2025 was a great year, says Lean Program Manager Josh Johnston, because MMTC was able to make an impact on myriad companies across the industry. Recently, MMTC, along with its leadership team, has been spending more time embedded in the manufacturing sector so that it can focus on building lasting capabilities for its clients rather than simply providing one-time training.

In fact, he notes that as part of MMTC’s overall strategy, the organization is enhancing its consultative and advisory services alongside its training programs to deliver deeper, more meaningful support to the manufacturers it serves. “Education still remains an important part of what we do,” he says, as its foundation of continuous improvement is built on understanding both the tools and goals of any initiative.

Another focus of MMTC’s has always been to evolve to match its clients’ needs. Specifically, MMTC helps companies diagnose the challenges they face such that they can prioritize projects and initiatives that lead to changes and sustainable results.

While this priority shift has been in the works for years, 2025 was the big push forward into its implementation. To support this approach, MMTC is expanding opportunities for deeper client consultation. Dedicated MMTC Business Solutions Managers work directly with manufacturers to better understand their challenges and connect them with the right expertise and resources to achieve their goals. This approach allows MMTC to serve as a more strategic partner in helping clients strengthen and grow their businesses.

MMTC will not be abandoning its training aspects wholesale, and in line with its commitment to evolving to meet client needs, it is always assessing its offering catalogue to identify both the most in-demand courses as well as those that are no longer serving the industry. Since the team works specifically with small- to mid-sized manufacturers, many of the problems faced by these outfits are those that manufacturing organizations of all sizes are also seeing today.

Johnston says that what differentiates MMTC’s clientele is that many shop leaders tend to take on a number of roles: from general management and operations to hiring, logistics, and more. Often, these leaders don’t have the capacity to step back and think about the long-term future of the business, which is where MMTC often comes in to offer assistance.

MMTC’s business success planning—one of its primary offerings—will help these overworked and busy clients, Johnston believes. This is a process wherein an MMTC industry expert interviews the leadership team of a manufacturing organization to create a comprehensive analysis of where the company is now and compares it to where they want to be. This assessment then evolves into a practical three- to five-year road map that aligns with improvement projects, technology adoption, workforce development, and training. This way, leadership received clarity and relief for future planning while also figuring out how to keep the lights on tomorrow.

Johnston says that manufacturers today are facing greater complexity and uncertainty than ever before, and ongoing challenges, while nothing new, are varied. These include continuing volatility in raw material pricing due to fluctuating tariff policies; the industry facing an aging workforce as well as a limited talent pipeline entering the skilled trades to fill the spots; and all the hype around emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). As one of the biggest global industry buzzwords today, AI is seeing a lot of excitement, yet companies often struggle with implementation and developing strategies to capture return on investment data.

Many manufacturers are hesitant to adopt the technology because they have been burned in the past by technology startups that have sold them unrealistic solutions or poorly-scoped pilot projects, or even pressured staff to adopt misunderstood tools to gain an intended early market advantage. Johnston notes that while there can be gains in efficiency and productivity, it must be implemented thoughtfully and strategically—otherwise, throwing technology onto a bad process only makes the bad process faster, not better.

With this in mind, another major focus for MMTC is to become the trusted advisor for Michigan’s manufacturers in adopting and implementing various AI technologies. As such, MMTC will be expanding its offerings to help manufacturers move out of skepticism and into practical, value-driven applications.

The team spent much of last year creating ways for manufacturers to leverage this new technology, especially since companies that are late to the table risk getting left behind. One such method has been launching a series of courses on AI in manufacturing. In the first few months of 2026, MMTC has launched six new AI-centered courses including AI for Quality Control and Inspection (using AI-enabled visions and camera systems); AI for Manufacturing Leaders (how to introduce these technologies into your organization in a strategic, responsible manner and roll out solutions from the top down); AI for Supply Chain Optimization (leveraging deep research capabilities for in-depth supplier analysis and more); AI101 & AI102 Workshops (focused on generative AI basics and advanced ChatGPT use cases); and Lean Problem Solving With Generative AI (how large language models can be used to expedite effective problem solving).

The new push into artificial intelligence systems for manufacturing is also allowing MMTC to expand physically. A new AI lab in its home of Plymouth will serve as a space for manufacturers to experience new AI technology and simulate an on-premises solution without putting a business at risk. MMTC has also been hosting workshops across Michigan to give industry people a chance to gain hands-on experience with new technology and tools.

This has been a very exciting venture, according to Johnston. “The ‘a-ha!’ moment is one of my favorite parts of the job,” he says. By demystifying these technologies and making artificial intelligence feel less intimidating for new users, MMTC provides a launching point for clients to take back their companies. Its long-term focus will be on helping manufacturers cut through the AI hype, make informed decisions, and realize a measurable return on their outcomes instead of just chasing technology for the sake of it.

Amid today’s market challenges, the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center is energized by its renewed direction. Last year, MMTC launched the inaugural Manufacturing Insights Survey to capture manufacturer feedback on trends, strengths, challenges, and opportunities. From these responses, MMTC produced the Manufacturing Insights Report, which highlights the concerns and priorities of small and midsize manufacturers across the state while offering actionable solutions and outlining how MMTC can help them. The full report is available at www.the-center.org.

Ultimately, Johnston says, MMTC’s “goal is to not be the best-kept secret in Michigan,” but rather to be a trusted and established aid for Michigan’s manufacturers to call on for anything they need.

The post A Best-Kept Secret No Longer<p class="company">Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center</p> appeared first on Manufacturing In Focus.

The decade started on a hot note for Elcon with the official announcement of its purchase by global manufacturing network The Partner Companies (TPC). Although the purchase was made in 2011, the sale was not made public until 2020. Since then, Elcon has become even more involved with TPC and its more recent acquisitions, all of which have brought more capabilities that can be offered to customers. These acquisitions have included L&T Precision; Photofabrication Engineering Inc.; Pinnacle Precision; United Plastics Group; and Precision Eforming, last year.

All the capabilities from these businesses added to the TPC suite, “integrating well with what Elcon does for its clients and positioning it as a one-stop shop among metal manufacturers,” says Elcon Data Analyst Nikki Do.

Currently, TPC sports 11 specialty manufacturers including Elcon in its holdings, with a physical presence across the United States and sites around the world in locations like China, Mexico, and Wales. It has also received new funding from investors to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars from businesses like Huntington Bank, and work is still ongoing to continue raising even more capital.

