When St. Pete EDC Investors gathered at Haddy’s St. Pete headquarters for the EDC’s “Haddy Hour & Factory Tour,” they got something rare: an unfiltered look at what the future of American manufacturing actually looks like — and it lives in a 1931 building in the heart of St. Petersburg.
Haddy CEO and Co-founder Jay Rogers opened the evening by reflecting on what drew him here in the first place. A former Marine who grew up sailing around the world, Rogers wasn’t originally looking at St. Pete when he set out to build his first microfactory. It was a conversation with then-State Senator Jeff Brandes that changed his mind. “I thought that meant Tampa,” Rogers admitted. “I grew up on the other coast in Palm Beach, so I hadn’t really disambiguated Tampa from St. Pete.” Then he crossed the bridge for the first time — and he was sold. He now lives in the Kenwood neighborhood, a short walk from the factory. “I really look forward to calling St. Pete home forever,” he told the crowd.
From 20 employees to 70 — in the next 20 months
That commitment is more than personal. Haddy, which opened its headquarters and first microfactory in St. Pete in 2021, is in full growth mode. Rogers announced plans to expand the team from 20 to 70 people within the next 20 months, with most of those jobs based right here in St. Pete. The historic building itself is slated for significant upgrades — enclosed mezzanine space, a restored portico, expanded restrooms — and the company is also exploring additional space near the port to support its growing boat production operation.
“We’re going to 3D print the world”
So what exactly does Haddy do? In Rogers’ words: “We’re going to 3D print the world.” More precisely, Haddy uses AI-powered robotic systems to 3D print polymer composites for enterprise customers across a remarkably wide range of industries. The company started in furniture to establish a clear market presence, then expanded into nuclear industry molds, architectural facades, entertainment gear, lighting, and boats. Today, Haddy’s client roster includes The Walt Disney Company — supplying components for major facilities and cruise ships — as well as customers in the defense sector, where Haddy produces everything from drone components to military boat hulls to munitions covers. Rogers describes this range as Haddy’s “dual use” technology advantage.
Robots that learn — and a factory that runs all night
What sets Haddy apart from conventional manufacturing isn’t just what it prints — it’s how the machines learn. The robots are autonomous and self-monitoring, analyzing their own errors through thermal, laser, and stereo optical profiles to continuously improve output. “They watch very carefully,” Rogers explained. “We train them under certain constrained circumstances to figure out how they can do what they do better.” The facility is also designed as a closed-loop system: polymer composites that are no longer needed get recycled, re-pelletized, and fed back into the printers. Every chair in the room, Rogers pointed out, could theoretically be ground up and turned into the next thing Haddy makes.
Every chair in the room could theoretically be ground up and turned into the next thing Haddy makes.
A case for advanced manufacturing in St. Pete
Rogers framed Haddy’s work within a larger national challenge. America, he argued, excels at service economies — law firms, capital funds, professional services — but has been on a steady decline in manufacturing as a share of GDP. Haddy is a direct response to that trend: high-tech, high-paying jobs that prove St. Pete can compete in advanced manufacturing. “When I first got here, I talked to a lot of people about building the future, 3D printing the future,” Rogers said, “and there was definitely one out of two people who would say, ‘We don’t have manufacturing jobs here.’ We can — and they can be really high-paying, awesome jobs.”
The ghosts of the factory
The evening closed with a factory walkthrough, where investors watched Haddy’s robots move silently through the bays — printing boats, lighting fixtures, and furniture simultaneously. Rogers calls them “the ghosts of the factory.” Quiet, autonomous, and working through the night, they’re also a fitting symbol for what Haddy is building in St. Pete: something big, happening steadily, and easy to miss until it’s right in front of you.
Haddy’s microfactory has called St. Pete home since 2021. Read about the original opening here.
