What Gilman Precision does

Gilman Precision is a privately held U.S. precision motion systems manufacturer founded in the early 1950s by Russell T. Gilman and headquartered at 1230 Cheyenne Avenue, Grafton, Wisconsin. The company designs and builds custom precision spindles (belt-driven, motorized, grinding, milling, boring, block/cartridge, and integral configurations) and precision linear motion slides (linear guide, hardened box way, and dovetail variants including low profile, high profile, next-day, cylinder-powered, and custom-length models). Manufacturing takes place in a single ISO 9001:2015 certified facility featuring a Class 10,000 cleanroom with ±1°F temperature control, supporting OD/ID grinding, jig boring, and dynamic balancing for micron-level tolerances. Over 70% of precision linear stages are engineered to order, with all engineering and production performed domestically and the majority of raw materials sourced from Wisconsin mills and forges.

The company serves OEM machine builders and contract manufacturers in aerospace & defense, medical equipment manufacturing, robotics & automation, semiconductor equipment, and general industrial OEM end markets. Named customers include Terumo (custom spindle for the Reveos blood centrifuge), an unnamed sustainable electric vehicle manufacturer (precision beam structures and multi-axis modules), and aerospace/defense OEMs (titanium housing machining with documented ±0.0002 inch roundness and 40% rework reduction). Revenue is generated through three streams: engineered-to-order product sales, multi-brand spindle and slide repair/rebuild/refurbishment services, and precision contract manufacturing, all conducted via direct enterprise sales, RFQ submission, and engineering consultation with no third-party distribution. The business was acquired by Madison Lakes Capital in August 2024, marking a transition to private equity ownership with stated commitments to invest in systems, technology, talent, and commercial infrastructure. Average technician tenure is reported at 26 years, and the leadership team consists of CEO Paul Grekowicz, Director of Sales and Marketing Matt Fritschel, and CFO Scott Hellrung.

Name

Gilman Precision

Legal name

Gilman Precision

Website

https://gilmanprecision.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gilman Precision is a US-based, privately held manufacturer of custom precision spindles and linear motion slides serving aerospace, medical, robotics, semiconductor, and OEM equipment manufacturers from its ISO 9001:2015 certified Grafton, Wisconsin facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Motion Systems (Spindles & Linear Slides)

NAICS

Machine Tool Manufacturing (333517), Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)

SIC

Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541)

akta.pro primary industry

Spindles & High-Speed Drives (Machine Tool Spindles, High-speed Motors) (IMAGACAL)

Keywords

• Precision spindle manufacturing
• Linear slide systems
• Custom motion components
• Machine tool spindles
• Precision contract machining

Headquarters

HQ city

Grafton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Precision Spindles: Engineered-to-order spindles for specific customer applications including aerospace, medical, automation, and industrial machinery markets. Belt-driven, motorized, grinding, milling, and boring spindle configurations. Revenue generated through custom project-based orders with collaborative engineering support.
2. Precision Linear Slides: Custom linear motion systems including dovetail slides, hardened box way slides, and linear guide slides. Over 70% engineered to order. Revenue from both standard catalog products and custom configurations.
3. Spindle and Slide Repair Services: Engineering-driven repair, rebuild, and refurbishment services for spindles and slides across most brands and models. Multi-brand capability with root-cause failure analysis, performance testing, and comprehensive documentation. Includes spindle motor repair and rewind capabilities.
4. Precision Contract Manufacturing: Tight-tolerance precision machining services including turning, grinding, and finishing operations under one coordinated workflow. OD/ID grinding for bearing journals, precision bores, and critical cylindrical components.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gilman Precision designs, engineers, and manufactures custom precision spindles and linear slides (dovetail, linear guide, hardened box way) for OEM machine builders serving aerospace, medical, robotics/automation, and industrial markets. Products are built-to-order with over 70% of linear stages and most spindles engineered per customer specification in a U.S.-based ISO 9001:2015 facility. The company also provides multi-brand spindle and slide repair/rebuild services and precision contract machining (turning, OD/ID grinding, finishing) under one coordinated workflow.

