishing: From robotic spraying to automated sanding, Ryan discusses where finishing technology is headed, and why shops must move toward predictable, scalable solutions. 
  • Advice for Shop Owners: Ryan urges shops to better quantify the actual cost of their finishing process, from labor to lead time, and why even one job can justify the investment in smarter curing. 

Key Insight: Take Control of Your Finishing 

Finishing doesn’t have to be a guessing game. As Ryan puts it, most shops are flying blind, spraying parts and hoping they cure in time. But with the right tools, curing can become predictable, efficient, and even a competitive advantage. As shops struggle with skilled labor shortages, shrinking timelines, and rework costs, it’s time to treat finishing as the strategic part of production it truly is. 

Where to Learn More 

Final Thoughts 

If finishing is still a mystery, or a bottleneck, in your workflow, this episode will open your eyes to what’s possible. Ryan Randell brings real world know-how and a practical solution to one of the biggest headaches in millwork and cabinetry. From curing faster to reclaiming your floor space, The SHUBOX might just be the smartest investment you’ve never considered. 

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