What Seiler Instrument & Mfg. Co. Inc. does

Seiler Instrument & Manufacturing Company, Inc. is a fourth-generation, family-owned precision manufacturer and specialty distributor founded in 1945 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. The company's Precision Manufacturing division operates as a full-service contract manufacturer serving defense and aerospace primes, producing medium- to high-complexity components and assemblies through 5-axis CNC milling, CNC turning, horizontal and vertical machining, complex casting machining, and precision mechanical, electro-mechanical, optical/vision systems, and weapon systems assembly. Named customers include BAE Systems, with the 2025 Gold 'Partner2Win' Medallion indicating continued inclusion in the U.S. defense industrial base supply chain.

Seiler operates four additional commercial divisions built adjacent to the manufacturing core. The Geospatial division is an Authorized Distributor for Trimble surveying and mapping technology serving the Midwest across surveying, construction, mapping/GIS, government, utilities, mobile mapping, forensics/public safety, and transportation infrastructure. The Planetarium division is the exclusive distributor of ZEISS Planetariums across the United States and Canada, supplying custom projection systems, domed screens, LED lighting, audio, and seating for educational and institutional facilities. The GeoDrones division provides custom Unmanned Aerial System solutions for agriculture, inspection, mapping, mining, construction, and public safety, and a Medical division addresses medical instrument manufacturing.

The business model combines contract manufacturing revenue (B2B, quote-based, prototype through full-scale production) with hardware distribution revenue (Trimble and ZEISS), plus emerging drone solutions and medical manufacturing revenue. Marketing and lead generation rely on the corporate website, industry events such as BAE Systems' annual Partner2Win supplier symposium, and a multi-channel social presence. The company is privately held, has 101–250 employees, and disclosed no revenue, funding, or M&A activity. In January 2024, Chairman of the Board Eric P. Seiler Sr. passed away at age 95, marking a generational leadership transition. The company celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2025.

Name

Seiler Instrument & Mfg. Co. Inc.

Legal name

Seiler Instrument & Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Website

https://seilerinst.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Seiler Instrument & Mfg. Co. Inc. is a fourth-generation, family-owned precision contract manufacturer and specialty distributor founded in 1945, serving defense, aerospace, geospatial, planetarium, drone, and medical markets through its St. Louis, Missouri operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

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, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Precision Contract Manufacturing: Full-service contract manufacturing for defense and aerospace markets, providing high precision components and assemblies from prototype through full-scale production
2. Product Distribution (Geospatial): Authorized distribution of Trimble geospatial technology including sales, service, repair and support of surveying equipment
3. Product Distribution (Planetarium): Exclusive distribution of ZEISS Planetariums in US and Canada, including custom projection systems, theater components (domed screens, LED lighting, audio, seating)
4. GeoDrones Solutions: Custom drone solutions for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) needs across agriculture, inspection, mapping, mining, construction and public safety sectors

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Seiler is a full-service precision contract manufacturer specializing in high precision machined components and complex assemblies (mechanical, electro-mechanical, optical, vision, and weapon systems) for defense and aerospace markets, from prototype to full-scale production. The company is also an Authorized Distributor for Trimble geospatial technology and the exclusive distributor of ZEISS Planetariums in the US and Canada, supplemented by a GeoDrones business providing custom unmanned aerial system solutions.

Product overview

Seiler Instrument & Manufacturing Co., Inc. is a fourth-generation family-owned company established in 1945, specializing in high precision machining and optical instrument assembly. The company operates through five divisions: (1) Precision Manufacturing offers full-service contract manufacturing with 5-Axis CNC Milling, CNC Turning, Horizontal/Vertical Machining, and assembly services for defense and aerospace markets; (2) Geospatial is an Authorized Distributor for Trimble geospatial technology providing surveying equipment, service, repair and support; (3) Planetarium serves as the exclusive distributor of ZEISS Planetariums in the US and Canada, offering projection systems, domed screens, LED lighting, audio systems and seating; (4) GeoDrones provides custom drone solutions for UAS needs across agriculture, inspection, mapping, mining, construction and public safety; and (5) Medical division for medical instrument manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Seiler Precision Manufacturing: Full-service contract manufacturer specializing in high precision components and assemblies serving defense and aerospace markets, offering 5-axis CNC milling, CNC turning, and precision mechanical, electro-mechanical, optical and vision systems assembly.
• Seiler Geospatial
• Seiler Planetarium
• Seiler GeoDrones