Elcon itself recently completed a semi-merger with another operation in its Bay Area home. Only 10 minutes down the road, the new manufacturing site grants the team more edging capacity and other capabilities. This includes an increased capacity in its factory metal edging line and in refractory metals like tungsten and titanium, elements that are in demand by many of the sectors with which Elcon works closely and that require high-temperature operations.

In the couple of years since we last spoke, Elcon has added diffusion bonding to its services and more people to its team in terms of mulling and processing engineers. “Our value is our engineering team,” Do says. The company’s clients, which include medium-sized and start-up companies, often come to it with a tough engineering challenge in terms of manufacturing, such as creating a product from an obscure, advanced material. In these cases, its engineers have the knowledge to deliver while also being able to inform customers what can and cannot work, making the process efficient and informed.

As things are now, Elcon continues to see great demand from the aerospace and defense sectors for both of its major product lines. With its ceramic metallization and brazing services, the company can provide the sophisticated ceramics that go into missiles, fighter jets, or hyper-sonic applications. Among its specialty products are control grids for waxing wave tubes used for radar application in defense contexts; vacuum coaxial switches for radar systems which are often used with missile guidance; and radio frequency shielding used in planes and jets.

The company is also active in the medical industry—many of its parts are used in electrosurgical instruments in sports medicine as well as electron guns for medical imaging equipment and oncology treatment devices.

These two specific fields, however, are not the only areas where Elcon excels. Do tells us that some customers are in the photonics industry, for which Elcon makes parts for analytical instruments. Headway is also being made into the nuclear energy space with the company’s hermetically-sealed brazing process, used to braze ceramic and metal components together.

Finally, more growth is happening around the burgeoning field of data centers, all of which require considerable cooling for their servers. Elcon manufactures heat sinks and heat exchanger plates that can run coolant through these servers. The company also offers a considerable portfolio of services in the semiconductor industry, an area that promises to keep growing with the burgeoning reliance on—and worldwide interest in—artificial intelligence systems and the aforementioned data centers.

Undeniably, a great deal of growth is happening for Elcon around the aerospace and defense industries specifically, with many more proposals and project requests coming in following an increase in defense spending in the United States, according to Do. However, she indicates that the company is seeing some supply chain issues as certain types of materials and plating metals are currently experiencing shortages; prices have gone up on these materials, putting pressure on both Elcon and its end users. A lot of customers are also demanding faster timelines on projects, which could be influenced by the race to take advantage of funding alongside other market-based constraints.

Thankfully, TPC has been a big help in facing these challenges. “With a bigger footprint in the supply chain, we have leverage with both suppliers and each other,” Do says. This means that if a client has a prototype developed for their project or specifications but is in need of faster output and delivery, some of the work can be given to Elcon’s many sister companies to meet these kinds of goals. Having multiple sites throughout the U.S. has helped Elcon address these issues and given it further weight when negotiating with suppliers, meaning that despite any short-term difficulties, the company still sits in an advantageous position within its active markets.

Going forward into 2026, Elcon will be focusing on integrating both its overall capabilities and the TPC technology stack to provide greater efficiencies for its team, says Do. Having started as a group of companies working on different internal systems, becoming united within the TPC group will likely translate into greater efficiencies that will benefit both employees and customers. The integration also affords Elcon the opportunity to collaborate on engineering solutions within this network of companies. There is still much ongoing work when it comes to trying out new materials and processes, especially involving finding the right fit for a client’s project.

“Our company is well-funded and positioned strategically,” Do says, and is making investments toward solving its customers’ needs across various sectors. Elcon Precision continues to be recognized for its efforts within TPC and even locally, as its titanium surgical mesh product was named one of the top 16 ‘Coolest Things Made In California’ by the California Manufacturers & Technology Association. It also recently passed the ‘six million units manufactured’ mark of tungsten surgical components for one of its medical device company clients and celebrated the production of one million metallized ceramic components for a long-time end user in the aerospace field.

Clearly, this company isn’t slowing down. On its own merits, and with the help of its new parent company, Elcon Precision is poised to keep both its momentum and its growth strong throughout the rest of the decade.

The post A Valuable Merger Allows Engineering to Shine<p class="company">Elcon Precision</p> appeared first on Manufacturing In Focus.

For LIVIO Building Systems, the answer lies in rethinking how these facilities are delivered. Through its LIVIO AI Data Center Factory (LAIF) platform, the company has positioned itself at the vanguard of rapid AI infrastructure deployment, enabling developers to transform land and power into operational AI compute capacity in a fraction of the time traditionally required.

At its core, LAIF is a pre-engineered, multi-trade panelized building system designed specifically for AI data centers. The approach combines LIVIO’s modular wall and roof panels with integrated electrical and plumbing infrastructure, allowing structures to be assembled on site with remarkable speed. The system is designed to support scalable modules ranging from 20 megawatts to more than a gigawatt of capacity, accommodating the massive computing loads required by modern AI systems.

In practical terms, the LAIF approach condenses what would typically be a multi-year development cycle into mere months. Using standardized components shipped directly to the project site and assembled in a LEGO® brick-like manner, the building shell can be delivered in roughly 45 days, with hardware and rack installation following shortly thereafter. A complete AI data center can be converted from “land to compute” in as little as 99 days.

Engineering the next generation of AI infrastructure
The concept builds on LIVIO’s established panelized construction system, which has been evolving rapidly in recent years. In fact, since the company was last featured in Construction in Focus in 2024, two new generations of its building system have been introduced.

Generation 2.0 enhanced LIVIO’s original panelized platform by integrating structural sheathing into wall assemblies and incorporating plumbing and electrical infrastructure directly into the panels themselves. Founder and CEO Navneet Aron says the upgrade dramatically increased the completeness of the company’s off-site manufactured components.

Shortly afterward, Generation 3.0 launched as a fully closed-wall system designed to arrive on site essentially ready for finishing. With the interior surfaces prepared for painting and exterior surfaces ready to accept dry cladding systems, customers can move almost immediately from installation into the finishing phase.

These improvements laid the groundwork for LAIF, which adapts the same manufacturing philosophy specifically for high-performance AI data center environments.

“AI infrastructure is one of the fastest-growing construction segments in the world,” Aron explains. “The challenge is that traditional construction timelines simply cannot keep up with the demand for compute capacity.”

Solving the bottleneck
The surge in generative AI and large-scale machine learning has triggered unprecedented investment in digital infrastructure. Hyperscale technology companies and specialized developers are pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into new facilities, yet the pace of construction remains a major constraint. For many developers, the building itself—not the chips or cooling systems—has become the biggest bottleneck.

