This photo illustrates MOR bars are broken for material strength. MOR = Modulus of Rupture. This is a Standard Test Method for Flexural Strength of Advanced Ceramics. This illustration shows a 4-point test. As you can see , there are 4 contact points on the bar. There is also a 3-point test.

When you talk Ceramics around the dinner table, you know it’s a family affair. I remember back in the 1990s (when I was ‘just a little guy’) how my grandparents would come for dinner and my dad (Joe Annese) and grandfather (Pat Annese) would talk Ceramics. Especially new grinding and tooling technologies because so much had changed since Pat founded Bomas in 1959. Joe was now deeply entrenched in the topic and couldn’t get enough of it which delighted Pat because he knew Joe was the future of the family legacy.

OK, I’ll admit my preferred topics of dinner conversation were baseball, football, and my newest girlfriend; and I would weave those important matters into the conversation as best I could. But even that became a challenge because eventually my mom (Theresa) developed a keen interestand became a participant in the ‘Ceramic talk’ and soon a key participant in the company’s success story. What was a young boy to do?

Now don’t get me wrong, they listened to the tales of my homeruns, touchdowns, and prom dates. But what changed… was me! I found myself interested in their discussions and began asking questions and learning from their answers. You know, it’s that old story that as we get older we begin to realize that, “Oh no, I’m becoming my father!”

Well, when you can’t beat them…

When Pat passed away in 2002, the conversation at the dinner table stayed the same, just the players changed! Now it was my mom, my dad, and me!

My brother Joe kept talking about his girlfriends. He was more interested in diamond rings than diamond tooling! Me? I got the bug. And, I’m glad I did because today I can say with pride that Bomas remains atop the industry and I am very proud of my role in maintaining the family legacy.