Art Factory is an art-themed hostel with more private rooms than dorms.

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Today, the company's brand new, state-of-the-art factory produces 10, 000 bottles of gin and ready-to-drink vodka, as well as 15, 000 bottles of beer, per hour.

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Volkswagen is currently ramping up a state-of-the-art factory in Tennessee.

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Switch gears to contemporary art, housed at the unique Mattress Factory (www.mattress.org), which supports artists-in-residence and room-sized works.

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It is now possible to order a pickup truck with heated and ventilated leather seats, a hi-fi sound system and state of the art navigation, for a level of factory-delivered luxury that pickup owners could only find in the aftermarket just years ago.

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Visitors are more likely to think it is an art gallery or modern office block than a car factory.

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If that sounds a bit arty, it is: Mr Schmitt is a former art student from Germany who used to cadge time on factory lathes and milling machines to make mechanised sculptures.

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Drew Greenblatt is an enthusiast: proud of his company, Marlin Steel, and proud of the factory floor packed with state-of-the-art equipment.

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Stroll through here to the artsy precinct of Hunter Street, home to the Henry Jones Art Hotel, set in historic industrial buildings that were once a jam factory.

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Edifier's factory is located in a special high tech economic zone with emphasis on environmental sustainability including state of the art recycling, solar power generation and treated water reuse.

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