This is precisely where LAIF can make an impact. By fabricating building components off-site and assembling them quickly on location, LIVIO’s system dramatically reduces the labor requirements and construction time typically associated with large-scale data centers.

In one recent project in Ohio, LIVIO and its partners demonstrated the potential of this approach, delivering a fully operational AI data center facility within weeks of the project’s initiation. The speed and efficiency of that deployment led the developer to commit to using LIVIO systems across its broader project portfolio.

The LAIF platform also incorporates design features tailored to AI workloads, including compatibility with high-density racks, advanced cooling systems, and integrated infrastructure for power distribution and monitoring.

A platform built for global scale
While AI infrastructure has become the company’s most prominent offering, LIVIO’s building systems continue to serve a diverse range of applications, from residential and commercial developments to specialized structures with enhanced security features. Still, the explosive growth of AI computing is shaping the company’s global strategy. In recent months, LIVIO has seen strong demand not only across the United States but also from developers in the Middle East and other emerging markets eager to build new infrastructure quickly. Saudi Arabia has been one of the first regions where the company has engaged with major development groups, while opportunities are also emerging in parts of Africa and Asia.

As word spreads about the efficiency of its systems, Aron says developers are increasingly drawn to the company’s combination of precision, speed, and cost control.

“A developer anywhere in the world wants the same thing,” he says. “They want to build accurately, quickly, and predictably. Our system makes that possible.”

Reimagining how the world builds
Beyond speed, the company’s technology addresses several structural challenges facing the construction sector. Labor shortages continue to affect markets worldwide, while traditional building methods often struggle with delays, cost overruns, and inconsistent quality. LIVIO’s panelized system reduces on-site labor requirements by as much as 80 to 90 percent while delivering construction accuracy within one-eighth of an inch, Aron says.

“Our mission has been to reduce reliance on a highly skilled labor force on the job site,” he explains. “If we can simplify the process and make it more predictable, we can fundamentally improve how buildings are delivered.”

To help achieve that goal, LIVIO systems are designed to be intuitive to assemble, with clearly labeled components and step-by-step installation guidance.

The road ahead
As the global AI infrastructure boom accelerates, LIVIO expects its LAIF platform to become an increasingly central part of its business. The company is already preparing future generations of its building system, which will introduce additional pre-installed elements such as roofing assemblies, interior doors, and expanded finishing options.

The ultimate goal is to push the boundaries of how quickly complete structures—particularly complex facilities like AI data centers—can be delivered.

“We will continue to deliver to our current customers and expand our markets here nationally and globally,” Aron says. “AI infrastructure is only going to grow, and we believe our technology will play a major role in enabling that growth.”

The post Leveraging Technology for Global Success<p class="company">LIVIO Building Systems</p> appeared first on Manufacturing In Focus.

The injection molding process involves the use of various materials that can produce parts of reliable quality. These materials can include metal, glass, thermoplastics, and more, while the molds themselves are usually made of steel or aluminum. Injection molding is currently the most common method of part manufacturing and can be used to create a wide variety of machine parts—everything from beverage containers and caps to children’s toys to automotive parts. It is an age-old process still in wide use today, but it is hardly the same as it was hundreds of years ago.

New advancements in industrial technology are allowing the process to be reconsidered. For example, 3D printing is proving to be a way to revolutionize injection molding. Printed molds are typically produced in two configurations: mold inserts in aluminum frames, which are the most common configuration and produce more accurate parts; and standalone molds, in which the mold is fully printed. A piece for The Welding Institute says that 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is ideal for fast prototyping, with turnaround times of one to two per week, and allows for frequent design changes. “This process is also able to produce relatively small plastic parts and components, while also being ideal for complex or intricate designs.”

Mold elements like steel and aluminum are resistant to wear and tear during the molding process but can require a large initial investment. Because of this, molding projects with a lower planned run often need to shift focus away from wear resistance, making certain 3D printing technologies an attractive solution. When high-accuracy part printing processes such as material jetting and stereolithography are paired with temperature-resistant printing materials, printed molds become a good option for manufacturing low-run injection molding dies.

According to The Welding Institute, while 3D printing is currently seeing more widespread adoption, injection molding remains the preferred process for manufacturing plastic parts due to the cost efficiency and quality associated with mass production. However, 3D printing can be preferable for prototyping projects because injection molding tooling design is often expensive and time consuming.

This distinction can be seen in areas such as the medical field, where 3D printing is used for the production of custom items like prosthetics. “Rather than seeing 3D printing as a potential replacement for injection molding, the two technologies should be seen as complementary processes that can be used together depending upon requirements,” according to The Welding Institute, which says that 3D printing is currently best suited for low-production runs of 100 parts or fewer due to the time and cost involved in larger runs.

Moving beyond additive manufacturing—and like many other sectors undergoing similar changes in processes and materials—injection molding is also addressing a shift toward greater sustainability. Companies such as sustainable plastics manufacturer BIO-FED are now openly using compounds made from biodegradable biopolymers and renewable raw materials. Renewable materials can replace traditional injection molding materials like metal, glass, and ceramics with alternatives such as coconut shells and rice hulls. Research into these practices is ongoing, and new materials are being discovered and tested on a regular basis.

In a piece on sustainable plastics manufacturing for Fictiv, David Willson says that the plastics manufacturing industry is shifting toward more sustainable practices, driven by a global desire for environmentally friendly solutions. “Sustainable plastics, designed to minimize ecological harm through renewable sourcing, recyclability, or biodegradability, are driving this change,” Willson writes. Materials such as biodegradable and recycled plastics, including polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, post-consumer resins, and thermoplastics, are increasingly being adopted. Bio-based polymers sourced from plants like corn or sugarcane are also appealing, as they offer a lower carbon footprint. “Unlike virgin plastics, which emit 2 to 3 kg of CO₂ per kg during production, recycled plastics can reduce emissions by up to 60 percent, often to 0.8 to 1.2 kg of CO₂ per kg.”

These sustainable practices require additional care, as materials must be carefully sorted to remove contaminants that could affect color or strength. Bio-based plastics often require industrial composting facilities to break them down effectively, making widespread adoption more challenging. In some cases, production can place strain on agricultural resources, such as polylactic acid requiring up to one hectare of land per ton, meaning the transition is not as simple as switching materials without further consideration.

Beyond additive manufacturing and sustainability, other emerging technologies are also influencing injection molding. The industry has become more intelligent and data-driven, combining sensors, algorithms, and electric drives to achieve consistent quality. Artificial intelligence is being used more frequently in injection molding, with direct integration into machines and controllers to help predict and correct process inefficiencies, further automating mechanical operations.

