1872 Launches Autonomous Steel Fabrication Factory Model in Cincinnati and Closes $15 million Seed Funding Round
The O.H.I.O. Fund, investing through its private funds, leads one of Ohio’s largest-ever seed rounds to support AI-driven, autonomous manufacturing that meets growing market demand
1872, a startup focused on AI-native manufacturing, today announced its opening, introducing what will be an automated steel fabrication factory model in Cincinnati’s Camp Washington neighborhood. The company, founded by three former SpaceX engineers, is propelled by a $15 million seed funding round, one of the largest in Ohio history, made through private funds advised by The O.H.I.O. Fund, a private fund investment adviser seeking to generate strong returns for investors while creating economic growth in Ohio.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260722906712/en/
1872 introduces a unique AI-based factory automation solution to an industry that has struggled to innovate and has been unable to keep up with rising demand for steel products in the modular construction and infrastructure markets. The company’s proprietary system integrates AI software that understands the physical world with advanced automation from companies such as Ohio-based Path Robotics. This technology automates heavy fabrication tasks that have traditionally relied on manual labor, now in critically short supply. Early automations are in place at 1872, with the company expecting to achieve its full autonomous vision in 2027.
