Brooklyn, NY—MakerBot opened a new and larger factory at Industry City in Brooklyn, New York, reinforcing its commitment to manufacture its 3D printers in Brooklyn. The new facility measures 170,000 square feet, which doubles the production capacity of MakerBot’s previous Industry City factory. And a new layout streamlines the production process to help MakerBot advance its lean 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; Dan Freedman, dean of the School of Science and Engineering at SUNY New Paltz; Randy Asher, principal of Brooklyn Technical High School; Matt Mandery, Tech Alumni Foundation chief education officer; and MakerBot 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.”
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 significantly at three locations in Brooklyn and across three continents. MakerBot’s 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 lean manufacturing practices that emphasize waste reduction and efficiency.
“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.” makerbot.com