Electric injection molding machines are also gaining traction, offering greater precision and energy efficiency than traditional machines. They provide improved motion control, faster response times, and more repeatable injection processes. However, the initial investment for electric machines remains high, and maintenance has become more specialized. Like 3D printing, electric alternatives are promising but come with their own challenges.

Further technological advancements will continue to drive innovation in the injection molding sector as smart manufacturing technologies increase efficiency through real-time monitoring and improve quality through Internet of Things sensors. Predictive maintenance can help reduce costs by limiting equipment failures and labour expenses, while data analytics can enhance flexibility and supply chain planning.

Injection molding, and plastics manufacturing as a whole, are entering an especially dynamic period of innovation and sustainable development. The topic remains prominent at major industry gatherings such as the annual Medical Design and Manufacturing (MD&M) trade show, which regularly features injection molding among its key subjects. As global demand for machine parts continues to rise year over year, innovation in processes like injection molding is increasingly important, particularly as customers expect more responsible and efficient production from industries that have existed for centuries.

The post Injection Molding in Transition<p class="company">Technology and Sustainability Shape the Future</p> appeared first on Manufacturing In Focus.

New developments
According to Chief Executive Officer Alex Lawton, after the company’s merger with iron casting business Renaissance Manufacturing Group in spring 2024, higher-volume green sand casting was brought into the mix. Green sand casting employs a mixture of water, clay, and sand to make molds, with ‘green’ referring to the moisture content of this economical and adaptable method that helps the mold keep its form as the molten metal is poured in.

Since we last spoke, various service components of the business were also fortified thanks to the brokerage of standalone machine shops. New capabilities have been made possible since the merger, and time is being spent on working to integrate and harmonize several companies into one. Marketing and Communications Coordinator Nate Vandergrift states that cross-site collaboration has grown in the past year, with products that can be made at several Lawton facilities.

Other developments include the KUKA RMC90 robot, currently in a development phase, which is an upgrade from the old pattern of foam tools, Lawton tells us. The robot is a way to skip the tooling process, which is better for speed and quality levels as well as for the environment. The company is also multiple years into a project around its enterprise resource planning software in its production facilities, and has added customer relationship management software called HubSpot. The team also continues to be open to artificial intelligence in the form of large language models, which has made running certain internal processes like human resources and data collection and reporting easier.

A top focus has been the assimilation of the group of Lawton companies as they better understand how to work together. This went from a company with disparate businesses in the same market to a more centralized, integrated offering, and the goal is to deliver the capabilities of these parts in a more consistent way to the customer. “We want to do more business across more locations with the culture we know and like,” Lawton says.

Mastalir adds that it is important for Lawton’s people to understand the full capabilities of the company, especially because salespeople have been accustomed to only promoting the products and services under their own roof. In expanding, these people need to be able to know all the things that can be added to the portfolio of customer service and become experts in the entire business.

The vision of the company’s business strategy is to become supermarket-like, offering a matrix within the business and each plant to serve customers on every possible thing they may want when it comes to iron, steel casing, and more, says Lawton. Lawton Standard can handle any manner of volume, offers a service group, and provides numerous value additions like machining. These make it an ideal one-stop shop for iron and steel.

Smart and sustainable
Since summer 2024, all the company’s sites are ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certified. Lawton notes that less energy consumption leads to a better work environment because of efficiency, and since 2022, the company has diverted nearly 10,000 tons of spent foundry sand from landfills to be put to use in manufactured soil, layering for construction projects, and concrete and brick-making. Mastalir adds that both customer interest and corporate mandates are trending more toward involvement in sustainability efforts, an area in which Lawton Standard has outpaced a lot of its competition.

Around 15 years ago, the mindset around sustainability tended to involve understanding and keeping track of agencies with which companies needed to be in compliance, as well as determining which ones were truly concerned with making an impact, Lawton shares. Over time, the business underwent the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council’s Green Masters Program to enhance its knowledge, implemented an environmental management system that works in tandem with its quality management, and joined the Wisconsin-based Green Tier initiative. Green Tier allows organizations in the state to align business practices with sustainability-based targets through committing to environmentally friendly practices.

Lawton Standard has since become one of the first foundries and overall companies to qualify for Green Tier 2, which is reflective of its general drive toward improvement in all areas and its desire to be a better community member, a value important to the company and its customers.

Navigating the waters
It has been a challenging few years following the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, says Lawton. 2021 to 2022 saw an explosion in demand and lead times, with the goods economy going wild. Although this has since rebalanced, the industry is still weak. While not quite at crisis levels, recessionary effects are being felt thanks to fluctuations following the 2024 election.

Lawton Standard has found pockets of strength in niche areas like artificial intelligence because of components it can provide to service data centers and waterworks systems with an infrastructure focus (to replace aging pumps and valves). The company has tried to hunker down through tough times while developing aspects like sustainability, software, and robotics, Lawton tells us.

He believes that businesses are very adaptable, especially in the United States, and his company will indeed adapt as long as it knows the playing field. The team spends a lot of time building relationships with its customer base, aiming to show prospective and long-time clients alike that Lawton and its companies will always be close by. “You’re never more than 10 feet away from a casting,” says Vandergrift, which illustrates the company’s focus and commitment to the customer experience.

Alex Lawton is optimistic about 2026 being a return to strength and growth. “We will create our own luck by going after the right things,” he says. Lawton Standard is always thinking about the markets it serves, with the goal of being highly diversified company-wide. The business continues to grow in markets like defense, with the desire to expand into areas like agriculture, and this growth will likely persist in the years to come. Vandergrift adds that while employees do age out and retire, there are many industry programs seeking to drum up more students to become interested in the foundry industry.

Lawton Standard does not need to focus on acquisitions per se but will remain open to opportunities while also giving time to initiatives like mechanization and process improvement. The next period of strength for the company will likely see it in a better position than in its last one, and according to Mastalir, the team will make sure it is ready to rise above the competition and give the customer the best experience possible. At Lawton Standard, the work will always be aimed at ensuring that the company is growing with its customers as they come back time and time again.

The post Coming Together and Stronger Than Ever<p class="company">Lawton Standard Co.</p> appeared first on Manufacturing In Focus.

Fully certified to ISO 9001standards, the company relies on robust processes, from organizational structure to quality reporting and customer engagement, to drive consistent, mutually successful outcomes.

