Geonosis droid foundries

"Oh my goodness! Shut me down! Machines making machines. Hmm. How perverse."

- C-3PO

The Geonosis droid foundries were massive subterranean droid factories, located on the planet Geonosis.

The foundries were built by Baktoid Armor Workshop, a member of the Techno Union, in response to increasing legislation by the Republic against the legality of their industry. Hoping to circumvent these new laws, BAW began investing in production facilities outside the Republic's sphere of influence: more specifically, in the Outer Rim, on planets such as Hypori, Olanet, and Zaadja.

Characteristics
Geonosis was ideal as a base for droid foundries in many regards: it was home to a technologically advanced but independent species, the Geonosians, who could monitor and aid in droid production; its rugged, forbidding terrain more or less isolated it from outsiders, and its large underground caverns provided excellent camouflage against prying eyes. Another prime benefit of locating the foundries on Geonosis was the planet's mineral-rich ring-system, used to provide the factories with ample raw metal and alloys.

Like most other BAW production facilities, the foundries on Geonosis were highly automated, requiring some sentient oversight and a steady flow of raw materials but little else. Each facility boasted hundreds of conveyor belts and robot assembly arms, capable of creating thousands – perhaps millions – of droids per day from scratch.

Some of the main droid models produced by foundries on Geonosis included: B-1 battle droids, B-2 battle droids, and powerful Droidekas. Droids produced at these foundries likely saw first action at the Battle of Geonosis, where they were defeated by Republic forces.

History
During their mission to save Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Padmé Amidala, and the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 stumbled into one of the Geonosian droid assembly plants. Despite a brave effort, both Anakin and Padmé were apprehended and sentenced to death in the Petranaki Arena.

During the Battle of Geonosis Delta Squad was assigned to destroy a foundry and eliminate Sun Fac, which they successfully did. After the Republic victory on that world, a garrison of clone troopers was left behind to guard the planet. The droid foundries were shut down and likely destroyed, or used to the Republic's advantage.

Behind the scenes
Many fans disparagingly refer to the Geonosis droid factory sequences in Attack of the Clones as a "Nintendo platform game", or variations on that theme.

Appearances

 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * Star Wars: Republic Commando
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones comic
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II