A few weeks ago, a Formic customer reached out with a familiar challenge: demand was surging as customers scrambled to secure domestic supply in anticipation of new tariffs, but their capital projects had been frozen. They were stuck between opportunity and uncertainty, unsure how to move forward without overcommitting budget in a volatile market.
But this customer wasn’t left standing still. Thanks to Full Service Automation, they scaled production immediately without spending a dollar of CapEx. While competitors scrambled to rework budgets, this manufacturer got to work.
Their story is becoming more common by the week. Across the country, manufacturers are facing an increasingly unpredictable environment. Tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China are once again shifting the ground under their feet. Material costs are rising. Production forecasting is harder than ever. And in response, many businesses are pausing or canceling capital projects when agility is needed most.
This climate doesn’t just create short-term pain — it blocks long-term growth. Operations leaders are being asked to do more with less, without a clear view of the next quarter. But even in times of uncertainty, production can’t wait. And that’s exactly where Full Service Automation changes the game.
Flexible and Reliable Production with Full Service Automation
Unlike traditional automation projects that rely on upfront capital investment and years-long ROI timelines, Full Service Automation offers a flexible, low-risk alternative. There’s no CapEx. No complicated procurement processes. Just a fixed monthly payment that gets you performance from day one.
What makes this model powerful isn’t just the financial structure — it’s the operational certainty it brings. Each Formic solution includes contracted performance. That means we don’t just install equipment and wish you luck — we commit to making sure it performs. Your team gets support, maintenance, and uptime, not risk.
And while most manufacturers are facing critical skills gaps when it comes to automation, Formic fills that gap entirely. Our team handles everything: scoping, design, deployment, training, and 24/7 bilingual tech support. Preventive and corrective maintenance are included. You don’t need a robotics engineer or a new maintenance department — we’ve got you covered.
Flexibility is built in at every level. Our customers operate on monthly contracts, which means they’re free to scale, shift, or even walk away if the system isn’t working. The twist? Almost no one ever does. Once automation is on the floor and delivering results, the value becomes clear fast.
And as your production needs change — whether it’s new SKUs, packaging formats, or throughput goals — your automation evolves with you. With Full Service Automation, you’re never stuck with the wrong system or waiting months for a retool. We swap equipment as needed to meet your changing business demands.
This kind of adaptability is essential for short-term and long-term planning. In a world where tariffs, labor costs, and market pressures shift rapidly, flexibility isn’t a luxury — it’s a requirement. The old approach to automation, where systems are bought and fixed in place for a decade, just doesn’t fit the pace of modern manufacturing.
Manufacturers Need Adaptability
That’s why companies like Mi Rancho, Cameron’s Coffee, Rumiano Cheese, and Taffy Town have partnered with Formic. They’ve recognized that Full Service Automation isn’t just a financial model — it’s a way to keep projects moving when others hit pause. It’s a way to maintain productivity without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a solution that might not work as planned. And it’s a way to secure operational advantage in uncertain times.
As Patrick Henson, VP of Operations at Rumiano Cheese, put it: “Formic likes to partner with people; it’s not just a business transaction.”
If you’re trying to make sense of tariff volatility and wondering how to move forward without overcommitting, Full Service Automation may be your next best move.
Because when the market’s uncertain, your production plan shouldn’t be.