What Star Engineering and Machining does

Star Engineering and Machining (legal name: Star Engineering & Machine Co., Inc.) is a precision CNC contract manufacturer founded in 1965 and headquartered in Bluffton, Indiana, operating from a 40,000 square foot facility. The company specializes in mid-volume production runs of 50 to 50,000 pieces per year across CNC machining, CNC turning, prototype machining, reverse engineering, and automated work centers, with additional value-added services including inventory management, casting supply chain solutions, and surface finishing. Its core technology is based on CNC machining and turning with cellular manufacturing layout, automated work centers, and ERP integration, supported by IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 certifications (both valid through February 2027).

The company serves seven identified vertical markets: turbocharger components (journal bearings, thrust bearings, inserts — the legacy anchor with 40+ years of history), oil and gas / energy (pump parts in exotic alloys including 2507 Super Duplex and Hastelloy), rolloff truck (sheaves, rollers, bushings), mining (pins, bell seals, replacement bushings), magnet wire (custom sheaves), train brake components (grad valves, brake system parts), and emerging electric vehicle (suspension, engine, and transmission components). Star supplies multinational customers across 8 countries and claims 100% on-time delivery recognition by global OEMs.

Star Engineering's business model is sales-led and quote-based, with revenue generated through one-time payments per parts manufactured. The company is privately held and has been a subsidiary of U.S. Group since its 1990 acquisition, which supplied capital for CNC investments and expansion through the 1990s–2000s. Leadership is led by CEO Bryce Isch, with a long-tenured technical team including Director of Technology Eric Steffen (joined 1984), Quality Technician Kelly Aschliman (40+ years tenure), and Plant Supervisor Jason Phillippe (joined 1995). The company does not disclose revenue and has no recorded external funding rounds.

Name

Star Engineering and Machining

Legal name

Star Engineering & Machine Co., Inc.

Website

https://star-eng.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Star Engineering and Machining is a privately held CNC contract manufacturer founded in 1965 in Bluffton, Indiana, specializing in mid-volume production runs of 50–50,000 pieces for OEMs in turbocharger, oil and gas, rolloff truck, mining, magnet wire, train brake, and emerging EV industries across 8 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bluffton

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. CNC Contract Manufacturing: CNC machining and turning services for mid-volume production runs. Revenue generated through one-time payments per parts manufactured, with pricing based on quote requests. Specializes in 50-50,000 piece production runs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Star Engineering and Machining is a CNC contract manufacturer that produces custom precision-machined parts for mid-volume production runs of 50 to 50,000 pieces per year. The company operates CNC machining, CNC turning, reverse engineering, prototype machining, inventory management, casting supply chain, and automated work center capabilities for OEMs in turbocharger, oil & gas, rolloff truck, mining, magnet wire, and train brake industries.

Product overview

Star Engineering & Machining is a CNC contract manufacturer offering mid-volume production runs of 50 to 50,000 parts per year. The company operates as a single unified manufacturing services platform combining CNC machining and turning capabilities with value-added services including reverse engineering, inventory management, casting supply chain solutions, prototype machining, and automated work centers. Core product lines include turbocharger components (journal bearings, thrust bearings, inserts), energy/oil & gas components, rolloff truck components (sheaves, rollers), mining components, magnet wire components, and train brake components. The company also provides surface finishing services and machines a wide range of materials including stainless steel, aluminum, other steels, brass, copper, titanium, and various plastics. Founded in 1965, the company serves multiple industries globally with IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CNC Machining CNC machining services for mid-volume production runs of 50-50,000 pieces per year, serving multiple industries including turbocharger, oil & gas, mining, and more.
• CNC Turning CNC turning services using cellular manufacturing for individual parts or part families, recognized for 100% on-time delivery.
• Reverse Engineering Reverse engineering services to convert napkin sketches into functioning parts that perform as well as originals.
• Inventory Management Inventory management services to deliver parts on time and when needed, solving part shipment delays.
• Casting Supply Chain Solutions One-stop shop for castings to finished parts, sourcing casting suppliers and providing efficient, cost-effective solutions.
• Prototype Machining Prototype machining with flexible approach working from napkin sketches to completed prints, committed to lead time delivery.
• Automated Work Centers Automated manufacturing work centers for increased production capacity and efficiency.
• Surface Finishes Surface finishing including mechanical (buff polishing, vibratory polishing, brushing, blasting, laser marking), powder coating (gloss, matte, metallic, textured), anodizing (hardcoat, standard), electroplating (copper, nickel, zinc), and chemical films (black oxide, passivate, alodine).
• Turbocharger Components Journal bearings, thrust bearings, and inserts for turbochargers with 40+ years of manufacturing legacy, serving eight countries globally.
• Energy / Oil & Gas Components Pump parts and components made from 316 stainless steel, 2205 Duplex, 2507 Super Duplex, Toughmet, Hastelloy, Ductile Iron, and 4140 steel for extreme temperature and corrosive environments.
• Rolloff Truck Components Custom sheaves, rollers, and components for rolloff and tow truck industries with over a quarter million units produced.
• Mining Components Pins, bell seals, replacement bushings, and underground mining replacement parts.
• Magnet Wire Components Custom magnet wire sheaves used in the enameling process, manufactured from aluminum, bronze, and stainless steel.
• Train Brake Components Train brake system parts and grad valves with lapping process and in-depth inspection for dependable products.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% on-time delivery rate year after year, recognized by global OEMs
• +3 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Midwest Precision: Indiana/Ohio-based CNC contract manufacturer offering precision machining for industrial OEMs. Highly comparable mid-volume, multi-vertical job shop profile to Star.
• Protomatic: CNC machining and turning services provider for medical, aerospace, and industrial customers with mid-volume runs. Directly comparable business model, certifications, and customer profile.
• Cox Manufacturing: CNC contract machining and assembly services for OEMs across industrial markets, focused on mid-volume production with quality certifications similar to Star's profile.
• HQC Manufacturing: US-based CNC contract manufacturer serving automotive, industrial, and oil & gas with mid-volume production. Overlapping end markets and IATF-style customer quality requirements.
• Precision Machined Products: Multi-facility CNC precision machining company serving automotive, industrial, and fluid handling markets. Closely comparable in customer verticals (oil & gas, automotive) and certification profile.
• EVCO Plastics & Manufacturing: Midwest US contract manufacturer with CNC machining, plastics, and assembly capabilities serving automotive, medical, and industrial OEMs. Comparable mid-volume contract manufacturing services.
• Hone Machine: US-based CNC machining and fabrication services company serving industrial OEMs with quick-turn and mid-volume runs. Comparable contract manufacturing service profile.

Broad incumbents

• Xometry: On-demand CNC machining marketplace and contract manufacturer serving broad industrial customers. Operates at much larger scale and competes in the same mid-volume CNC services segment Star addresses.

Emerging players

• Fictiv: Digital manufacturing platform providing CNC machining and prototyping services to OEMs. Overlaps in on-demand CNC machining and competes for the same mid-volume industrial customer base.
• Plethora: On-demand CNC machining and sheet metal fabrication services for industrial customers. Comparable in offering CNC machining services, but operates primarily as a digital marketplace/aggregator model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Star Engineering and Machining