Product overview

Gilman Precision is a precision motion systems manufacturer offering engineered spindles, linear slides, and integrated motion assemblies. The core product portfolio centers on spindles (belt-driven, motorized, grinding, milling, and boring configurations) and slides (linear guide, hardened box way, and dovetail designs including low profile, high profile, ND, and cylinder-powered variants). These are complemented by spindle and slide repair/rebuild services and custom engineering capabilities. The Product Configurator serves as a digital tool for product selection. The company primarily serves aerospace, medical, robotics/automation, and industrial manufacturing sectors with mission-critical motion components.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Precision Spindles Engineered-to-order precision machine tool spindles (belt-driven, motorized, grinding, milling, boring, block/cartridge, and integral configurations) for OEM machine builders serving aerospace, medical, automation, and industrial manufacturing applications.
• Belt-Driven Spindles Belt- and pulley-driven spindles for adjustable speed and torque with better torque at lower RPM ranges and reduced vibration.
• Motorized Spindles Integral motor spindles with built-in motors for compact designs, smooth operation, and improved dynamic balance.
• Grinding Spindles Ultra-precision spindle systems engineered for surface, cylindrical, and centerless grinding applications with micron-level accuracy.
• Milling Spindles CNC milling spindles engineered for torque, stability, and repeatable accuracy across roughing and finishing operations.
• Boring Spindles Precision spindles designed for exceptional concentricity, surface finish, and positional accuracy in critical hole-making applications.
• Linear Guide Slides Precision linear translation stages for precise, low-friction ball or roller linear movement used in CNC, laser-machining, and medical equipment applications.
• Hardened Box Way Slides Heavy-duty linear slides built for smooth, accurate long-life operation in high-production and demanding applications.
• Dovetail Slides Linear dovetail slide assemblies with high stiffness and load-bearing capacity, including low profile, high profile, ND (Next Day), and cylinder-powered configurations.
• Manual & Motorized XY Stages Multi-axis positioning stages combining manual and motorized configurations for complex compound motion requirements.
• Spindle Repair & Rebuild Services Engineering-driven spindle repair, rebuild, and refurbishment services across most brands and models, restoring spindles to better-than-new condition with root-cause failure analysis and full documentation.
• Slide Repair Services Expert slide repair, restoration, and retrofit services including precision regrind, way surface refinishing, and complete seal replacement.
• Precision Contract Manufacturing Tight-tolerance precision machining services (turning, OD/ID grinding, finishing) for bearing journals, precision bores, and critical cylindrical components produced under one coordinated workflow.
• Custom Precision Engineering Custom design and engineering services for linear and rotary motion solutions, including modified standard products and entirely new product designs tailored to specific application requirements.

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Setco: Setco is a U.S.-based precision machine tool spindle manufacturer offering custom spindles, slides, and repair services to aerospace, medical, and industrial OEMs — directly overlapping Gilman's core spindle/slide product portfolio, customer base, and custom-engineered business model.
• IBAG: IBAG is a Swiss manufacturer of high-speed and precision machine tool spindles used in milling, grinding, and boring applications, serving aerospace, medical, and industrial customers worldwide — directly comparable to Gilman's spindle product family and engineered-to-order approach.
• GMN Paul Müller: GMN is a German manufacturer of high-precision and high-speed machine tool spindles, with deep expertise in grinding, milling, and boring applications — directly competing with Gilman in the precision spindle market for aerospace, medical, and industrial OEMs.
• Fischer AG (Fischer Spindles): Fischer AG is a Swiss precision machine tool spindle manufacturer specializing in high-speed, high-precision spindles for grinding, milling, and boring — a direct peer to Gilman Precision in custom-engineered spindle solutions for demanding industrial and medical applications.
• Kessler Group: Kessler Group is a German-headquartered manufacturer of machine tool spindles and motorized spindle technology, with a focus on custom-engineered high-speed solutions — directly comparable to Gilman's motorized and belt-driven spindle product lines.
• Schneeberger: Schneeberger is a Swiss manufacturer of precision linear motion systems, linear bearings, and slides used in machine tools, medical, and semiconductor applications — a direct peer to Gilman's linear slide portfolio and precision motion customer base.

Broad incumbents

• THK: THK is a Japanese global leader in linear motion technology (linear guides, ball screws, actuators) serving machine tool, semiconductor, and automation OEMs — a broad incumbent that overlaps with Gilman's linear slide business and competes at the standard-product tier across multiple verticals.
• NSK: NSK is a Japanese industrial motion and bearing conglomerate producing ball screws, linear guides, spindles, and precision bearings for machine tools, automotive, and aerospace — a broad incumbent whose precision motion and bearing portfolio overlaps Gilman's spindle and slide offerings.
• Hiwin: Hiwin is a Taiwanese manufacturer of linear motion components (linear guides, ball screws, linear actuators) and precision bearings serving machine tool, automation, and medical equipment OEMs — a broad incumbent that overlaps with Gilman's linear slide product family.
• Bosch Rexroth: Bosch Rexroth is a German global supplier of factory automation, motion control, and linear motion technology, including linear guides, ball screws, and spindle systems — a broad incumbent that competes with Gilman across machine tool, automation, and precision motion applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gilman Precision