This quarter, we took a closer look at one of the things that sets Kyanite Mining Corporation apart: the people, partnerships, and capabilities behind our research and development efforts.

We also caught up with QC Manager Mike Morris and recapped a busy trade show season.

From customer-focused testing and technical collaboration to the people and equipment behind our labs, this series highlights how R&D helps us better understand materials and support the industries we serve.

Explore the Series
#1: Supporting Our Customers
#2: Our Process
#3: Inside the Labs

Join Us

We’re currently hiring an R&D Lab Technician.
If you’re interested or know someone who may be a good fit, contact us at info@kyanite.com for more information.

Employee Spotlight: Meet Mike Morris

Most people know Mike as KMC’s QC Manager, but that’s only part of the story. Over the years, he’s become one of our go-to problem solvers, supporting everything from special projects and geology research to customer visits, company tours, and R&D initiatives.

We caught up with Mike to learn more about his role, what he enjoys most about working at KMC, and a few of the interests that keep him busy outside of work.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Quite variable and often unpredictable in time, topic, and scope. I prefer it that way. Most days are an adventure.

I like helping my co-workers, especially our folks in Sales. I appreciate how everyone gladly helps me get things accomplished. Like all of them, my support efforts put our customers first, and I couldn’t accomplish much without our team.

What do you enjoy most about your work at KMC?

Hands down, the people I work with and the relationships we have with our customers.

I also enjoy creative problem solving and figuring out how to test ideas using what we already have on hand before investing lots of capital. Saving money makes us faster, more responsive, and more competitive, and we’re able to pass some of that on to our customers.

What types of special projects are you involved in?

Geology projects, offsite work, direct customer interaction, lab projects, R&D projects, small-run testing, process and product development, company tours, annual rock-hound events, and community groups. I usually end up with the science-oriented or technical projects that aren’t assigned to anyone else in particular. There’s nothing I love better than a challenge, especially when I’m told something can’t be done.

How are you involved in KMC’s R&D efforts?

I’ve been blessed to work directly with several Ceramic and Refractory Engineers and learn from them on a frequent basis. Occasionally, I travel offsite to learn from and work with customers directly.

Formerly, I was KMC’s Lab Manager, so I’m familiar with our testing equipment, lab data, and the interpretation behind it. I’ve also become pretty familiar with the technical equipment across the mine property and help keep it all running, including emergency repairs when necessary.

By definition, I’m the company “packrat” and have been known to make critical parts materialize out of thin air at zero cost and with no lead time.

You’re also involved in company tours and outreach efforts. What do you enjoy about that side of your role?

Those folks are here because they’re interested. They’re not a captive audience like a school classroom. (I’ve done that too.)

I enjoy reaching out to local clubs, community groups, schools, students, Boy Scouts, homeschool groups, and governing bodies. We’ve hosted visitors ranging from young students to a 99-year-old gentleman who happened to be a former grade-school principal of mine.

I’ve also had the opportunity to represent KMC as a speaker before local Planning Commissions and Supervisory Boards. I appreciate that KMC has always supported those outreach efforts.

What sets KMC apart from other companies?

Having worked at larger companies that often preached they were like “family,” I can say KMC is the first and only one that really feels and acts like family. We consider our customers part of that family too.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work?

Working on tractors, antique engines, antiques in general, walking, fishing, hunting, construction, hunting war and home site artifacts with a metal detector, boating with friends, my Church family, international travel, gardening and producing some of the most beautiful vegetables you’ve ever seen or eaten, spending time with a wife I never deserved, my daughters and grandchildren, collecting Native American artifacts, golfing, pets like Russell Crowe the rooster, crazy Bat Cat, and my beagle Eeyore named after the big dumb donkey, cutting firewood, tending large areas of land, and reading history.

I tell my wife I’ve been sitting outside in the morning listening to Russell Crowe.

