My first day on the job I met Duncan Murdock.  It was 1989, and I sat in on a paper slitting meeting.  I sat and listened and learned.  Duncan was a senior tech (not a regional manager as he is today), and was clearly on top of the technology and the application.  Although he was young, he explained to the engineers and designers exactly how to design the slitter’s cross beam, the redundant cutting heads (to ensure 24/7 operation) the catcher tank.  He understood how the paper would flow at extremely high speed, across the top of the catcher, and how the catcher top would create the right airflow to keep the paper down and flat without billowing.