Since 1993, Oneida Air Systems has been making industry-leading dust collection systems in their Syracuse, New York, factory. The company started when Robert and Rebecca Witter created a cyclone unit that was featured in an article, “Clearing The Air,” by Jim Lawton in Fine Woodworking issue #100 (Unlimited members can find it in the online archive here). Soon enough, the Witter’s home phone was ringing nonstop, and they knew that they were onto something big.

Twenty six years later, the company is still producing cutting-edge dust collection systems in the same factory, where each unit is built entirely in-house. While Robert and Rebecca are proud that they’ve been able to keep manufacturing in Syracuse, they’re especially proud that they’ve been able to do it while keeping costs competitive. All of this is possible because of their highly skilled craftspeople and lean manufacturing strategies.

More on FineWoodworking.com:

• Oneida Air Systems Factory Tour – See how the Syracuse company marries the talents of skilled local craftspeople with cutting-edge technology to create all of their products
• Cut nails, a family business – Gary Franklin is a fifth-generation nailer at the Tremont nail factory in Mansfield, Mass.
• The Polisher – Lie-Nielsen’s Lynn McMurray knows that opening up a box with a new tool in it is a special moment for any woodworker, so she wants to make sure that moment doesn’t disappoint