The Future Is Here: Robotics, Innovation, and Opportunity in Morgan County
Since joining the Community Foundation, naturally my thoughts have been about the future – goals, opportunities, possibilities. I do occasionally write about Morgan County’s rich history like my article last November about Bradford Woods, but usually my mind is forward thinking, evident in my last article about visionary Justin Clements and his All-American Innovation and Career Lab. But recently, I had a chance encounter with two business owners who showed me the future is already here, albeit hiding in plain view. I imagine only a few of you will know there is a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, fully automated by robots, thriving in Centerton. Advantage Manufacturing, LLC manufacturers quite literally everything and has been dubbed the “poster child” for small business manufacturing by their DMG Mori salesman who has visited from Japan.
Richard Bryant is a technical genius with an astute business sense. An engineer by trade, his raw smarts and core work ethic are as impressive as his ten robots in action. He and his wife Sharon are committed to helping disadvantaged youth in Morgan County, giving me the opportunity to get to know them. They are a refreshing reminder of the American dream, and their unusual humility explains why there is no sign posted at their facility at Highway 67 and Robb Hill Road. The only attention they draw to themselves is their impressive Christmas light display we all enjoy from the road.
A 1969 Ben Davis High school graduate, Rich was raised by a single mother who worked full-time by day for Stark & Wetzel and then on to RCA until 9 pm every night, Rich’s work ethic was no doubt shaped by this powerful example. He was drafted and served in the Army until 1973 and met 19-year-old Sharon after returning to Indianapolis. After an impressive 17-year career in manufacturing with Hurco, International Telephone & Telegraph, Indiana Material Handling, and Tenax, he committed full-time to Advantage Manufacturing, LLC in 1996 which he started in 1988. In 2000, he purchased a small grinding company on English Avenue and a screw machine shop, Ham Enterprises, in Martinsville in 2005. In 2013, he purchased their current building, consolidating all three businesses. He then took a hard look at the future, knowing if he resisted automation, he could survive 10 years, but if he embraced it….
In 2018, Rich purchased the first robot. It is a multi-axis milling turning center, consolidating eight operations into one process. This robot makes thermostatic temperature control valves used in nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, schools, etc. and clutch assemblies for automatic pool covers. Their largest customer is the world’s second largest pool company.
In 2020, Rich purchased two more robots – a fiber laser with automatic sheet loading and unloading features and a bending robot. The laser cuts steel in 20 minutes, eliminating the need for their water jet machine which took 4 hours to cut product. The steel bending robot (producing hinges, boxes, panels, etc.) made 360,000 bends last year versus a human manually making 250 bends per hour. These robots increase production capabilities more suitable to customer demands, but these robots have not reduced his workforce! They have made the work environment cleaner, safer, and easier.
Rich added a twin spindle Y axis lathe with a collaborative robot in 2021. It handles multiple components and slows and even stops if you get too close to it, making it ideal for after hours production. In 2022, a robot with an automatic bar feeder was added, and in 2023, the “big banana” (a large yellow robot) was purchased, increasing production capacity for several pool cover components as well as thermostatic control valves.
In 2024, Rich added 3 additional robots – a 5 axis vertical machining center, a Zeiss robot dedicated to measuring parts in insure quality control, and a Planar vision which photographs parts and compares them to the computer blueprint to detect defects. This year, he is stalling a horizontal machining center that will load and unload clutch assemblies, motor couplings, and receivers for trailer hitches. This robot’s movements will be viewed on a television monitor!
Rich Bryant is proud of his robots but equally as proud of his employees, several of whom have been with him for more than 15 years. He has never downsized when adding a robot; instead, the jobs become more relevant and interesting. It is not surprising that since he and Sharon have been committed to Morgan County youth, they are investing in any young person interested in a career in automated manufacturing, providing financial support for any classes or training necessary for learning and advancement.
The future – what I have been anticipating and imagining was yet to come– is already here in Morgan County at Advantage Manufacturing,LLC. If you are interested in a career in automated manufacturing, please email me at kcole@cfmconline.org.
