What Stark Industrial does

Stark Industrial is a three-generation, family-owned precision machining contract manufacturer and precision measuring equipment distributor founded in 1959 by Raymond Wilkof in Canton, Ohio. The company operates from a 25,000 sq. ft. temperature- and humidity-controlled facility in North Canton, Ohio, with a workforce of approximately 40 highly-skilled machinists, most of whom have multi-decade tenure. Its core manufacturing capabilities span CNC turning, CNC milling, cylindrical and non-round grinding, wire EDM, small hole EDM drilling (hole sizes from .010"-.250" diameter at depths up to 100X diameter), and 5-axis machining on Mazak Variaxis i-700 equipment, supported by capabilities in exotic metals and high-temperature alloys including Hastelloy, Titanium, and Inconel. The company also manufactures specialty products including dead centers (Stark Centers), custom seaming chucks for food processing, and proprietary gaging products (Tiger Gage and Super Pin Gage), and serves as one of the largest US distributors of precision measuring equipment from Mitutoyo, Mahr Federal, Diatest, and Glastonbury/Southern Gage.

The business operates on a quote-based, direct sales model with quote volumes ranging from 1-2 piece jobs to production runs of several thousand pieces. Go-to-market is primarily direct sales via phone and website quote forms, supplemented by a distributor network for Stark Center products and the company's role as a stocking distributor for premier precision measuring brands. The company is ISO 9001 certified since 2008 and over 97% of its manufacturing equipment has been purchased new, with an average CNC machining center age of roughly three years, indicating sustained capital reinvestment. Customer segments span aerospace, medical (custom surgical instruments and cannulated devices), food processing / canning (seaming chucks, lid tooling, canning gages), steel mill repair, machine tool, and environmental control — a broad vertical mix that reduces dependency on any single end market.

Revenue mechanics blend custom one-time contract manufacturing orders with higher-margin specialty product sales (dead centers, cutting tools, branded gages) and precision measuring equipment distribution. Distribution channels include direct enterprise sales, dealer/reseller partnerships for Stark Centers, and distribution logistics services including vendor-managed inventory, private labeling, and electronic shipment notification. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and all custom machining work is quoted on a project basis, limiting revenue predictability and price transparency from the outside.

Name

Stark Industrial

Legal name

Stark Industrial, LLC

Website

https://starkindustrial.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stark Industrial is a three-generation, family-owned precision machining contract manufacturer and precision measuring equipment distributor based in North Canton, Ohio, with approximately 40 skilled workers serving aerospace, medical, food processing, steel, machine tool, and environmental control customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Machining & Metal Parts Manufacturing

NAICS

Machine Shops (33271), Precision Turned Product Manufacturing (332721), Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241)

SIC

Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540), Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Grinding, Honing & Superfinishing Equipment (IMAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Capping, Sealing & Closing Machines (IMAHAOAG)

Keywords

• Precision machining services
• CNC metal parts manufacturing
• Dead center manufacturing
• Precision measuring equipment distribution
• Specialty cutting tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Canton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing of Precision Metal Parts: CNC machining services including turning, milling, grinding (cylindrical and non-round), Wire EDM, small hole drilling, and tool grinding for various industries. Manufacturing unique parts with superior precision machining quality from materials including steels, stainless, aluminum, exotic metals, and high-temperature alloys.
2. Dead Center and Cutting Tool Products: One of the largest manufacturers of dead centers in the US, offering Morse Taper, Brown & Sharpe, Jarno, and special custom centers. Also manufactures specialty cutting tools such as carbide end mills, drills, and reamers.
3. Precision Measuring Equipment Distribution: Distributor of complex dimensional precision measuring tools representing premier manufacturers including Mitutoyo, Mahr Federal, Diatest, and Glastonbury/Southern Gage. They teach customers how to use products and service what they sell.
4. Seaming Chucks for Food Processing: Manufactures seaming chucks for food processing can seaming operations. Over 40 years of experience with various styles including American, Angelus, Continental, FMC, Rooney, and Ferrum. Includes custom design services.
5. Custom Gage Manufacturing: Custom design and manufacture of special gaging for medical, rubber, and canning industries. Includes Tiger Gage wireless tube ID gage and Super Pin Gage products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Stark Industrial is a contract manufacturer that produces precision metal parts via CNC turning, milling, cylindrical and non-round grinding, Wire EDM, and small-hole EDM drilling for industries including aerospace, medical, food processing, and steel. In parallel, the company manufactures its own lines of dead centers (Stark Centers), specialty cutting tools, seaming chucks, and custom gages (Tiger Gage, Super Pin Gage), while distributing precision measuring equipment from third-party brands such as Mitutoyo, Mahr Federal, Diatest, and Glastonbury/Southern Gage with attached customer training and service.

