MakerBot, a manufacturer of desktop 3D printers, announced the opening of a new and larger factory at Industry City in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The opening of the new factory reinforces MakerBot’s commitment to manufacturing in Brooklyn and is another step in preparing the company for growth in the 3D printing market.
The new facility measures 170,000 s/f, which doubles production capacity compared to MakerBot’s previous Industry City factory. A new layout streamlines the production process to help MakerBot advance its manufacturing methods and dedicate an even larger space to product testing.
The new MakerBot factory was officially inaugurated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by MakerBot CEO Jonathan Jaglom, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Dean of the School of Science and Engineering at SUNY New Paltz Dan Freedman, Brooklyn Technical High School Principal Randy Asher and Tech Alumni Foundation Chief Education Officer Matt Mandery, as well as the Coolest founder Ryan Grepper.
“Since MakerBot was founded in 2009, we have been leading the desktop 3D printing revolution from Brooklyn and this has spearheaded a renaissance of manufacturing here. Brooklyn has defined what MakerBot is today and I couldn’t think of a better place for our new factory,” said Jonathan Jaglom, CEO of MakerBot.
“The new MakerBot factory is a state-of-the-art facility with a focus on lean manufacturing and efficiency, making it one of the most advanced factories in New York City and in the global 3D printing industry. Close proximity to our R&D teams and corporate headquarters is a huge advantage as it allows us to adapt quickly to changes in the growing market of 3D printing.”
“The future has arrived, and its first stop is Brooklyn. We are witnessing the growth and evolution of 3D printing technology in our borough, a rapidly growing industry with infinite potential,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “MakerBot is bound to thrive in their new expanded factory at Industry City, innovating solutions to everyday real-world challenges in the marketplace while inspiring new opportunities for economic and technological development. I thank MakerBot and their development team for calling Brooklyn, the new Silicon Valley, their home.”
It was only six years ago that MakerBot started the desktop 3D printing revolution on Dean Street in Brooklyn. Since then, the company has grown at three locations in Brooklyn and across three continents.
MakerBot’s rapid growth led to several factory expansions, resulting in a suboptimal manufacturing space. The new factory streamlines the manufacturing process by bringing crucial functions, such as materials, production, product testing, and shipping, closer to one another. This consolidation allows MakerBot to advance its manufacturing practices that emphasize waste reduction and efficiency.
Canalys, an industry research firm, forecasts that total 3D printing industry revenue will grow to more than $20 billion by the end of 2019. The larger factory prepares MakerBot for market growth by doubling its manufacturing capacity.
The factory employs 140 staff, including production, shipping, receiving, manufacturing engineering, quality engineering, supply chain and planning.