Products and services

• Precision Manufacturing Services
• Geospatial Distribution and Support
• ZEISS Planetarium Systems Distribution
• GeoDrones Custom UAS Solutions

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BAE SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2025Seiler received Gold 'Partner2Win' Medallion at BAE Systems' seventh annual supplier symposium recognizing exceptional performance and commitment to operational excellence. Seiler's contributions to supply chain success and the U.S. defense industrial base helped BAE Systems ensure quality deliveries of combat vehicles and weapon systems to the U.S. military and its allies.
• ZEISScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeiler Planetarium is the exclusive distributor of ZEISS Planetariums in the United States and Canada. They sell, repair, and service custom ZEISS projection systems designed to grow alongside customer passion for exploring the stars.
• TrimblecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeiler is an Authorized Distributor for Trimble geospatial technology offering advanced survey and mapping solutions to capture, manage, and analyze high-precision data.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• senseFly: senseFly (a Parrot company) produces professional fixed-wing and rotary UAS for mapping, surveying, agriculture, and inspection. Its vertical applications, distribution model, and customer segments directly overlap with Seiler GeoDrones' target industries.
• Microdrones: Microdrones is a professional drone solutions provider offering fully integrated UAS packages for surveying, mapping, inspection, mining, construction, and public safety. It competes with Seiler's GeoDrones division in the same vertical applications and on similar end-buyer use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Precision Castparts Corp: Precision Castparts Corp (a Berkshire Hathaway company) is a large diversified aerospace manufacturer of precision forged and cast components, fasteners, and assemblies for aerospace and defense. It is several orders of magnitude larger than Seiler but operates in an overlapping precision-manufacturing-for-defense category, making it a relevant incumbent comparable.
• Triumph Group: Triumph Group designs, engineers, manufactures, repairs, and overhauls aerospace components, structures, and systems for defense and commercial aviation. It shares with Seiler an aerospace precision manufacturing and assembly focus but operates across a much wider platform footprint as a public incumbent.
• Magellan Aerospace: Magellan Aerospace is a global aerospace manufacturer producing precision-machined components, assemblies, and systems for defense and commercial aerospace customers. Comparable to Seiler in core machining capability but at far greater scale and across a broader portfolio of platforms.

Direct peers

• Spitz Inc. Spitz Inc. is a U.S.-based manufacturer and integrator of planetarium projection systems, domes, and immersive experiences. It competes directly with Seiler Planetarium for fulldome projection system installations across educational and museum customers in North America, where Seiler distributes ZEISS.
• Hubs: Hubs is an on-demand manufacturing platform offering CNC machining, 3D printing, sheet metal fabrication, and injection molding through a global network of vetted suppliers. Its business model of matching precision machining services to buyers via a digital marketplace competes directly with Seiler's contract manufacturing offering, particularly for low-to-mid complexity runs.
• Intrex Aerospace: Intrex Aerospace is a precision CNC machining and assembly supplier serving aerospace, defense, and space customers with complex components. It competes with Seiler Precision Manufacturing for defense prime contract manufacturing work, particularly on programs requiring tight tolerances and qualification to defense quality standards.
• Protolabs: Protolabs is the world's largest digital on-demand contract manufacturer offering CNC machining, sheet metal, injection molding, and assembly; it directly competes with Seiler Precision Manufacturing for mid-complexity precision machined components and prototype-to-production runs across aerospace, defense, and industrial customers.

Regional players

• RSA Cosmos: RSA Cosmos is a French-based planetarium systems manufacturer and integrator offering fulldome projection, hybrid systems, and complete theater installations primarily across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. It competes with Seiler's ZEISS distribution business in international markets outside Seiler's exclusive US/Canada territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SeilerInst_1945
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_cUNj4XGcfVYMRAVG3DxRA
• Facebookfacebook.com/seiler-instrument-manufacturing-co-inc-1582387442075388
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seilersolutions
• Instagraminstagram.com/seilersolutions

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 Seiler Instrument & Mfg. Co. Inc.