Founded in 1939 and based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Metal Goods Manufacturing (MGM) has a long legacy of innovation. Originally known for their patented laboratory sampling equipment and liquid level gauges for rail tank cars, MGM has evolved into a forward-thinking manufacturer serving diverse industrial markets around the globe.
Despite their historical roots, MGM has never stopped innovating. With a 25,000 sq. ft. facility and a dedicated team, they’ve embraced technology to improve productivity, drive continuous improvement, and meet the demands of a growing customer base.
As demand accelerated, MGM found themselves in a familiar bind: too many orders and not enough time—or people—to fill them.
For MGM, the pressure to deliver, forced a critical question: how do you grow without adding a second shift or overloading your team?
MGM explored automation before, but many solutions were overly complex or required custom integration. That changed when they discovered VersaBuilt.
VersaBuilt’s standardized approach to CNC automation—and easy-to-use software—made it possible for MGM to handle a high-mix part environment without constant external support.
Installation was quick, and with help from VersaBuilt’s support team, the MGM crew was up and running in no time.
Once installed, VersaBuilt automation immediately made an impact:
- Unattended Night Production: They now run parts overnight, lights-out.
- Order-Winning Capability: One key order would not have been possible without automation.
- Productivity Gains: One job went from 150 parts per run to 353—more than double—with no added labor.
They also saw unexpected benefits: quick expansion. After realizing the potential, MGM added a second VersaBuilt system within a year.
For MGM, one of the biggest takeaways wasn’t about technology—it was about people.
The right internal champion made onboarding, setup, and expansion possible without disruption. Brandon now oversees both VersaBuilt systems and plays a critical role in MGM’s automation journey.
MGM plans to expand automation further, including exploring options for their NHX 5000 horizontal mill. They see potential for even more unattended productivity and multi-machine tending in the future.
- Standardized automation without custom integrators
- Dramatically increased production capacity
- Unattended night operation now possible
- More output, fewer operators
- High-mix ready, fast part setup, intuitive software