Models & Tools

What Models & Tools does

Models & Tools is a privately held precision aerospace tooling manufacturer founded in 1974 and headquartered in a 155,000-square-foot AS9100-certified facility in Shelby Township, Michigan. The company designs and builds custom large-scale tooling — assembly fixtures, trim and drill tools, handling equipment, inspection fixtures, bond tools, work platforms, composite tooling, master tooling, automated tooling, and end-of-arm tooling — for the commercial aviation, defense, and space-systems markets. Its technical capability centers on a Tarus 5-axis Gantry Milling Machine capable of milling spans over 50 feet, complemented by additional 5-axis CNC platforms (CINCINATTI HSM, ZIMMERMAN F Z40, FIDI K414), Miller Dynasty welding systems, and FARO laser trackers with CMM inspection, enabling the firm to produce factory-scale tooling that few peers can deliver. Models & Tools is one of only two suppliers worldwide holding dual Delegated Supplier status from both Boeing (Commercial Airplanes and Defense, Space & Security) and Lockheed Martin, and has been recognized as a Lockheed Martin Elite Supplier for seven consecutive years (2018–2024).

The company's revenue model is project-based and quote-driven: each engagement combines program management, design and engineering, fabrication, machining, assembly, and inspection under one roof, sold on a custom-bid basis with multi-year contract cadences tied to specific aerospace programs. Notable programs include the Boeing 777X Hat Stringer Roll Over tooling, F-35 wing and carry-through holding fixtures and weapons bay door holding/hoist fixtures, and the NASA Orion Friction Stir Weld Tool. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales targeting aerospace primes, with dual Program Managers assigned to each customer and no channel, self-serve, or e-commerce distribution.

The firm operates as part of the Legacy Industries family of companies and is owned by Randy Bellestri, who acquired it from a private equity firm in 2016. Originally an automotive tooling supplier, the company entered aerospace in 1982 via Beechcraft's Starship program and committed to a 50/50 aerospace-automotive mix in 1988; aerospace subsequently became the dominant vertical. A 40,000-square-foot facility expansion was completed in 2019/2020, scaling capacity to support growing program volumes across Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and NASA.

Name

Models & Tools

Legal name

Models & Tools

Website

https://modelsandtools.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Tooling Manufacturing

NAICS

Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)

SIC

Aircraft & Parts (3720), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Tooling, Jigs, Fixtures & Molds for Airframe/Composite Manufacturing (IMABAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Composite Structures & Layup Manufacturing (IMABAEAB)

Keywords

• Aerospace tooling
• Custom machining services
• Precision manufacturing
• Fixture design
• CNC machining services

Headquarters

HQ city

Utica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Aerospace Tooling Manufacturing: One-time project-based revenue from design and manufacturing of custom aerospace tooling fixtures, assemblies, and equipment. Projects include assembly fixtures, trim & drill tools, handling equipment, inspection fixtures, bond tools, work platforms, composite tooling, and automated tooling.
2. Program Management and Engineering Services: Services including on-site tool design, liaison support personnel, NC programming and machining, and engineering consultation bundled with tooling projects

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Models & Tools designs, engineers, and manufactures custom precision aerospace tooling — including assembly fixtures, trim and drill tools, bond tools, composite tooling, lay-up and cure tools, inspection fixtures, work platforms, handling equipment, and automated tooling — for commercial aviation, defense, and space programs. Services span program management, 3D CAD design, 5-axis CNC machining, fabrication and welding, assembly, laser tracker inspection, and on-site installation, delivered from an AS9100-certified 155,000-square-foot facility in Shelby Township, Michigan.

Product overview

Models & Tools is a precision aerospace tooling company operating as part of the Legacy Industries family. The company offers a unified service platform for aerospace tooling solutions rather than discrete software products. Its core offering, Aerospace Solutions, encompasses multiple integrated service modules: Design & Engineering (3D CAD modeling and simulation), Fabrication & Welding, 5-Axis Machining, Assembly & Laser Tracking, and Inspection & Installation services. These services are delivered through the company's AS9100-certified 155,000-square-foot facility in Shelby Township, Michigan. The company also manufactures specific tooling product categories including Assembly Fixtures, Trim & Drill Tools, Bond Tools, Work Platforms, Composite Tooling, Master Tooling, Automated Tooling, Lay-up & Cure Tools, End of Arm Tooling, and Inspection & Check Fixtures. The portfolio supports commercial aviation, defense, and NASA space systems programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aerospace Solutions (Custom Tooling Programs)
• Assembly Fixtures

Quantifiable outcome

• Lockheed Martin Elite Supplier for 7 consecutive years (2018-2024)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Magellan Aerospace: Magellan Aerospace provides machining, fabrication, and assembly services across aerospace and defense primes, including structural components and tooling-adjacent work. Broader incumbent with significant aerospace machining capability overlapping Models & Tools' core competencies at higher scale.
• GKN Aerospace: GKN Aerospace is a Tier-1 aerospace structures and components manufacturer serving Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and others on airframe and engine programs. A large incumbent that owns in-house tooling capability and competes indirectly with independent tooling shops like Models & Tools.
• Howmet Aerospace: Howmet Aerospace (formerly Arconic/Alcoa titanium operations) produces advanced aerospace components in titanium, aluminum, and other alloys for engine and airframe applications. While not a tooling specialist, it competes in adjacent precision aerospace manufacturing capacity markets.
• Senior plc Aerospace: Senior plc's Aerospace division manufactures precision engineered components and assemblies for aerospace primes, including complex machined and fabricated parts for engines and airframes. Broad incumbent in the same aerospace manufacturing supply ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Janicki Industries: Janicki Industries is a precision aerospace tooling and composites manufacturer with large-scale 5-axis machining capacity serving Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and other primes. Directly comparable to Models & Tools in capability (large-format aerospace tooling, composite tooling) and customer base.
• Precision Aviation Group (PAG): PAG provides tooling and MRO services to commercial and business aviation operators, including aerospace tooling and component manufacturing. Comparable as a smaller-scale aerospace tooling/services provider serving the same end-customer profile as Models & Tools.
• Tool Gauge Inc. Tool Gauge is an AS9100-certified aerospace tooling manufacturer producing jigs, fixtures, and composite lay-up tooling for Boeing and other commercial aerospace customers. Closely comparable business model to Models & Tools — custom one-off aerospace tooling with similar aerospace quality certifications.

Others

• Aerojet Rocketdyne (L3Harris): Aerojet Rocketdyne is a propulsion and space-launch systems manufacturer now part of L3Harris. Adjacent because Models & Tools' NASA Orion tooling work puts it in the same space-supply ecosystem, though Aerojet is a prime, not a tooling supplier.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Models & Tools