Product overview

Stark Industrial is a three-generation family-owned precision machining company and distributor of precision measuring equipment, operating as both a manufacturer and distributor. The company's product portfolio centers on four core offerings: (1) Dead Centers (Stark Centers) - precision manufacturing of dead centers in various taper configurations including Morse, Brown & Sharpe, and Jarno; (2) Precision Measuring Equipment - distribution of Mitutoyo, Mahr Federal, Diatest, and Glastonbury/Southern Gage products along with custom gaging solutions including Tiger Gage and Super Pin Gage; (3) Special Cutting Tools - precision carbide end mills, drills, and reamers; and (4) Seaming Chucks - devices for food processing can seaming operations. Additionally, the company offers CNC machining contract manufacturing services (turning, milling, grinding, EDM), micro hole drilling, and fulfillment services including inventory management and private labeling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stark Centers: Dead centers manufactured by Stark Industrial, one of the largest manufacturers of dead centers in the United States. Products include Morse Taper, Brown & Sharpe, Jarno, Cincinnati style, Bench Centers, and Tool & Cutter Grinder centers.
• Tiger Gage
• Super Pin Gage

Products and services

• Dead Centers (Stark Centers) Precision dead centers manufactured in-house for use in lathes and grinders, made from bearing quality 52100 steel heat treated to 60-64 Rc, with guaranteed total-indicator-runout of .0002 or less. Available in Morse Taper, Brown & Sharpe, Jarno, Cincinnati style, Bench Centers, and Tool & Cutter Grinder configurations, plus special custom designs.
• Precision Measuring Equipment & Tools Distribution Distribution of complex dimensional precision measuring tools from premier manufacturers including Mitutoyo, Mahr Federal, Diatest, and Glastonbury/Southern Gage, supplemented by custom Stark-designed gaging for dimensional inspection. Customers are taught how to use the products, and Stark services what it sells.
• Special Cutting Tools Precision specialty cutting tools manufactured by Stark Industrial, including carbide end mills, drills, and reamers, with capabilities for step tools and specialty configurations. Made in a 25,000 sq. ft. temperature-controlled facility on modern CNC equipment.
• Seaming Chucks Precision seaming chucks manufactured for food processing can seaming operations. Available in American, Angelus, Continental, FMC, Rooney, and Ferrum styles, with custom design and coating services for can ends from small 211 ends through specialized chucks for tank shells.
• CNC Machining Services (Contract Manufacturing) Contract CNC machining services encompassing CNC turning, CNC milling, CNC cylindrical grinding, CNC non-round grinding, Wire EDM, and small hole EDM drilling. Used by manufacturers requiring precision metal parts across aerospace, medical, food processing, steel, machine tool, and environmental control industries, with run quantities from 1–2 piece jobs through production runs of a few thousand pieces.
• Fulfillment Services Order fulfillment options supporting customers purchasing Stark's precision parts, dead centers, and precision measuring equipment, including local delivery within 10 miles, UPS, FedEx, motor freight, and electronic delivery; plus daily shipment, ship by date, ship on release schedule, vendor-managed inventory, private labeling, and email notification of shipment.
• Tiger Gage (Wireless Tube ID Gage) Proprietary wireless tube ID gage designed and manufactured by Stark Industrial for the tubing industry, using Mitutoyo indicators integrated with Microridge wireless data collection for measurement from up to 20 feet away.
• Super Pin Gage Proprietary gage designed and manufactured by Stark Industrial for measuring large parts over pins. Available in sizes from 0-12 to 0-40 inches, with 0.0005 inch resolution and SPC output capability.
• Canning Gages Precision measuring gages specially designed for the canning industry, with stations for measuring curl diameter, curl height, countersink diameter, overall height, and other can and lid features used in seaming quality control.

