Kadon Precision Machining
Kadon Precision Machining is a Rockford, Illinois-based, PE-backed contract manufacturer producing tight-tolerance (±0.0001 inch) Swiss, multi-axis, and CNC machined components for aerospace, defense, space, and industrial OEMs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1952
- HeadquartersRockford, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kadon Precision Machining does
Kadon Precision Machining is a privately held, PE-backed contract manufacturer of precision machined components headquartered in a 63,000 square-foot climate-controlled facility in Rockford, Illinois. Founded in 1952 by former Greenlee assemblers Ed Paulson and Bernie Peterson, the company was acquired in 1973 by Jim and Jeff Franklin, and received an investment from Tecum Equity in October 2024 to fund growth via internal capability expansion and acquisitions. Kadon specializes in Swiss machining (up to 32mm diameter), multi-axis machining (up to 72mm), CNC machining (up to 457.2mm), robot milling, and value-add special manufacturing processes such as laser marking, brazing, and welding — all held to tolerances of ±0.0001 inches.
The company's core technology stack consists of multi-axis CNC Swiss screw machines and CNC machining centers from Citizen, Miyano, Eurotech, Nakamura, Okuma, Hardinge, HAAS, Takisawa, and Brother, supported by Zeiss CMM inspection equipment. Kadon generates revenue through quote-based contract manufacturing engagements spanning prototypes to million+ part runs, priced on complexity, material, and volume. Customers engage via phone, email, or website quote forms, and Kadon also offers manufacturing consolidation services that absorb customer manufacturing operations, equipment, and personnel. The company is ISO 9001:2015 (Intertek) and AS9100 D certified, with subsidiary Rockford ID Shop Inc. (acquired 2021) holding AS9100:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 certifications.
Kadon serves primary segments in aerospace, defense, and space — producing flight-critical adjusting screws, pins, guides, stems, shafts, valve components, and military-system components — alongside secondary segments in industrial (agriculture, automotive, heavy equipment, HVAC, energy), medical device manufacturing, and firearms. Its stated geographic focus is regional, covering Northern Illinois, Southern Wisconsin, and Northwest Indiana, though aerospace/defense OEM relationships imply broader national supply chain participation. The sales motion is enterprise field-sales driven, with long-term partnership emphasis and PMPA trade association membership as the primary commercial channels.
Kadon Precision Machining firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kadon Precision Machining
- Legal name
- Kadon Precision Machining
- Website
- https://kadonprecision.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1952
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Kadon Precision Machining is a Rockford, Illinois-based, PE-backed contract manufacturer producing tight-tolerance (±0.0001 inch) Swiss, multi-axis, and CNC machined components for aerospace, defense, space, and industrial OEMs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kadon Precision Machining industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Precision Machining Services
- NAICS
- Machine Shops (332710), Precision Turned Product Manufacturing (332721)
- SIC
- Screw Machine Products (3451)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Metal Cutting Tools, Tooling & Workholding (Cutters, Inserts, Chucks, Fixtures) (IMAHADAB)
Keywords
Where Kadon Precision Machining is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rockford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kadon Precision Machining business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Precision Machining Services: Contract manufacturing services producing precision machined parts from prototypes to million+ part runs. Revenue is generated through job-work manufacturing with pricing based on complexity, materials, and volume. The company offers manufacturing consolidation services to absorb customer operations.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Kadon Precision Machining product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kadon Precision Machining is a contract manufacturer producing precision machined components from prototype through million+ part production runs using Swiss machining, multi-axis CNC machining, CNC machining, and robot milling capabilities. The company machines bar stock, forgings, castings, and cold formed blanks, including advanced materials such as high-temperature nickel alloys, holding tolerances of ±0.0001 inches for aerospace, defense, space, and industrial OEM customers. Value-added services cover hand assembly, laser marking, brazing, welding, and full Manufacturing Consolidation engagements that transfer customer manufacturing operations in-house.
Product overview
Kadon Precision Machining is a contract precision machining company offering a unified suite of manufacturing services centered on Swiss Machining, Multi-Axis Machining, CNC Machining, and Milling & Robot Milling as core capabilities, with Special Manufacturing Systems providing value-add processes (hand assembly, laser marking, brazing, welding, etc.) and Manufacturing Consolidation offering full-service outsourcing from conception to delivery. The company serves aerospace, defense, medical, automotive, and other precision-critical industries with capabilities ranging from prototypes to million+ part runs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Swiss Machining Precision machining service using Swiss-type CNC machines for drilling, boring, turning, milling, and knurling, with diameters up to 32MM and tolerances of ±0.0001 inches, intended for aerospace, defense, and industrial OEM customers requiring high-precision components.
- Multi-Axis Machining Precision machining service using multi-spindle equipment where multiple tools cut multiple pieces of material simultaneously, achieving diameters up to 72MM with tolerances of ±0.0001 inches for complex OEM components.