Perfect day? Sitting in a lawn chair in the middle of the Appomattox River with a cold beverage in my hand and my feet in the cool water of Virginia. The biggest

From the Road with Steven Ashlock

From Shanghai to Seville, the first half of the year took us around the world and back again. We asked Steven to recap a few highlights:

One of the things I enjoy most about these trips is seeing how the same industries tackle similar challenges in different parts of the world. There’s always something new to learn, whether it’s a different manufacturing approach, a new technology, or simply a fresh perspective.

International Conference on Refractories

Jamshedpur, India

We kicked off the year with our first visit to the International Conference on Refractories in Jamshedpur, India. Focused on ironmaking and steelmaking, the conference included discussions on hydrogen-based steel production and other emerging technologies.

Between the technical sessions, meeting many longtime customers and industry contacts in person for the first time, and a cultural program featuring local music and comedy, it was a memorable first visit and one we hope to repeat.

Ceramitec 2026

Munich, Germany

Next up was Ceramitec, one of the ceramic industry’s largest events and a show we always look forward to. Held every three years in Munich, it brings together customers, suppliers, and industry leaders from around the globe.

We shared a booth with our longtime Western European distributor, Cremer Erzkontor, and spent the week balancing booth traffic, meetings, customer visits, and meals with friends old and new.

Good German food, good beer, and good meetings—we’d call that a successful trip.

Dinner in Shanghai-Metals and Metallurgy China 2026

American Ceramic Society Refractory Ceramics Division (RCD) Meeting

St. Louis, Missouri

Back in the States, we attended RCD’s annual meeting, one of the most important events of the year for the North American refractory industry.

Jeromey and I spent three busy days meeting with customers and catching up on industry trends. As Vice Chair of ASTM’s Refractories Committee, I also attended a committee meeting while in St. Louis.

We’ve said it before, but this event feels more like a family reunion than a conference. It’s one of the few times each year we get to catch up with so many longtime friends, colleagues, and customers in one place. Between customer dinners and a Topgolf outing, there was plenty of time to reconnect outside the conference.

Ceramics Expo

Cleveland, Ohio

Ceramics Expo made its long-awaited return to Cleveland this year, where Jeromey and Mike represented KMC at the booth for two full days of strong booth traffic and industry connection.

Metals and Metallurgy China 2026

Shanghai, China

While Ceramics Expo was underway in Cleveland, I was in China with our local consultants, Lei and Emily in Shanghai for the 40th annual Metals and Metallurgy China exhibition.

Sharing a booth with Cremer Erzkontor China, we spent the week meeting with customers, catching up with industry contacts, and exploring new opportunities in foundry coatings and spray applications.

And because no trip is complete without trying something new, I checked duck gizzards off the list this year.

La Giralda, Seville. Andalucian Horse Dancing.

European Investment Casters Federation (EICF) Meeting

Seville, Spain

This year’s EICF meeting took place in Seville, where investment casting suppliers and manufacturers gathered for technical presentations, industry discussions, and networking.

Investment casting continues to boom in Spain. One statistic that stuck with me was the aircraft backlog—roughly 16,500 planes are currently on order worldwide.

Seville is a sister city to my hometown of Kansas City. Between meetings, I explored the city’s historic streets and orange-tree-lined plazas, and even caught a performance by Andalusian dancing horses at a villa dinner.

Kyanite Networking Reception-TRI 75th Anniversary 2026

The Refractories Institute Spring Meeting

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

The 75th annual TRI Spring Meeting gave us plenty to celebrate. We were honored to receive five safety awards, including the TRI Chairman’s Safety Award and individual safety awards for each of our four plants.

The annual golf tournament brought a little friendly competition, and our team came away with the tournament win. We also sponsored the networking reception, giving us another opportunity to catch up with customers, colleagues, and friends from across the industry. It was a great way to wrap up a busy trade show season.

Coming Up

Next quarter, we’ll turn our attention to KMC’s culture of safety.

We’ll explore the people, training, equipment, and everyday mindset that help make safety part of everything we do.