Overlanders Manufacturing has been active in Western Canada since the late 1970s, but over the last 18 to 24 months, much of the company’s capabilities have seen considerable in-house upgrades. For example, the team has rolled out new advanced laser automation capabilities, including the AI-powered and Industry 4.0-ready Prima Power Laser Genius+ laser cutter with additional parts-stacking robot—the company’s biggest capital purchase in several years.

Recently, Overlanders upgraded its Abbotsford facilities and now has the capacity to house pieces as large as the new Prima cutter, which takes up a large part of the building. The company has also expanded and created more dedicated space for assembly lines, including a dedicated assembly line that moves beyond simply bending, cutting, and painting metal. New robotics incorporated into the bending process further the company’s goal of weaving automation throughout its processes and allow a single operator to run several machines at once with greater accuracy.

When it comes to automation and technology, these are catch-all terms that Plant Manager Adam Stephenson believes should not be thrown around casually. Instead, Overlanders Manufacturing has always kept its finger on the pulse of the technology making waves in its field and how it can be employed to enhance the company’s capabilities. “It’s not just about replacing a machine but about increasing capability,” he says. This process is highly methodical by nature, but Stephenson explains that the Overlanders team subscribes to the mentality of seeing a business as a journey. While some companies are very goal-oriented, Overlanders Manufacturing will never be at a final ‘perfect’ state and is always looking to improve itself, which keeps everyone involved hungry and searching for better ways to serve clients.

The company also stays abreast of the latest best practices in safety and incorporates them into its processes. Even though Overlanders Manufacturing has been around for nearly a half century, Stephenson says that leadership is always interrogating itself and exploring how to best provide top customer service while balancing safety and efficiency, often while syncing its systems with those of its customers and considering client satisfaction through that lens. Since the company’s work can be found in a variety of industries including energy, medical, construction, transportation, and more, safe and reliable practices are paramount to its continued success.

Overlanders Manufacturing has proudly been part of the Exchange Income Corporation (EIC) family for quite some time, having been acquired in 2006, and EIC has been a fundamental part of why it has stayed ahead in the industry. The business is also an active collaborator with its fellow EIC-owned companies, including BC-based machine shop Hansen Industries, learning and sharing from one another’s processes. Hansen has become a close partner, as both companies share overlapping capabilities and benefit from one another’s capacity. There is much work that can be done within this partnership, says Stephenson, to optimize output and deliver greater capabilities and flexibility to customers.

He explains that such collaborations can take a number of forms, such as working with the Manufacturing Safety Alliance (MSA) on safety presentations and training. Industry learning is a big part of a typical year, with an example being factory tours Overlanders recently attended in October as part of a presentation for the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce’s annual manufacturing industry tour through the area. Events like these are part of the company’s strong local presence, as is its participation in the MSA’s Make It Safe conference, also in October.

Certainly, this has been a busy year for Overlanders Manufacturing judging by the volume of customer demand, and this has led to a strong bottom line as the year draws to a close, despite ongoing market turmoil. As well as the ability to effectively support clients in both Canada and the United States, the company has also been able to extract information on customer needs to regarding shipping internationally, which has had its own difficulties this year. With many challenges in the current market, the team aims to be flexible, always looking for new opportunities. “We are able to adapt our process to what people need, even during challenging times,” says Stephenson.

Looking ahead to a new year, he says that the company will be spending a lot of its time determining how to increase both its capacity and efficiency. This is Overlanders Manufacturing’s biggest goal and will prove the strength of its lead times. There are also big plans to optimize the company’s existing systems and expand equipment in the areas where it has been most successful in order to align with that growth. Customers are eagerly continuing to order, so the company wants to make sure that it has the right equipment to deliver, as well as the right people in its workforce to achieve these goals.

The team has grown quite a bit—including Adam Stephenson’s joining—in the past year, and he believes this growth will continue based on the company’s overall strength across 2025. “The biggest driver of success is continuing to be a leader in what we do,” he says, and quality is one of the reasons people choose Overlanders Manufacturing time and time again.

Having been around for so long, Overlanders Manufacturing has robust processes and core tools in place that give customers the assurance and peace of mind they need. The team has also since spent its tenure establishing itself in its local community of Abbotsford and the greater Vancouver area. This can be seen in its social media presence as the business openly celebrates both the cultural diversity of the area it calls home as well as the many people who make up its proud and capable workforce.

There is no doubt that 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting time for Overlanders Manufacturing. Continuing to promote the strengths of its approach to customer relationships and industry partnerships, this team has been able to keep busy and work hard through challenging situations. At the same time, it stands out in the minds and memories of customers, peers, and the people who make it work every day.

The post A Leader in Metal Fabrication<p class="company">Overlanders Manufacturing</p> appeared first on Manufacturing In Focus.

Two sides to the business
Alltrista’s Director of Sales, Andrew Piersall, says that the business caters to two distinct market segments.

The first market segment is the medical sector, where Alltrista focuses on medical devices and packaging products, with a product assortment relating to drug delivery, wound closure, diagnostics, oral dose packaging (including certified child-resistant caps), and vision care. Unlike its consumer packaging side, all the products on the medical side are custom-specific and thus unique to each customer.

The other market segment served by Alltrista is the consumer packaging side, to which the company offers both packaging and closure solutions for markets including food & beverage and health & beauty. This side of the business has a relatively broad product portfolio, including a multitude of stock offerings such as bottles, bottle caps, lip balm, dosage cups, and other associated products. Within consumer packaging, Alltrista’s custom capabilities make up a large part of the business, providing unique solutions to each customer’s request.

Piersall says that commercially, Alltrista’s customers (especially medical customers) tend to focus on risk management and speed-to-market in their dealings, mainly via effective project execution. Therefore, suppliers like Alltrista that can provide this value to customers help them be successful.

Sustainability initiatives are also a large focus of the company. Alltrista partners with customers aiming to meet the environmental commitments of highly regulated fields to provide sustainable solutions. Generally speaking in this regard—and across all segments—the company is home to high cavitation molds with short cycle times, lightweighted plastic bottles and caps, and a small manufacturing cell footprint.

It’s not easy for any business to make a mark on the plastics industry, but Piersall says that a distinguishing aspect of Alltrista is its ability to be both customer-focused and agile. These qualities allow the company to provide end-to-end solutions to customers quickly, meeting customers wherever they may be in the lifecycle of a product. “We have demonstrated willingness to invest in our customers,” he says. Alltrista’s mindset is that its customers’ successes are its own successes.

