World’s largest 3D-printing facility opens in St. Pete, powered by AI and robots
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Inside a 32,000-square-foot industrial facility north of St. Pete’s EDGE District, towering crane-like robots are 3D printing everything from chairs to cold plunge tubs—all using sustainable, recyclable materials.
Haddy, a 3D-printed furniture company powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning, has officially opened its new micro-factory at 251 10th Street North. It is now the largest 3D-printing facility in the world.
"We will have micro-facilities all over the world," said CEO Jay Rogers during the April 10th grand opening, joined by partners from Siemens AG and CEAD, a Netherlands-based tech company revolutionizing large-scale composite manufacturing.
Rogers, a Marine Corps veteran, co-founded Haddy in 2022 with CTO Kyle Rowe. Before relocating, the company operated out of a 20,000-square-foot space in St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts District.
The new facility, formerly home to Mayflower Transit moving company, is owned by Rick Leonard—President of Bradenton-based Sunz Insurance—and Eastman Equity, run by prominent investor Jonathan Daou.
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Two years after Hurricane Helene devastated Willy’s Burgers & Booze, the St. Pete Beach watering hole is preparing for a comeback.
The open-air bar and restaurant at 645 Corey Avenue announced recently that construction is beginning following a lengthy permitting process.
A reopening date has not been announced.
“The road back has been anything but easy,” the business shared on Facebook. “We have spent the past 14 months working through the permitting process, navigating delays and obstacles, and doing everything we can to make this day possible.”
“There have been times when the process felt overwhelming, but we have never lost sight of what Willy’s means to so many people,” the post continued.
Known for its burgers, affordable drinks, and laid-back, beachy atmosphere, Willy’s has been closed since the hurricanes of late 2024.