Built to Scale: CNC Fabrication for Rollouts Without the Cookie Cutter
When people hear “CNC,” they often think of mass production—identical parts, factory precision, cookie-cutter outcomes. That’s part of it, but it’s not the whole picture.
For us, CNC isn’t about churning out the same thing over and over—it’s about control, consistency, and being able to scale without losing the uniqueness that makes a space or product feel intentional. Whether we’re building a one-off retail fixture or a 20-location rollout, our CNC workflow gives us the repeatability we need without boxing us in.
Repeatability Is a Superpower
The strength of CNC is in how accurately it can reproduce complex parts. Once we’ve dialed in a prototype—say, a modular shelving system, signage element, or bar panel—we can recreate it with precision across any number of locations.
That’s huge for designers and brands doing multi-site builds. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel for each install. You get reliable, dialed-in components every time—and that consistency reflects well on your brand.
Custom Doesn’t Mean Inflexible
What makes our process different is that we’re not locked into stock shapes or templated solutions. Everything we build can be modified, adapted, and personalized to fit a space or vibe.
Need a dozen identical units with slight size adjustments for different locations? No problem. Want the same shelving design, but with different cutouts, finishes, or branding? That’s the kind of work CNC actually makes easier—not harder.
This flexibility lets us create rollouts that feel customized, not copy-pasted.
CNC Makes Small Agile Teams Work Bigger
Being a small shop doesn’t mean thinking small. Our CNC setup allows us to take on large projects with efficiency, hitting tight timelines without sacrificing craft.
We’re able to:
Prototype and revise quickly
Produce hundreds of parts with tight tolerances
Flat-pack for efficient shipping and install
Scale designs without losing character
It’s how we’ve helped clients go from a single install to a regional or national rollout—without hiring an army or cutting corners.
Scaling with Intention
The goal isn’t just to scale up—it’s to scale well. Whether it’s a pop-up for one season or a fixture that’s rolling out across multiple stores, the combination of digital precision and hands-on experience lets us deliver repeatable results that still feel human.
That’s what we mean by built to scale.
The Move
Moving a shop is never easy. The machinery is heavy, dirty, and delicate. Every cord needs to be carefully coiled and labeled, every bolt and fixture accounted for. And once you load it all up, you’re left with the even bigger task—setting it all back up again.
At the start of December, right in the middle of a kitchen install, we began the second shop move in Works Progress’s history. Over two intense weeks, we dismantled the old space and shuttled it across town—one load at a time in a 16' cabover truck.
The Right Tool for the Job
One thing that made this move a whole lot smoother than our first? The forklift.
After signing the lease on the new space, my first major investment was a used teal Mitsubishi forklift—and I honestly don’t know how we would’ve done it without it. From the first pallet to the last CNC, this machine saved us hours of labor and a lot of back pain.
Making Room for the Big Machines
We started with the “smaller” items: the table saws, jointer, planer, air compressors, and dust collection. Clearing those made way to bring in the biggest pieces—the CNC routers.
Our 5' x 10' ShopBot just barely fit into the 16’ truck, sliding in with less than an inch of clearance on either side. We prepped by lifting both ShopBots onto custom-built caster sleds, using 2x6s with mounted casters to easily maneuver them across the concrete floor. Once they were in position, we used 72” fork extensions to lift and load them into the truck. With a little patience, both machines landed safely in their new home.
Setting Up for What’s Next
With the machines in place, we moved on to the final leg of the process—power, air, and dust collection. Wiring up the CNCs, plumbing in air lines, and connecting the dust collection took some time, but hearing those machines hum to life in a new space made it all worth it.
We’re excited to have the shop fully operational again and ready for what’s next—bigger projects, smoother workflow, and more opportunities to build for our clients.
Let’s build something together.