Going for gold
The company continues to make an impression, and in 2024, Alltrista was highlighted in the PMMI report, Innovation in Can/Bottle Beverage Packaging, which explores the latest developments in beverage packaging as exhibited at 2024’s PackExpo. Alltrista was proud to be featured in the report’s materials section, spotlighting the AllCap™ 1881 beverage closure, a lightweight water bottle cap that enhances productivity, is customizable, and delivers cost savings without compromising on quality. The company utilizes the latest energy-saving infrastructure support systems with variable frequency drives on all its electric motors, resulting in a significant reduction in energy consumption per cap produced.

Christopher Weikart, Senior Vice President of Innovation at Jadex, says that one of the things that brings him the most company satisfaction is Alltrista’s approach to sustainability. In fact, the company recently earned a gold medal from EcoVadis, an independent ESG global platform that evaluates businesses based on sustainability objectives, covering areas like environmental stewardship, labor and human rights, and sustainability in the procurement of materials. Weikart says that the gold medal is evidence of Alltrista’s category-leading commitment to ecological responsibility and is a point of pride internally, placing the company in the top five percent of companies surveyed in the 12 months leading up to the award.

For Alltrista, crafting and refining sustainable practices happen daily. A tangible example of sustainability in its business practices is the light-weighting of several of its manufactured products, meaning a reduction in the amount of material in a product without compromising quality (as seen in the company’s award-winning beverage cap). This is typically the result of unique product design attributes, something the company has become adept at achieving.

Spearheading these practices internally has led to many benefits, including reducing the company’s Scope 1 & 2 emissions, product weight savings, and the identification of new materials, such as post-consumer recycled resins (PCR), for use in future projects.

The year ahead
Vice President of Operations, Jeff Hall, says that Alltrista’s focus moving into 2026 will be on both strengthening its operational excellence and investing in its people. The company will be expanding its automation capabilities and upgrading its equipment to improve precision, consistency, and efficiency across molding lines.

“Our goal is to build highly adaptable operations that combine high-precision automated manufacturing with the highest quality products,” Hall says, “which will position the company to meet the ever-evolving needs of customers as well as sustainability standards for years to come.”

Hall says that from a manufacturing standpoint, one consistent challenge across all market segments is establishing a skilled and trained workforce. Moving into the new year and the foreseeable future, Alltrista will be placing a strong emphasis on workforce development, as new talent will need to be trained on molding, process monitoring, and quality systems.

Pace-setting product launch
Weikart explains that one of the company’s biggest customers is in the healthcare industry, so there will be a particular product launch next year (among several others) that will aim to benefit these customers and others like them. This product will be an improved version of a medical device that Alltrista has manufactured for a long time, involving the incorporation of an antimicrobial compound into a polymer resin before molding the mixture into a finished wound care device.

This device has simplified the customer’s manufacturing operations, improved their product quality, and enhanced product reliability for patients susceptible to surgical site infections. After this launch, the customer is expected to undertake a complete conversion of the product line thanks to this technology.

Honoring its history of longevity, Alltrista drives innovation, from light-weighting caps to advanced medical devices, guided by operational excellence and sustainability. While the company has gone through changes, and has many noteworthy events on the horizon, its ability to adapt and maintain success relies on one constant: its employees. “Ultimately,” says Piersall, “our people are our biggest asset.”

The post 50-Plus Years of Precision: Providing End-to-End Solutions<p class="company">Alltrista Plastics</p> appeared first on Manufacturing In Focus.

Brand and Marketing Manager, Ryland Thiel, says that Tornado Infrastructure Equipment’s solutions have become even more capable with the evolution of technology over the years. This is key, as, when an excavation operation digs a hole as part of a project, it will typically run across hidden electric or gas lines when using a backhoe or dozer machine. This can result in strikes to these lines, leading to a potentially hazardous or dangerous situation with impacts to nearby infrastructure.

Hydrovac technology is the answer to this, avoiding such impacts by offering a more controlled dig site that effectively resolves the risks of digging. Hydraulic excavation applies high-pressure water to break up the soil and create a slurry, and unlike digging, this method will not damage underground utilities. A vacuum system on the truck suctions up that slurry into a debris tank that can then be transported for disposal offsite. Because the excavation is precise, only removing the necessary amount of soil, less backfill is needed when the job is done. It even works in winter, where hot water swiftly loosens frozen soil.

Many North American municipalities are now calling for companies with these capabilities to provide excavation services using hydrovac trucks, and requirements like these have, in turn, created a clear pathway for Tornado’s products to find clients while further accelerating its market growth.

Over the past few years, the company has seen huge gains in its production rates, increasing production from around 80 trucks annually to around 120, with a 2025 target of 180 trucks and an additional milestone of having sold over 1,800 hydrovac trucks since 2008.

This growth in production rates has meant year-on-year profit growth as well, especially thanks to strong deals made with business partners who supply Tornado vehicles to their clients through a dealership infrastructure. Thiel tells us that unit sales have more than tripled—from 87 units in 2021 to 320 in 2024—and profit has grown by over $100 million.

The business has also expanded through mergers and acquisitions; just this year, Tornado acquired CustomVac Services, which has dealt with hydrovac services in the hazardous waste space. Tornado is also set on growing its operations facilities and is building another 5,000-square-foot facility in Red Deer, Alberta that will focus on production and help the company meet the growing demand for its products. Finally, the company has recently signed new deals with partners such as Ascend Hydrovacs out of Calgary, Alberta, to produce a new type of truck to be launched this year under the Ascend brand.

When it comes to what makes the company distinct in its field, Thiel says, “Quite simply, our products are the best in the industry.” Being of extremely high quality, all components needed to produce the best Tornado end products are sourced from top name brands.

Thiel is appreciative of the company’s suppliers, who give Tornado a competitive edge thanks to quick turnaround, leading to reliable and durable products. For example, the company employs a 24”-diameter core drill that makes for easier concrete removal on job sites as well as site repair that will reduce job time and not impact the environment.

At present, Tornado is looking to keep pace with rapidly evolving innovation in the industry by introducing the Vortex System 2.0, which has only recently arrived to market. Vortex 2.0 is a centralized information system that reports on the monitoring of different components on the vehicle and provides diagnostics, including a troubleshooting process directly in a van body. Thiel explains that this is an onboard interface/screen that displays the results of more than 100 sensors on a vehicle to report diagnostics and performance information—anything from a complex blower’s cubic feet per minute (CFM) rate to whether or not a filter needs to be changed. One can control functional vehicle components through electrical wire or even operate the vehicle itself using the system.