Quantifiable outcome

• Roundness tolerance to .000040" and straightness to .000080" over 40" on cylindrical grinding
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Stark Center DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of distributors reselling Stark Centers (dead center products). Qualifying distributors must have customers that regularly purchase solid/dead centers. Managed through Director of Marketing Susan at 800.362.9732.
• MitutoyocoreTechnology or IntegrationOne of the largest stocking distributors of Mitutoyo precision tools in the US. Represents full product line including gage blocks, linear scales, bore gages, depth gages, and major measuring instruments. Provides technical expertise and training to customers.
• Mahr FederalcoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading distributor of Mahr Federal precision measuring devices. Offers full line of micrometers, calipers, indicators, height gages, SPC solutions, gage blocks, surface roughness instruments, and specialty gaging.
• DiatestcoreTechnology or IntegrationOne of the largest distributors of Diatest products in the US due to extensive knowledge of Diatest products and precision measuring applications. Provides bore gages, split-ball probes, plunger probes, gear gages, and accessories.
• Glastonbury / Southern GagecoreTechnology or IntegrationMaster distributor and one of the largest distributors of Glastonbury/Southern Gage precision measuring products in the US. Products include thread gaging, cylindrical gaging, and fixturing systems. A2LA accredited manufacturer.
• MazakcoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary equipment supplier for CNC lathes and machining centers. Equipment includes Mazak Quick Turn Nexus, Super Quick Turn, Variaxis i-700 5-axis machining center, and VCN-510C machining centers. Over 97% of equipment purchased new.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Protolabs: Public on-demand digital manufacturer offering CNC machining, turning, milling, and EDM alongside injection molding and sheet metal. Directly competes for Stark's low-volume, quote-based contract machining RFQs with an automated instant-quoting platform that Stark lacks.
• Xometry: Public on-demand manufacturing marketplace connecting buyers to CNC machining, sheet metal, and other suppliers. Directly overlaps Stark's contract manufacturing services and precision parts distribution channels via its Thomas acquisition and supplier marketplace.
• Royal Products: US manufacturer of dead centers, live centers, and workholding equipment for lathes and grinders. The most direct US competitor to Stark's Stark Centers dead center product line in taper configurations, materials, and target customer.
• Owens Industries: Precision CNC machining and grinding shop focused on tight-tolerance, exotic-material parts for aerospace, medical, and defense. Highly comparable to Stark in capabilities (5-axis, EDM, cylindrical grinding) and end-market mix.
• C&A Tool Engineering: Indiana-based precision machining company with CNC turning, milling, grinding, and EDM capabilities serving aerospace, medical, and industrial customers. Directly comparable to Stark in scope of services, vertical mix, and mid-sized family/privately-held positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Mitutoyo: Global leader in precision measuring equipment and a Stark distribution principal. Comparable as a precision-metrology incumbent and as a major brand Stark competes against indirectly through its own custom gaging products (Tiger Gage, Super Pin Gage).

Others

• Mazak: Primary equipment supplier to Stark (Mazak Variaxis i-700, Quick Turn Nexus, etc.). Not a competitor but an ecosystem enabler — comparable as the dominant machine tool OEM whose installed base defines Stark's capability envelope and capex trajectory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Stark Industrial