Sheridan Shops Add Robots, Hire Workers

Sheridan manufacturers are installing robotic arms to handle repetitive welding tasks. The new equipment frees human workers to tackle complex jobs. This shift allows companies to increase production and hire additional staff.

EMIT Technologies in Sheridan needs roughly 70 welders to meet demand. The company currently employs 55. CEO Casey Osborn said he aims to have four robotic arms operational by mid-November. Those machines will free an estimated 22 welders. Osborn plans to shift those freed workers to other projects at the facility.

Each robotic arm is programmed for a specific part with high repeatability. Operating the machines requires little welding experience. Osborn said the company buys the machines to produce more goods faster. That increase in output creates new job openings. "The only reason we buy those machines is because they help us do more faster," Osborn said.

Nolan Schaffer, an employee at EMIT, said the robots took over repetitive welding jobs. They did not replace his position. He helped install the new equipment. "You still have to babysit it," Schaffer said. "But rather than it taking six to 12 people to weld out a full order of stuff, now it’s just one person with a robot."

Mike Wandler of L&H said Wyoming’s smaller population is no longer a barrier to manufacturing. The company is headquartered in Wyoming and ships parts worldwide. Wandler said it is easier to hire talented workers in Gillette and Sheridan than in Phoenix, Arizona. "Our manufacturing IQ is way above everybody else and the world is noticing that right now," Wandler said.

Taylor Wendtland of a local machine shop is using a robot to load raw material into machining equipment. The robot removes finished parts and repeats the process. Wendtland said he hopes the increased production will generate enough revenue to hire a full-time programmer. "If I program it right, we’ll do it 24/7. That’s how it’s supposed to work," Wendtland said.

Former Sheridan mayor Dave Kinskey said training pipelines are essential for growth. Sheridan College expanded its welding program and invested in CNC equipment. That training helped attract manufacturers such as Vacutech and Weatherby to the city’s business park.