The Manufacturing Exchange
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Date
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
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Time
4:00pm – 7:00pm EST
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Location
ARTISANworks 565 Blossom Road, Suite L Rochester, NY 14610
The Manufacturing Exchange Rochester reimagines what a manufacturing event can be.
Hosted inside an unexpected art venue, this immersive experience presents high-precision manufacturing as crafted work with intricate components from Fathom’s Newcut and Incodema teams. They’ll be displayed gallery-style, inviting close examination of precision at a human scale.
The event also features a live recording of the Manufacturing Happy Hour podcast, hosted by Chris Luecke, exploring where automation ends and human judgment still matters.
Part exhibition, part conversation, The Manufacturing Exchange brings engineers and manufacturing leaders together for a fresh perspective on craft, constraints, and complex parts in a setting designed to surprise.
Precision isn’t accidental. It’s engineered.
Precision manufacturing is rarely about ideal conditions. It’s defined by constraints: tighter tolerances, increasingly complex geometries, evolving material requirements, regulatory oversight, and compressed development timelines.
The ability to consistently produce intricate, high-performance components under these pressures is what separates capable suppliers from true manufacturing partners.
At this edition of The Manufacturing Exchange, we’re bringing together engineers and manufacturing leaders to explore:
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Where automation accelerates production
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Where human judgment still defines quality
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How intricate components are manufactured at scale
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What “craft” really means in modern precision manufacturing
This is a focused conversation about the rigor, judgment, and discipline required to manufacture complex parts at the highest level.
Up Close with Intricate Manufacturing
These components weren’t designed to be glanced at. They were designed to be examined.
Because the parts produced by Fathom’s Newcut and Incodema teams are small, intricate, and highly engineered, we’re presenting them the way they deserve to be seen, as objects of craft.
Throughout the venue, select components will be displayed in a curated, gallery-style installation, inviting you to experience precision at a different scale:
- Fine-feature photochemical etched components, measured in microns
- Complex, tight-tolerance sheet metal assemblies
- Intricate metal parts requiring advanced process control and disciplined execution
Each piece reflects a convergence of material science, engineering intent, and manufacturing judgment. The setting may feel unexpected, but the focus is unmistakable: precision as a practiced art, shaped by both technology and human expertise.
Spotlighting Manufacturing Expertise in New York
This event highlights the specialized capabilities of Fathom’s New York operations:
Newcut (Newark, NY)
Experts in photochemical etching, producing thin, complex metal components with exceptional detail and repeatability.
Incodema (Ithaca, NY)
Specialists in precision sheet metal fabrication, delivering intricate, tight-tolerance parts and assemblies.
Together, these teams focus on manufacturing components where detail matters, tolerances are tight, and execution must be consistent.
Live Podcast Recording
Join us for a live recording of Manufacturing Happy Hour as we take on one of the most pressing questions in modern manufacturing: What should never be automated?
Hosted by Chris Luecke, Founder & Host of Manufacturing Happy Hour, this moderated panel explores the tension between advanced automation and human expertise.
We’ll dig into:
- Where automation excels — and where it reaches its limits
- Why skilled operators and engineers remain critical in complex manufacturing
- How leading organizations balance throughput with craftsmanship
- What today’s manufacturing leaders must intentionally preserve as technology evolves
This session will be recorded live as part of the Manufacturing Happy Hour – Rust Belt Manufacturing Tour, bringing unfiltered conversation, real-world insight, and a human perspective to the future of precision manufacturing.
A Panel of Industry Leaders
At the heart of The Art of Precision Manufacturing is a critical question: where does automation elevate performance, and where does human judgment define the outcome? Join our panel of manufacturing leaders for a thoughtful discussion on the balance between advanced technology and the experience, intuition, and discipline that transform complex production into practiced craft.
Agenda
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4:00 PM – Arrival & Networking
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5:00 PM – Live Podcast Recording & Panel Discussion
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6:00 PM – Food, Drinks & Open Networking
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7:00 PM – Event Concludes
What You’ll Learn
Who Should Attend?
This event is designed for:
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Engineers and product development teams
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Manufacturing and operations leaders
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Supply chain and sourcing professionals
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Executives seeking deeper insight into precision manufacturing
If you’re working with complex parts and value thoughtful, disciplined manufacturing, this conversation is for you.
