Most companies don’t know who makes their products.
They know the factory name.
Maybe the supplier contact.
Probably a spreadsheet.
At Metalbird, we know the people behind the steel.
We know their names. We know their smoko orders. We’ve seen photos of their dogs.
Because when you’re making something that’s meant to last a lifetime, you want to know the hands that cut it.
Not Just a Workshop... A Family
One of our main workshops is family-run.
It’s not some faceless industrial warehouse.
It’s:
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A laser cutter named Dave who’s been doing this for 15 years.
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A packing whiz named Mel who wraps each bird like it’s going to someone she knows (because sometimes it is).
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A tea break where someone always brings the good biscuits.
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A shed radio playing the same station every morning.
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A team who care about what they’re making.
Why It Matters
We could have outsourced this years ago.
Big factories. Cheaper cuts. More profit.
But we didn’t.
Because local craft is part of the Metalbird story.
When you buy a bird, you’re not just getting art... you’re backing:
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Local welders
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Small workshops
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Real people who take pride in their work
Meet the Makers
Dave – Laser Cutter
"I like the Kingfisher best. Feels good when you cut it right... clean lines, nice balance. It’s not just punching out shapes. It’s knowing someone’s going to put this in their garden and smile."
Mel – Packing Crew
"I’ve wrapped so many birds I reckon I could do it blindfolded. But I still check every one. You don’t send a crooked beak to someone’s nana."
Sam – Workshop Manager
"People think it’s just steel, but there’s an art to it. Getting the balance right. Making sure the silhouette works. It’s simple, but it’s not easy."
Smoko Matters Too
It’s not all birds and lasers.
Every day, tools go down for smoko.
Coffee. Tea. The same four stories told again. A new biscuit someone’s trying out.
That’s where the best ideas happen.
That’s where someone says, "What if we tweak the cut like this?" or "Did you see that customer review?"
It’s not a boardroom. It’s the bench out back.
Why Local?
Because it means:
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We can walk into the workshop and check things by hand.
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We can tweak a design and have a new cut ready the same day.
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We know who’s making your bird... and they know who they’re making it for.
It’s community craft, not mass production.
The Joy of Rust (Again)
Our birds are cut from Corten steel.
That means they develop a protective patina that seals and protects the silhouette.
Before they rust gracefully in your garden, they’re:
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Drawn
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Cut
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Checked
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Wrapped
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Shipped by people who know what they’re doing
And they send it off knowing it’ll change with time.
No Assembly Line Robots Here
This isn’t an assembly line.
It’s:
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Dave at the laser
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Mel at the packing bench
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Sam checking the specs
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Real people with real pride in the process
That’s why the birds feel different from mass-produced stuff.
They’re not churned out. They’re crafted in small batches by people who care.
It’s About More Than the Bird
When you hang a Metalbird on your fence or in your garden, you’re part of the story.
It’s:
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The hands that cut it
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The person who packed it
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The journey from workshop to backyard
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The moment you hammer it in
That’s not just a product life cycle. That’s a community connection.
Why We Tell This Story
Because most brands hide this part.
They talk about design. About the finished product. About "world-class manufacturing."
We’d rather tell you about:
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The guy who forgot his lunch again
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The playlist that hasn’t changed since 2014
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The moment someone says, "This batch came out nice, eh?"
That’s the real Metalbird process.
From Our Workshop to Your Garden
When you install a Metalbird, you’re not just putting up steel art.
You’re:
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Supporting local craft
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Backing small workshops
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Joining a global movement of people who want art that’s made by hands, not just machines
Want to See It for Yourself?
Pick a bird. Choose your spot.
Join the story.
Find your bird here.
Made by real people. Packed with care. Patinaed to perfection.
Suggested Image:
A behind-the-scenes shot of the workshop: Dave at the laser cutter, Mel packing boxes, the team having smoko out the back. No posing. Just real people, real work, real moments.