Old factories could fuel Cincinnati's next manufacturing boom
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The name 1872 is a reference to the year Andrew Carnegie began building his steel empire and an era when American manufacturing was taking off.
Southwest Ohio's next manufacturing boom might start in the same factories that powered its last one.
Why it matters: The region's manufacturing roots and engineering talent give it an edge as companies look to bring more production back to the U.S.
- Take Cincinnati startup 1872, now operating its AI-powered steel fabrication factory out of a 123-year-old former stone masonry building in Camp Washington.
The backstory: CEO Dan Summers, a former SpaceX engineer, moved to Cincinnati in 2022 to be closer to family and saw an opportunity to build something here.
- The region has engineering talent and access to Midwestern steel suppliers.
Zoom in: Summers toured about 15 local properties before choosing the former David Hummel Building Company site on Spring Grove Avenue.
- Its rectangular layout with 30,000 square feet of production space was ideal for an automated production line, while nearby rail access could eventually help move materials.
The advantage: Old factories and underused industrial properties dot the region, offering a chance to attract new manufacturers.
- These older buildings may need costly upgrades, says Melissa Johnson, The Port's senior vice president of real estate strategy. But having infrastructure in place can save companies time and the expense of building from scratch.
- "We moved in here in April, and we were already producing by August," Summers tells Axios, calling it "the definition of reindustrialization."
Another example: REDI Cincinnati points to Dainty Foods investing an initial $85 million to turn a former Georgia-Pacific plant in Batavia Township into its first U.S. manufacturing operation, creating about 240 jobs.
Investors see the potential, too. The O.H.I.O. Fund led 1872's $15 million seed round and connected Summers with robotics partners.
- "We believe Ohio is going to lead America's manufacturing comeback," founding partner Mike Venerable said in a statement to Axios.
The intrigue: Tomorrow's factories won't necessarily need the massive workforces of the past.
- 1872 has 18 employees and expects to grow to 22 by year's end.
- Summers hopes to eventually build a much larger second factory in Southwest or Central Ohio.
Yes, but: Automation doesn't mean people are out of the picture.
- Summers says robots can handle repetitive tasks, but companies still need skilled welders, engineers and technicians.
- "Even an autonomous factory needs highly skilled subject-matter experts."