Z-AXIS Celebrates 35th Anniversary and Prepares for Continued Growth
Z-AXIS, an experienced provider of electronic design and manufacturing services, recently celebrated its 35th anniversary amid a major expansion at its Rochester-area facility. Employees, family, and friends enjoyed a lunch from Dinosaur BBQ, Molly V’s Homemade Ice Cream, and live music on a beautiful fall day in Western New York on October 1, 2024.
“Z-AXIS is very proud of the achievement we’re celebrating today,” said Michael Allen, company president and co-owner. “We’d like to thank everyone who helped make this possible. With the investments that we’re making, the best is yet to come.”
Founded on October 1, 1989, Z-AXIS started as a manufacturer of cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, a type of video monitor. As the market for CRTs declined and then largely disappeared, the company re-invented itself as an electronic contract manufacturer. Today, Z-AXIS provides printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), box builds, and cable and wire assembly services.
Michael Allen and co-owner Robin Allen purchased Z-AXIS on January 7, 2014. Michael Allen has held engineering and leadership roles at Z-AXIS since the company’s founding and served as Director of Engineering before becoming company president in 2006. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and is the holder of 26 U.S. patents.
Today, Z-AXIS is growing at approximately 20% a year and in the second phase of a $1.5 million expansion that is increasing capacity with new equipment. From startups to billion-dollar companies, Z-AXIS serves commercial and industrial customers but also has a strong and growing presence in aerospace, which now accounts for 30% of the company’s business.
Bear Power Supplies, a business unit of Z-AXIS, is also enjoying success in the design and manufacturing of power supplies for medical, industrial, and commercial customers. As a drone flew over the anniversary celebration and took pictures of the festivities, the feeling that the sky’s the limit was clear.
