Designfusion Expands into Michigan: A Q&A with Additive Manufacturing’s Latest Solutions Provider

For over two decades, Designfusion has been a trusted leader in engineering design and manufacturing solutions, providing support and expertise to over 2,000 customers across North America. In opening its first Michigan office, the company seeks to expand on the growing trend of additive manufacturing adopters and automotive industry prowess in Michigan. The team is fluent in Markforged, HP, and Formlabs 3D printer applications, working for a host of companies from OEMs to small manufacturers.

Automation Alley's Dennis Burck sat down with Designfusion Director of Additive Manufacturing Trevor Johnstone to discuss opening its Michigan office, what DesignFusion offers to customers, and all things additive manufacturing.

Why did you expand into the Michigan market?

If you're in automotive, all roads end up in Michigan—that’s just the reality of the industry. We already had a strong presence in automotive, so expanding into Michigan was a natural next step for us. Beyond that, Michigan offers a unique combination of a strong, well-established manufacturing base and a talent pipeline that’s been built up over decades. The companies here are used to evolving, iterating, and innovating to stay competitive. From a geographic standpoint, our Michigan office also strategically places us between our locations in Toronto and Ohio, allowing us to be closer to our customers and serve them more effectively. When we were evaluating where to expand, we wanted to be where manufacturing was thriving, and Michigan checked all the right boxes.

What can you provide small to mid sized manufacturers?

We don’t differentiate between small and large manufacturers—we treat every business like it wants to be big. Additive manufacturing scales in a way that allows companies of all sizes to get started and grow at their own pace. When we work with manufacturers, we don’t just sell them a printer and walk away. Our role is to help them establish a North Star—an overall strategy for how additive manufacturing can bring value to their operations. If they need just one part printed, we can provide it. If they need help transitioning from traditional manufacturing to additive, we guide them through that process. Whether a company is a five-person machine shop or a global OEM, we take the same approach: we educate, we consult, and we help them develop a sustainable, long-term additive strategy. The goal isn’t just to sell technology—it’s to make sure they can actually use it to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and drive innovation.

Visit automationalley.com to read the full discussion and discover more about Designfusion, now making its mark in Michigan.

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