The Robot Report Podcast Ed Mehr on Transforming Manufacturing at Machina Labs
Mar 13, 2026
Ed Mehr, Co-founder and CEO of Machina Labs, is building software-defined factories with robotic RoboCraftsman cells. He discusses flexible robot-powered manufacturing that can switch product lines instantly. Topics include Architect software that turns CAD into real-time robot control, integrated QC and digital twins, factory-as-a-service parallels to cloud, and partnerships for mass customization and global deployment.
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Software Defined Factory Enables Multiuse Robotic Cells
- Machina Labs builds a software-defined factory using RoboCraftsman cells that let robots pick tools and perform multiple manufacturing operations from one design to final part.
- The first operation, roboforming, deforms flat sheet metal like a potter shaping clay to make complex automotive and aerospace panels.
From Tech Seller To Factory Operator At Scale
- Machina is shifting from selling tech to operating factories: a 250,000 sq ft facility with 50 RoboCraftsman units will produce advanced metal structures at scale.
- The factory can switch product lines in days, targeting missiles and aircraft initially then other parts.
Operate Or Co-Locate To Win Customer Adoption
- Offer both operated factories and co-located facilities to match customer needs; Machina will run co-located sites while remaining operator of record.
- Deployable containerized cells enable rapid setup on customer floors with minimal site changes.