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Engineer and entrepreneur Ben Wolfgram teamed up with his artisan parents to create a fun new business that encompasses both of their passions.
Wolfgram is the founder of WE Automation, an industrial automation and robotics company. His work with Flow water jet, brought him to NextFab to service the Mach 4c and his passion for making lead to his joining as a member.
“My parents have been artisans for over 20 years. Traditionally, they traveled across the United States selling their artwork at art shows. This was enjoyable for them, but after 20+ years on the road, they were ready to spend more time at home, and less time driving. I moved to Philadelphia 3 years ago, from Wisconsin. After a trip home for the holidays, I proposed the idea of launching an eCommerce store for my parents. They liked the idea of continuing their craft and not having to travel the country to connect with customers,” says Wolfgram. The result of this collaboration is BenShot. Originally, Wolfgram and his father Bruce, designed the “bulletproof” shot glass as a fun gift for family and friends, but soon they realized that there was greater demand. They have since developed BenShot into a national and soon to be international brand of glassware.The BenShot “Bulletproof” glass is a glass… with a bullet in it.
While the glasses themselves are not made at NextFab, Wolfgram makes use of NextFab’s facilities to support the product in numerous ways. “I use the wood shop and the lasers at NextFab for making packaging prototypes, etching glasses, and making coasters, while my father does the production in his glass workshop in Wisconsin. He has glass furnaces, lamp working equipment and a small team of glass workers helping him.” Wolfram also utilizes NextFab’s 3D printing for displays and marketing materials and the Roland vinyl printer for stickers and packaging labels.
Wolfgram is excited about his expanding business, “I’m working with Melissa in the jewelry shop at [NextFab] North 4th. We are incorporating some unique designs using the laser and the jewelry studio. On the marketing side, we should have BenShot partners established in Europe and Japan by June!”
Get your custom-made glass and coaster today at benshot.com
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