- CNC Machining Multi-axis CNC machining service with pallet fixturing for drilling, boring, milling, contouring, and counter-boring, achieving diameters up to 457.2MM with tolerances of ±0.0001 inches for OEM precision components.
- Milling & Robot Milling Automated and CNC-operated milling service using machines positioned in vertical or horizontal orientation capable of dynamic multi-axis movement of both tool and workpiece driven by CAD-directed designs.
- Special Manufacturing Systems Value-add manufacturing services including hand assembly (O-ring, threading, slip fits), press fit, laser marking, brazing, coining, crimping, saw cutting, and welding provided to customers requiring finished or sub-assembled precision components.
- Manufacturing Consolidation Full-service contract manufacturing outsourcing engagement that takes products from conception to delivery, absorbing customer manufacturing operations to increase profitability and efficiencies for OEMs that want to consolidate suppliers.
Companies that use Kadon Precision Machining
Customer profileSegments7 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kadon Precision Machining technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Kadon Precision Machining partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kadon Precision Machining competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Protolabs: Protolabs is a digital contract manufacturer offering CNC machining (alongside injection molding, sheet metal, and 3D printing) for prototypes and low-volume production. It competes directly with Kadon in the on-demand precision machined parts category, including for aerospace and industrial customers.
- Hubs (formerly 3D Hubs): Hubs is an online manufacturing platform that sources CNC machining, injection molding, and 3D printing from a global network of suppliers. It represents the digital-demand-aggregation model that competes with regional shops like Kadon for precision machined part programs.
- Owens Industries: Owens Industries is a US precision CNC machining and screw machine shop serving aerospace, defense, and medical OEMs with Swiss screw and multi-axis capabilities — a close functional and customer-base peer to Kadon Precision Machining.
- Weiss-Aug: Weiss-Aug is a precision metal stamping, insert molding, and assembly specialist serving medical, aerospace, and industrial markets. It is comparable to Kadon as a multi-capability precision components supplier to similarly regulated end markets.
- Hitchcock Industries: Hitchcock Industries produces precision machined components and assemblies for aerospace engine and industrial customers. It directly overlaps Kadon in aerospace-grade precision machining with similar tight-tolerance and exotic-material requirements.
- Metaltek International: Metaltek International is a precision castings and machined components manufacturer serving aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. It is comparable to Kadon as a multi-process precision supplier operating inside similar tight-tolerance, regulated end markets.
Broad incumbents
- AAR Corp: AAR Corp provides aviation services including component manufacturing, repair, and supply chain solutions. It touches Kadon's competitive space through aerospace components and aftermarket services for similar customers.
- Howmet Aerospace: Howmet Aerospace is a large publicly-traded supplier of engineered metal products, including precision cast and machined aerospace components. While far larger and more diversified than Kadon, it competes for the same aerospace OEM machining programs.
- Hardinge: Hardinge is a machine tool manufacturer whose precision lathes and machining centers are used by Kadon and by competing job shops. While not a contract manufacturer itself, it shapes the equipment landscape in which Kadon competes.
- DMG MORI: DMG MORI is a global machine tool manufacturer of CNC milling, turning, and multi-axis machining centers used across aerospace and industrial contract shops. It is adjacent to Kadon through the equipment layer of the precision machining ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kadon Precision Machining social profiles
Digital presenceKadon Precision Machining compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Kadon Precision Machining financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kadon Precision Machining leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Kadon Precision Machining subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Kadon Precision Machining funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kadon Precision Machining M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kadon Precision Machining
What does Kadon Precision Machining do?
Kadon Precision Machining is a contract manufacturer producing precision machined components from prototype through million+ part production runs using Swiss machining, multi-axis CNC machining, CNC machining, and robot milling capabilities. The company machines bar stock, forgings, castings, and cold formed blanks, including advanced materials such as high-temperature nickel alloys, holding tolerances of ±0.0001 inches for aerospace, defense, space, and industrial OEM customers. Value-added services cover hand assembly, laser marking, brazing, welding, and full Manufacturing Consolidation engagements that transfer customer manufacturing operations in-house.
Is Kadon Precision Machining a public or private company?
Kadon Precision Machining is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Kadon Precision Machining founded?
Kadon Precision Machining was founded in 1952. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Kadon Precision Machining based?
Kadon Precision Machining is headquartered in Rockford, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kadon Precision Machining make money?
One revenue line is on record: precision Machining Services.
Who are Kadon Precision Machining's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Protolabs, Hubs (formerly 3D Hubs), Owens Industries, Weiss-Aug, Hitchcock Industries and Metaltek International. Broad incumbents are AAR Corp, Howmet Aerospace, Hardinge and DMG MORI.
Does Kadon Precision Machining have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kadon Precision Machining.
What industry is Kadon Precision Machining in?
Kadon Precision Machining's product category is Precision Machining Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHADAB, Metal Cutting Tools, Tooling & Workholding (Cutters, Inserts, Chucks, Fixtures). Its NAICS code is 332710 and its SIC code is 3451.