# 275: Building a Brand New Manufacturing Company in the US with Andrew Johnson, Co-Founder of HeavyTech

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2026-02-17
- Length: 53m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-17-275-building-a-brand-new-manufacturing-company-in-the-us-with-andrew-johnson-co
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Andrew Johnson, co-founder of HeavyTech and CEO of ShelfAware, explains how he and his partners built a hybrid and electric heavy machinery manufacturer in Fort Wayne, Indiana, while maintaining his O-ring distribution business and VMI software company, ShelfAware. Johnson details the decision to crowdfund HeavyTech rather than pursue traditional venture capital to maintain creative control and engage future customers directly. He discusses the technical challenges of designing a diesel-electric hybrid compact trackloader from scratch, including developing proprietary hydraulic and thermal management systems, and emphasizes the importance of timing and diversification within the industrial sector.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-17-275-building-a-brand-new-manufacturing-company-in-the-us-with-andrew-johnson-co#t=0) Introduction: Industrial Marketing Summit Sponsor Read
- [1:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-17-275-building-a-brand-new-manufacturing-company-in-the-us-with-andrew-johnson-co#t=111) Introduction: Andrew Johnson and HeavyTech Overview
- [6:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-17-275-building-a-brand-new-manufacturing-company-in-the-us-with-andrew-johnson-co#t=374) Background: Family O-ring Business and ShelfAware Origins
- [9:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-17-275-building-a-brand-new-manufacturing-company-in-the-us-with-andrew-johnson-co#t=549) HeavyTech Formation: Co-founders and Industry Grievances
- [13:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-17-275-building-a-brand-new-manufacturing-company-in-the-us-with-andrew-johnson-co#t=807) Product Design: Diesel-Electric Hybrid Compact Trackloader
- [20:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-17-275-building-a-brand-new-manufacturing-company-in-the-us-with-andrew-johnson-co#t=1232) Funding Strategy: Crowdfunding vs. Venture Capital
- [25:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-17-275-building-a-brand-new-manufacturing-company-in-the-us-with-andrew-johnson-co#t=1535) Market Timing and Consolidation in Construction Equipment
- [28:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-17-275-building-a-brand-new-manufacturing-company-in-the-us-with-andrew-johnson-co#t=1686) Location Strategy: Fort Wayne, Indiana Manufacturing Hub
- [33:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-17-275-building-a-brand-new-manufacturing-company-in-the-us-with-andrew-johnson-co#t=2001) US Manufacturing Outlook and Labor Force Challenges
- [41:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-17-275-building-a-brand-new-manufacturing-company-in-the-us-with-andrew-johnson-co#t=2494) Entrepreneurial Mindset: Fearlessness and Diversification

## Topics

- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- HeavyTech (company)
- ShelfAware (company)
- Everywhere Beer Co (company)
- Joe's KC (company)
- Toyota Prius (product)
- Bobcat (product)
- Caterpillar (product)
- John Deere (product)
- Moxa (company)

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- [180: Hardware Startup Tips for Non-Technical Founders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-06-15-180-hardware-startup-tips-for-non-technical-founders) (Product Startup)
- [S3 E7: Building Bootstrapped Hardware That Sells with Christian Reed](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2026-01-13-s3-e7-building-bootstrapped-hardware-that-sells-with-christian-reed) (The Builder Circle)
- [T-25-008 : Justin McAfee - Mechanical Engineer to Hardware as a Service CEO](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2025-06-20-t-25-008-justin-mcafee-mechanical-engineer-to-hardware-as-a-service-ceo) (TRADEOFFS)
- [Episode 2 - The Hardware Story of Ethereal Machines w/ Kaushik Mudda | Building a Deep tech Mfg company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-story/2024-10-02-episode-2-the-hardware-story-of-ethereal-machines-w-kaushik-mudda-building-a-dee) (The Hardware Story)
- [T-25-009 : Sera Evcimen - Mechanical Engineer to Host of The Builder Circle™ Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2025-10-08-t-25-009-sera-evcimen-mechanical-engineer-to-host-of-the-builder-circletm-podcas) (TRADEOFFS)

## Citing this page

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