The Vortex 2.0 system serves to benefit operators, Thiel says, and can operate in any climate across Canada and the United States. For those who operate and manage a fleet of hydrovac trucks in a city, the real-time monitoring system permits all trucks to be tracked remotely via a global positioning system. This allows for a greater degree of planning in preventative maintenance scheduling, which in turn, keeps downtime to a minimum.

Certainly, this has been a volatile and unpredictable year for countless businesses, but thus far, for Tornado, there have not been any negative effects to production-related growth alongside its growing client demands. Thiel notes that, although there is ongoing uncertainty in the North American market (as well as globally) with challenges relating to the tariffs imposed by the United States, Tornado has not seen any tariff-related consequences or risks to its growth projections, and is proceeding with a sense of momentum and confidence.

This dynamism is evident as the company continues to expand its existing product lines and introduce new ones as well. For example, when it comes to hydrovac truck operations, spraying water into the soil creates a mixture that cannot be disposed of like typical concrete or asphalt; this newly created material needs to be disposed of at specific locations, which can often mean expensive dumping fees that are passed on to the customer.

There is a solution to this, however. Thiel tells us that at a utility event in October 2025, the company will be announcing its line of trucks which use compressed air instead of pressurized water to break down material. He points out that, although these have seen wide use in the European market, these trucks essentially do not yet exist in North America, so this fleet will be a huge asset to the excavation industry in the coming years.

Never resting on its laurels, Tornado Infrastructure Equipment will continue to focus on research and development, as well as providing a customer-centric approach, Thiel affirms. Continuing to provide the highest quality product in its industry is made possible by focusing on client needs and designing products with intent, while also providing relevant solutions to support customers’ daily operations.

To this end, Thiel says that digital and technological solutions are increasingly finding a home within the company’s wheelhouse. “It’s a digital age, and we are venturing rapidly into it,” he affirms. This includes finding solutions through technology to connect companies, truck operators, operations management workers, as well as customers and partners into a platform that will let Tornado further boost the quality of its service and product delivery while addressing manufacturing and supply chain challenges.

Adopting technological solutions will be a continued focus in the future to provide a more optimal customer journey, as well as tracking and monitoring the company’s performance through each point of interaction with customers over the typical 25-year life-cycle of a Tornado product. And as always, to address customers’ challenges, the company makes use of direct feedback to help gather intelligence on where it needs to focus its attention. Thiel believes that this approach will ensure that the team is aiming at providing quality end products while simultaneously searching for new business opportunities and markets to diversify its excavation equipment products. “Improving our customers’ journey, wherever that can be achieved” has been and remains the calling card of Tornado’s one-of-a-kind service in its field, he says.

As Tornado Infrastructure Equipment looks to the years ahead, its commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction, and product excellence remains unwavering. From its humble beginnings in 1984 to its position today as a leader in hydrovac technology, the company has never lost sight of the values that built its success: quality craftsmanship, responsive service, and continuous improvement.

The post Innovation with a Customer-Centric Approach<p class="company">Tornado Infrastructure Equipment</p> appeared first on Manufacturing In Focus.

Perhaps the most widely used metal material for building today is steel, thanks especially to its versatility as a resource. In a blog post for Built: The Bluebeam Blog, Erin Flynn Jay writes that demand for it has rapidly increased lately due to rising amounts of skyscraper construction. “Steel is an essential component for high-rise buildings due to its functionality and strength,” she writes. Steel is produced when iron ore and scrap metal go through the process of basic oxygen steelmaking (BOS) which uses a blast furnace, and/or electric arc furnaces (EAF) which use scrap steel or direct reduced iron (DRI).

An offshoot of this material is stainless steel, which is more appropriately used for applications that are found outdoors or that require a greater degree of hygiene, since stainless steel is more weather-resistant and cleaner for use by humans. The process of creating stainless steel is very different from its namesake, however, as it is an alloy that contains iron as well as many other elements like nickel, nitrogen, carbon, and more (including at least 10.5 percent chromium). These elements make it more resistant to corrosion; they are all melted together as raw materials and the material’s attributes are created through forming, heat treating, and cutting and shaping.

Aluminum is another versatile metal that occupies its own proprietary segment of the metal construction space. Like steel, aluminum has its own specific process known as the Hall-Héroult process, which dissolves the oxide alumina in molten cryolite. Unfortunately, the Hall-Héroult process consumes a lot of electrical energy and can produce significant amounts of carbon emissions. It can also be responsible for producing fluorocarbon compounds as a byproduct, which can add to both ongoing air pollution and climate change, so it is not an especially efficient process.

Copper is still used in electrical wiring and plumbing found in traditional homes, and in more aesthetic applications. According to Metal Supermarkets, “Copper can also be used for fascias, roofing materials and other ornate components, popular on buildings such as churches and cathedrals.” Various countries across both Europe and Asia are among the top copper ore smelters—China especially—and the methods for doing so can differ depending on geographic location and the environmental regulations within.

Other types of metals also have various uses in construction. For example, brass performs and is used very similarly to copper. Conversely, while cast/wrought iron has been overtaken in architectural usages, it can still be found in smaller applications closer to home, from the family car to skillets and more. Finally, lead is still used in certain construction contexts because it is considered easy to work with (i.e. roofing, paints), although prolonged lead exposure can be harmful to humans, so its use is heavily monitored for safety reasons.

After one of these materials is produced, it is moved to job sites and locations worldwide. An article by DFreight details the various methods used to ship metals and materials around the globe. First, ocean freight is described as “a cornerstone of global trade,” especially when shipping metal in bulk. This can be achieved through the use of bulk carriers and container ships, the latter of which are easier to handle, more efficient, and protect from weather and the elements. Conversely, air freight is a method that allows for speed, efficiency, and global reach. Shipping via plane tends to cost more than ocean shipping but can make up for it thanks to these other factors.

Compared to these two avenues, though, land vehicles like trucks and trains are perhaps the most tried-and-true methods of metal transportation. Trucks can be beneficial for smaller quantities and shorter distances, says DFreight, while railways can be helpful in connecting production sites to ports or distribution centres. When it comes to materials like steel, it is moved via specialized cargo haulers made to ship objects of particular size, since steel is often too large and heavy for typical commercial vehicles.

Countless brands in myriad fields today are considering how to make their processes more efficient—not only in terms of speed but also energy efficiency. One way that metal fabricators can improve the efficiency of the entire metal fabrication process is through embracing automation. Escofab states that tools like CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines and laser cutting can automate metal fabrication to exact specifications and in much less time than traditional methods. Furthermore, custom fabrication can streamline the process by sending parts or sections pre-assembled for a client to easily assemble on site. By reducing labor requirements and improving client workflow, custom fabrication “can make a substantial difference in both project timelines and budget allocations.”

