On this episode of the Fabricator Podcast, Blake Hamar, the founder of Cali Raised LED and Apex Fabworks, joins us to talk about starting a manufacturing business in high school, growing it into a successful aftermarket and job shop operation, and implementing an unconventional management structure.

Hamar started his business in high school while attending boarding school in California, selling LED light bars for trucks. He then expanded into manufacturing brackets and other truck accessories, eventually moving the operation to Texas. Hamar's company, which has an average employee age of 23, has embraced automation and a non-traditional, non-hierarchical management structure.

The company focuses on rapidly developing new products for the truck aftermarket, with a particular emphasis on Toyota vehicles. Despite his young age, Hamar has demonstrated a knack for growing the business and leveraging technology to increase productivity and efficiency.

This episode is brought to you by MC Machinery Systems, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation.

This episode was recorded at FABTECH 2024 in Orlando, Fla.

Email us at [email protected] with any comments, questions, or suggestions.