Chris Padgett, 28, Entrepreneur & Inventor
It may be cliché, but successful businesses often start out in someone’s garage. It’s said that Amazon, Apple, Disney, Google, Harley Davidson and Nike all started in a garage before becoming household names.
Could Fusion 3 be the next name to add to that impressive list? Maybe.
As a student at N.C. State, Chris Padgett saw an online article about 3D printing. As a mechanical engineering student, it piqued his interest, so he purchased some kits to put together as a hobby.
“Being able to think of something, design it, and then hold it in your hand is an incredible feeling.”
Chris, 28, instantly recognized the potential of this technology and that of a company that could produce an industrial 3D printer marketed to small and medium-sized businesses.
“I actually started out in my parents’ garage and now we are located here in Greensboro with 15 employees.”
Before moving from his parents’ garage to a permanent location, Chris went through the Triad Startup Lab and was an early member of the 
Forge. In fact, Chris has since donated a 3D printer to the Forge for the next generation of doers and creators.
Fusion 3 is now working with local customers, machine shops and universities. Its suppliers are largely local, but its market now reaches all of North America and even overseas.
“We manufacture equipment, assemble everything and test our products right here in Greensboro. We are constantly investing our resources to improve performance because our customers require a reliable product with best-in-class performance at best-in-class prices.”