A blog post by Andy Smith for Prince Manufacturing explains that the use of lean manufacturing principles can increase productivity for metal fabricators. Lean manufacturing is a philosophy embraced by many businesses across innumerable sectors that follows a series of concepts that optimize performance while minimizing waste. These principles include simplification through keeping an organized workplace, being exact in what materials customers will need for a successful project, and continuous improvement through eliminating waste, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency.

The steelmaking process is very carbon emission-intensive. Caitlin Swalec, research analyst at Global Energy Monitor, writing for CarbonBrief, says that the iron and steel industry is responsible for as much as 11 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions and fabricators need to embrace carbon-neutral practices sooner rather than later. Steel fabrication specifically can—and should—enhance efficiency through automated fabrication technologies such as beam line technology, which is used to speed up the process of cutting and drilling steel beams. This tool reduces the time spent on steelmaking while increasing worker safety by not requiring a human to perform the measurements and cutting.

No matter what aspect of metal manufacturing is being examined, a great deal of thought and effort is being put into its processes to make them better than they were yesterday. For such a valuable industry the world over, metal fabrication simply cannot live up to its promise of becoming more efficient and meeting changing global efficiency standards without undergoing constant evolution in the ways that metal is created, shipped, and used. The future of the industry lies not only in greater speed and precision but also in cleaner production, smarter logistics, and stronger collaboration across sectors. As automation, lean practices, and carbon-reduction strategies continue to take hold, fabricators are not simply shaping metal—they are reshaping the very framework of construction and manufacturing for decades to come.

The post From Material to Final Product<p class="company">Metal Manufacturing for Construction</p> appeared first on Manufacturing In Focus.

Many sectors have been—and continue to be—transformed by what additive manufacturing offers the modern workspace. In a piece for Engineering.com, Ian Wright says the aerospace industry has adopted 3D printing with considerable intensity. Advancements in FFF (fused filament fabrication) materials, such as carbon fiber–infused filaments, have paid off in the creation of drones used for activities like photography, surveillance, prototyping, and more.

Wright notes that research shows composite filaments can improve lightweight components, delivering higher durability and performance for UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). He adds that other industries, like automotive, may see greater adoption in the future as electric vehicles become more commonplace globally. “For example, electric powertrain components that need fluid-based thermal management can benefit from conformal cooling channels that can only be made using metal AM,” says Wright.

Secondary factors are also accelerating adoption across myriad sectors. In a piece on ongoing trends for 3D Printing Industry, Michael Petch says the growing prevalence of AI and machine learning will expand 3D printing’s footprint. Experts polled by Petch posit that automation will optimize design, production, and post-processing, and enable monitoring systems that enhance quality control and certification while helping prevent failure. Many sectors will also benefit from lighter, higher-performing parts.

Petch says that 2025 is a big year for moving 3D printing further into industrialization and mass production. Materials integral to the process are also driving this shift, including advanced metal alloys like titanium and aluminum, fiber composites, and more cost-effective pellet-based extrusion. There are also calls within the industry to develop more environmentally conscious materials and processes to mitigate additive manufacturing’s operational footprint.

Currently, the up-and-coming additive manufacturing industry is seeing moves that encourage both interest and caution. Jake Volcsko, writing for Advanced Manufacturing, says consolidation is an ongoing theme among AM companies. “Consolidation fosters greater collaboration and could help pave the way for the standardization of processes, materials and procedures, as well as identify areas in which AM offers distinct advantages,” says Volcsko. Consolidation is primarily occurring among American and European manufacturers, while many companies in China are expanding into Western markets to keep up with competition.

It isn’t all boom for additive manufacturing, though. Madeleine P, in a piece for 3D Natives, says 2024 brought many negative developments that created a downcast atmosphere (such as bankruptcies and failed mergers). Q3 2024 saw a sales decrease of about 25 percent from the previous year, but growth of around 14 percent was still predicted for the sector. Companies worldwide saw greater investment as the year progressed, which suggests greater staying power alongside growing use of 3D printing in advanced fields like medicine. However, ongoing issues like U.S. tariffs may influence how much manufacturers are able to grow.

Other factors have slowed momentum and prompted caution across the space. In 2024, 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys filed two lawsuits against Bambu Lab for patent infringement. Stratasys alleges that Bambu Lab knowingly infringed several of its patents in printer designs, which could be especially damaging for Bambu Lab as it enters a growth phase. This legal action is being considered a watershed moment in the 3D printing sector and, along with other ongoing cases, may set legal precedent for decades.

Many factors are still driving growth in 3D printing, writes Melina Bluhm for Replique. Other trends include large-format printing, which is allowing sectors like construction and energy to benefit from parts and goods beyond the scope of typical at-home or office printing. “As 3D printing steadily marches toward industrialization, 2025 marks the year it fully integrates into the broader manufacturing ecosystem,” says Bluhm. 3D printing is fast becoming a vital tool for manufacturers.

One way 3D printing is taking greater hold across countries is through microfactories. A microfactory is a smaller, highly specialized production facility that provides an end-to-end solution for an entire product. These enable shorter supply chains, quicker post-release iterations, and, importantly, a much more localized focus than traditional factory setups. Microfactories are often highly automated to prioritize speed and efficiency.

In a report for CNBC, Shafi Musaddique says 3D printing microfactories are even enabling some manufacturers to become more ecologically sustainable. For example, the UNSW Sustainable Materials Research & Technology Centre (SMaRT) builds plastic filaments made from 100 percent waste plastics, often locally sourced. Their goal is to deliver automated, locally focused production tailored to customer needs, alongside environmentally friendly practices.

Petch adds that, in the global supply chain, decentralized, regional manufacturing hubs for resilient supply chains will make production more efficient and secure. “The trend toward regionalized manufacturing hubs is gaining momentum to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities as geopolitical manoeuvring creates uncertainty around trade tariffs,” he writes. Businesses are reacting differently to ongoing tariffs, and microfactories may help mitigate negative effects that could stunt development of the additive manufacturing segment.

True to the DIY nature of additive manufacturing, microfactories are a way for 3D printing to continually innovate on the modern manufacturing process. AM’s relationship with other buzzworthy technologies like AI suggests it will keep attracting attention by staying close to the cutting edge. Despite setbacks, its continued growth shows it’s here to stay and will soon offer even more to newcomers to the field.

The post Additive Manufacturing’s Next Chapter<p class="company">From Hype to Industrialization and Localization</p> appeared first on Manufacturing In Focus.