Formic has opened a new 53,000-square-foot headquarters in Bolingbrook, Illinois, expanding its operational capacity to support growing demand for its AI-powered robotic automation solutions and Full Service Automation model.
Formic, a Full Service Automation provider for US manufacturers, has opened a new 53,000-square-foot headquarters in Bolingbrook, IL – its largest facility to date and five times the size of its previous location.
The move comes as Formic surpasses 650,000 production hours across its robotic fleet, a milestone that reflects the growing demand for Full Service Automation among small and mid-sized US manufacturers who cannot afford to fall behind.
But that milestone does not just reflect demand; it is the foundation of Formic’s AI advantage.
That data trains Cortex and Core, Formic’s proprietary models for scoping, deployment and real-time operation, giving Formic a compounding edge that grows with every system it deploys, backed by the largest independent robotic fleet in the United States.
“This space exists because the demand is real, the pipeline is growing and we need the room to meet it,” said Danijel Lolic, COO, Formic.
“When we started, we had one core application and a clear conviction that the Robots-as-a-Service model could change manufacturing. What you see on this floor today is proof that the conviction was right and the model works. We’ve expanded from palletizing into case packing, pallet wrapping and now machine tending, application categories that open up entirely new customers and facilities.”
A facility built for what’s next
Formic’s rapidly expanding automation lineup includes:
Palletizing: Where Formic started. The company built its reputation deploying palletizing solutions for food, beverage and consumer goods manufacturers facing chronic labour shortages at the end of the line.
Case Packing: An expansion of Formic’s end-of-line automation footprint, helping manufacturers automate one of the most labour-intensive steps in the packaging process.
Pallet Wrapping: Debuted publicly for the first time at the event, adding another critical end-of-line capability to the Formic offering.
Machine Tending: Formic’s newest application category opens the door to metal components manufacturers supplying aerospace, automotive and industrial customers; the facilities that have needed automation the longest but faced the steepest barriers to entry.
“Machine tending alone represents a massive expansion of who we can serve,” said Shawn Fitzgerald, CRO, Formic.
“We’re talking about metal components manufacturers, the shops making parts for aerospace and automotive, who have not been able to automate due to capital constraints. Now they can unlock more production hours than ever before to get the job done without requiring that huge upfront cost and all the maintenance that comes along with it. The competitive landscape is shifting fast and the manufacturers who act now are the ones who will win. We want to be their partner when they make that call.”
