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Automation Results in Increased Investment and Staffing
With the help of: Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Ohio MEP)
About
Area 419 is a U.S. designer, manufacturer, and marketer of premium hand loading tools, as well as world-class parts and accessories for precision rifles. In 2010, when a local outdoor chain closed their gun department, the owner of Area 419 bought used equipment and learned how to manufacture gun parts. Today, the company has expanded to serve customers worldwide in the precision firearm accessory and reloading markets.
The Challenge
Area 419 faced several challenges, including the need to automate certain processes to boost competitiveness, managing labor costs amid labor shortages, addressing ergonomic concerns, and optimizing spindle utilization to enhance productivity.
We appreciate CIFT in helping us as we transition our fifth-axis machine into automated parts handling. This automation allowed us to continue to keep a single shift, but allowed the machine to continue running throughout the remaining 16 hours of the day. The ROI on that machine was so tremendous that within 8 months, we purchased an additional machine with the same automation and hired a new operator to manage that cell. CIFT is an asset to manufacturing in the State of Ohio.
MEP's Role
After understanding their unique situation and issues, CIFT connected Area 419 with MetalCraft, a robotics provider, and helped conduct a thorough assessment of operations. They identified multiple, optimal opportunities to implement automation solutions, improving efficiency and productivity. CIFT acted as the project manager, assisting with integration and saving Area 419 time and resources needed to oversee every step of the project themselves.
Created December 5, 2025