Top Stories· August 17, 2026 at 09:18 p.m.
Former SpaceX Engineers Launch Automated Steel Factory to Address Skilled Labor Shortage
Key takeaways
- Former SpaceX engineers have founded a startup called 1872
- The startup's goal is to automate steel fabrication for crucial infrastructure components by 2027
- The initial focus is on steel skids, used in AI data centers and small modular nuclear reactors
Three former SpaceX engineers have founded a startup, 1872, to build an AI-driven robotic factory for manufacturing steel parts. The initial focus is on automating the production of steel skids, crucial infrastructure components for AI data centers and small modular nuclear reactors. The company aims to establish a prototype factory by 2027, addressing the growing shortage of skilled labor in industries such as shipbuilding and semiconductor manufacturing.
