In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to lose touch with the past that shaped our present. However, at Manufactor, a new development in Penrith, visitors can experience a tangible connection to the area’s storied industrial heritage through a remarkable series of tables.

These aren’t just ordinary tabletops; they are living monuments that honor the workers whose hands and spirits built the legendary Copper Crane Enfield factory.

Honoring the Human Stories Behind Manufacturing
A total of 13 aluminum sculptural tables now resides in Manufactor’s public spaces, each one a masterpiece etched with the names of the very workers who toiled at the Copper Crane factory. For the team behind Manufactor, ensuring this connection to Crane Enfield’s industrial past was non-negotiable.

“Too many historic factories and working-class monuments have been erased to make way for modern developments,” explains CEO John Joannou. “We felt honoring the human stories behind manufacturing was pivotal.”

Preserving Living Histories
An open call has been issued for any remaining former Copper Crane employees to visit the tables at Manufactor. “We want to hear your stories and experiences directly from those who lived them,” says Joannou.

Intricate Craftsmanship, Rich Narratives
The intricately etched designs on these tables are more than just decorative; they depict actual tools, machinery, and processes used in metalworking and manufacturing over the factory’s decades of operation. Viewing these tables through the lens of human experiences makes their beauty and craftsmanship even more striking.

A Defiant Stance Against Erasure
Whether being reunited with your own name permanently memorialised in sculptural tables or simply appreciating the artifacts of human handiwork, Manufactor’s tables offer an incomparable experience. They represent a defiant stance against the erasure of working-class narratives that communities often face as time marches on. Here, the people who literally poured the foundations for our modern world will never be forgotten.

An Invitation to Witness Living History
All former Copper Crane employees, as well as industrial history enthusiasts, are invited to come witness this living monument to labor. Preserving such an indelible link between past and present is a core tenet of the Manufactor vision for an authentic, grounded living experience. As John Joannou states, “If we lose sight of where we came from, how can we ever understand where we’re going?”

At Manufactor, the tables of history serve as a powerful reminder that our present is built upon the foundations laid by the hard work and determination of those who came before us. By etching the names and stories of Enfield’s industrial workers into these remarkable sculptural pieces, Manufactor ensures that their contributions will never be forgotten and will continue to inspire generations to come.