Bak USA expands with new 10,000-squarefoot facility
Staff Writer |
The expansion of the global headquarters of Bak USA, one of the first American firms to produce its own-branded electronic tablets, is completed in New York.
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When Bak USA opened its doors in 2015, it employed just 15 people at its facility on Buffalo’s East Side.
Since then, the company has grown to a staff of 80 full-time employees and expects to increase their workforce to 100 employees by 2018.
Bak USA works with local agencies and global leaders to build computers for schools, businesses, and government agencies around the world.
The 10,000-squarefoot expansion, which spans the entire fourth floor of the Compass East building at 425 Michigan Avenue, reflects Bak USA’s expanded capabilities and product offerings.
The new space will be used as a product workshop that includes product design, engineering, warehousing, assembly, and quality assurance.
The design of the space also features hand-built workstations, a floor-to-ceiling glass conference room, and new production tools.
Bak USA, a STARTUP-NY company, began training its first employees on December 1, 2014 and now produces three different types of mobile computers: the Atlas 12, a 2-in-1 laptop purpose-built for K-12 schools; the Seal, a rugged mobile tablet for field services; and the Bak Board, the original tablet from Bak USA
All of Bak USA’s computers are built in a safe and clean assembly environment overlooking the city’s skyline.
To develop the company's new advanced manufacturing processes, Bak USA partnered with Buffalo Manufacturing Works, operated by EWI, and Insyte Consulting companies.
BMW, which is part of the Buffalo Billion Investment Development Plan, engages with manufacturers across North America to help them develop and implement cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, enhance productivity, and find other ways to grow their companies.
The collaborative robots, or “cobots,†were developed with the help of BMW and will be used to simplify the assembly process for Bak USA builders by eliminating some of the repetitive motion steps that can be physically stressful for humans. ■