VersaBuilt Chats with Brandon & Chris at Metal Goods Manufacturing
Bartlesville, OK, metalgoodsmfg.com
About Metal Goods Manufacturing
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.
The Challenge
As demand accelerated, MGM found themselves in a familiar bind: too many orders and not enough time—or people—to fill them.
“Lots of orders, but not enough hours in the day. And no second shift to speak of. Our customers were asking, ‘Where is it?’”
For MGM, the pressure to deliver, forced a critical question: how do you grow without adding a second shift or overloading your team?
The Solution: Simplicity, Scalability & Lights-Out Capability
MGM explored automation before, but many solutions were overly complex or required custom integration. That changed when they discovered VersaBuilt.
“Simplicity was key in choosing VersaBuilt. We didn’t want to bring in an integrator every time we added a new part.”
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.
Results That Matter
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.
“We wouldn’t have gotten that order without the robot.”
They also saw unexpected benefits: quick expansion. After realizing the potential, MGM added a second VersaBuilt system within a year.
Lessons Learned
For MGM, one of the biggest takeaways wasn’t about technology—it was about people.
“You need a champion. Someone who owns it and dives in. For us, that was Brandon.”
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.
What’s Next
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.
Key Takeaways
- 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
“We can run 353 parts instead of 150 now.”