Haddy: Revolutionizing Manufacturing with 3D Printing and AI

For decades, furniture manufacturing has remained largely unchanged, relying on traditional methods that are labor-intensive, slow, and constrained by high costs. Haddy, Inc., founded by Jay Rogers, is breaking the mold—literally. With a cutting-edge micro​-​​ ​factory in St. Petersburg, Florida, Haddy is ushering in a new era of digitally manufactured furniture that is faster, more sustainable, and infinitely customizable.

At the heart of this revolution is large-scale 3D printing, robotics, and artificial intelligence, enabling the company to produce furniture with unprecedented efficiency. “We like to think of ourselves as the Invisalign of furniture,” says Rogers. “Instead of making the printer, we use advanced 3D printing to produce something completely new—the built environment of the future.”

An Overnight Success – 20 years in the making

The idea behind Haddy didn’t happen overnight. Rogers recalls his “aha moment” nearly 20 years ago while watching an inventor use a 3D epoxy printer to create molds for car parts. “I was immediately captivated by the speed and precision of digital manufacturing,” he says. “But it took two decades for the technology to mature enough to make it scalable for furniture and architecture.” Today, that vision has come to life. Haddy’s St. Petersburg micro​-​​ ​factory serves as the blueprint for future locations worldwide, using AI-driven robotic 3D printers to create high-quality furniture at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional methods..

Unlike conventional manufacturing, which requires expensive tooling, molds, and assembly lines, Haddy eliminates these barriers entirely. “Traditional furniture manufacturing forces companies to choose between mass production (low cost, low variety) and custom craftsmanship (high cost, high variety),” explains Rogers. “With Haddy, we can do both—high-mix, high-volume production—without sacrificing affordability or speed.” For businesses, this means unprecedented flexibility. Take ​K​ojo, a Sarasota-based restaurant group, for example. They needed custom planters to divide their outdoor dining space from pedestrian walkways—tall enough for privacy, durable enough for Florida weather, and equipped with built-in wine buckets for efficient service. Haddy delivered 17 uniquely designed planters, each with its own wave-like pattern—something impossible to achieve with traditional manufacturing.

And since Haddy’s design files are digital, these planters can be reproduced anywhere, anytime. “If ​K​ojo opens a new restaurant across the country, we don’t have to ship furniture—we just send the file to a Haddy micro factory near them and print it there,” says Rogers.

Haddy isn’t just revolutionizing furniture ​manufacturing​—it’s leading the charge toward a more sustainable future. The company’s eco-friendly approach includes:

• Material efficiency – No wasted wood, fabric, or excess inventory.
• Closed-loop recycling – Haddy furniture can be broken down and reprinted multiple times without waste.
• Biodegradable composites – The company is pioneering furniture made from coffee grounds, algae, and even brewery byproducts, reducing reliance on plastics and synthetic materials.

“Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword for us—it’s built into our process,” says Rogers. “Everything we create can be recycled back into raw material and repurposed. Nothing goes to waste.”

Rethinking Manufacturing Jobs

Haddy’s technology doesn’t eliminate jobs—it transforms them. Instead of hiring workers for manual assembly, the company seeks robotics technicians, designers, and engineers who can operate, maintain, and optimize their AI-driven manufacturing systems. “When people hear ‘automation,’ they think about job loss,” says Rogers. “But we’re not replacing workers—we’re creating high-paying, tech-driven roles that didn’t exist before.” By partnering with local universities and training programs, Haddy is actively building the next generation of digital manufacturing talent right in Florida.

Haddy’s impact goes beyond furniture—it’s reshaping global supply chains. Instead of shipping furniture from overseas, Haddy’s micro​-​factory model allows for localized production, reducing costs, carbon emissions, and lead times. “For the last 40 years, businesses believed they had to go to Asia to get affordable manufacturing,” Rogers says. “We’re proving that you can produce things better, faster, and cheaper right here in the U.S.” Haddy plans to expand its micro​-​​ ​factory model across the country, making regional production the new standard. “This isn’t just about furniture,” Rogers adds. “It’s about bringing manufacturing back home.”

With plans to scale across the U.S. and beyond, Haddy is on track to redefine not just furniture, but how we think about manufacturing itself. From custom-built offices to sustainable outdoor spaces, the company’s digitally-powered approach is paving the way for a smarter, greener, and more efficient future. As Rogers puts it: “This is just the beginning.”

Advice For Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Being named a GrowFL 2024 Florida Companies to Watch honoree is a milestone for Haddy. “This award validates everything we’ve been working toward,” says Rogers. “It’s not just about us—it’s about proving that Florida is the future of manufacturing innovation.” Rogers shares a piece of advice that has guided him throughout his journey: “If it’s too easy, everyone will copy it, and it’s not a great business. If it’s too hard, it’s probably not viable. The sweet spot is something that’s hard enough to be unique, but achievable with the right vision and persistence.”