Democratizing Manufacturing
Reversing the Demise of Local Manufacturing
Small manufacturers and entrepreneurs, once the bedrock of industry and innovation, have been left behind: first pressured by rising material and labor costs, and now squeezed by the digital revolution. They are being beaten by corporations using robotics, automation, and other modern technologies to produce ever more efficiently. While modern manufacturing technology can do amazing things, it requires large scale for costly equipment and staff, which small businesses just do not have.
Over 99% of US companies are local small businesses, yet it seems almost everything is manufactured in large factories located far away.
Waterjet cutting technology is a classic story. Large factories use this massive, expensive and robotic equipment to churn out parts and products. Meanwhile, local small manufacturers that cannot afford the technology have to rely on inefficient legacy machinery or manual processes, until they go out of business.
This playing field needs leveling, so that small manufacturers can access modern automated machinery to be efficient and nimble, and save jobs of local craftsmen. Fortunately, this has begun. WAZER, a growing startup, is driving this transformation with the first affordable waterjet machine that costs just 1/10 the price of traditional machines, yet still has robotic automation to deliver manufacturing efficiency.
With this new small-scale but high-tech machine, local manufacturers and entrepreneurs can now make products at efficiencies they could never have done before. This affordable machine has also enabled some new companies to start up, bringing manufacturing back to local communities, and helping reverse the decades-old decline of local manufacturing.
Here are four companies whose survival and productivity is due in large part to their WAZER machines.
Standard Mechanics
It’s a challenge for young small businesses to become suppliers to large corporations, such as automobile manufacturers.
Being able to afford a waterjet cutter allowed this business to accelerate its turnaround time by 75%, and meet the demands of his automotive clients.
Fuse Muse Fused Glass
Waterjet technology is ideal for small glass manufacturers, but most cannot afford the 6-figure investment for a traditional machine.
This company attributes its literal survival with its affordable WAZER machine.
Elliott Metal Fabrication
Waterjet technology has been so costly that small businesses farm-out their work to vendors that increase both the cost and turnaround time.
This was untenable for Elliott Metal Fabrication, which often needs custom-made parts immediately. Getting the affordable WAZER machine allowed Elliott to keep his business running and deliver on time.
Stone Age Guitars
Prior to WAZER, this company manufactured guitar picks out of stone with entirely manual hand labor.
Their business was transformed with automated waterjet technology, reducing the labor by 90% and growing output five-fold.