What Bourn & Koch does

Bourn & Koch, Inc. is a Rockford, Illinois-based precision CNC machine tool manufacturer founded in 1975 by Larry Bourn and Loyd Koch. The company designs, builds, remanufactures, and services gear manufacturing equipment (H-Series hobbers and Fellows gear shapers), precision grinding machines (Blanchard rotary surface grinders and Springfield vertical grinders), and — following the 2024 integration of Mollart Machinery — deep hole drilling machines. Its product architecture centers on the VBX Modular Platform, which shares common base, crossrail, and column components across vertical grinder, vertical turret lathe, and gear shaper variants, and the MT3 multi-function platform combining grinding, milling, turning, and automation in a single setup.

The company has systematically acquired the intellectual property and brand rights of nearly 30 legacy American machine tool builders over four decades (Barber-Colman 1985, Fellows 2002, DeVlieg-Bullard 2004 including Blanchard/Mattison/Motch/Springfield rights, King 2014, dti 2016, Mollart 2023), accumulating over 2,500 years of combined engineering expertise in its archives. This IP base underpins three revenue streams: (1) new machine tool sales, (2) remanufactured and CNC-retrofitted legacy machines sold at a fraction of new-equipment cost, and (3) an OEM parts and factory-trained field service business that supports the installed base across all 28+ legacy brands. Standardization on FANUC CNC controls, integration of proprietary conversational HMI software, and ongoing capability investments (in-house 3D printing launched March 2026) round out the technical foundation.

Bourn & Koch sells primarily through a direct enterprise sales motion with regional sales managers, a VP of Sales handling worldwide accounts, and a US-based field service technician network. Customers span aerospace, automotive, defense, medical device, energy, firearms, biomass, and job shop segments, with Aerospace and Automotive designated as primary. Since September 2023, the company has been a wholly owned subsidiary of InCompass, a TJM Capital Partners portfolio company, operating from a 130,000 sq ft manufacturing facility with 101-250 employees.

Name

Bourn & Koch

Legal name

Bourn & Koch, Inc.

Website

https://bourn-koch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Bourn & Koch is a Rockford, Illinois-based precision CNC machine tool manufacturer serving aerospace, automotive, defense, and medical OEMs with gear manufacturing equipment, grinding machines, and deep hole drilling machines, supported by a comprehensive OEM parts and field service business across 28+ legacy American machine tool brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Machine Tools

NAICS

Machine Tool Manufacturing (333517), Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing (33351)

SIC

Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540), Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541)

akta.pro primary industry

CNC Machine Tools (Turning, Milling, Machining Centers) (IMAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping) (IMAHADAC)

Keywords

• Precision machine tools
• Gear manufacturing equipment
• Surface grinding machines
• Deep hole drilling
• CNC retrofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. New Machine Tool Sales: Sale of newly manufactured precision CNC machine tools including gear hobbers, gear shapers, grinding machines, vertical turret lathes, and deep hole drilling machines built at their Rockford, Illinois facility.
2. Remanufactured Machine Sales: Sale of remanufactured/refurbished machines (e.g., Fellows gear shapers, Blanchard grinders) rebuilt to original or improved OEM specifications at significantly reduced cost compared to new equipment.
3. OEM Parts Supply: Supply of original equipment manufacturer repair parts for 28+ American machine tool brands including Blanchard, Fellows, DeVlieg, Bullard, Mattison, Motch, and others. Parts manufactured to OEM specifications.
4. Field Service and Repair: Factory-trained field service technicians provide on-site repair, diagnosis, and maintenance for machine tools throughout the US and worldwide. Service support includes preventative maintenance programs and emergency repairs.
5. Machine Rebuild and Retrofit: Comprehensive remanufacturing services that take machines down to castings, evaluate all components, and rebuild with modern technology and CNC controls while retaining original machine value.
6. Spindle and Component Reconditioning: In-house repair department rebuilds spindles, spindle bars, and sleeves for various machine tool brands including DeVlieg Jigmil and Motch VTL to OEM specifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bourn & Koch designs, manufactures, and services precision CNC machine tools including horizontal gear hobbers, gear shapers, rotary surface grinders, vertical grinders, vertical turret lathes, and deep hole drilling machines. The company also offers remanufactured machines, CNC retrofit packages, OEM repair parts, and field service for nearly 30 American machine tool brands from its 130,000ft² Rockford, Illinois facility.

Product overview

Bourn & Koch provides precision automated machine tool solutions for the global manufacturing community, specializing in gear manufacturing equipment and precision grinding machines. The product portfolio is organized around three core machine categories: gear manufacturing (H-Series Hobbers and Fellows Gear Shapers), grinding (Blanchard Surface Grinders and Springfield Vertical Grinders), and deep hole drilling (Mollart product line acquired in 2024). The VBX Modular Platform enables common core components across vertical grinder (VBG), vertical turret lathe (VBT), and gear shaper (VBS) models. The MT3 represents an innovative multi-functional platform combining grinding, milling, turning, and automation. Beyond new machine sales, the company offers comprehensive aftermarket support including OEM repair parts, factory-trained field service, and machine remanufacturing/rebuild services for nearly 30 American machine tool brands. The 130,000ft2 Rockford, Illinois facility supports manufacturing and the company maintains over 2500 years of combined engineering expertise from legacy machine tool brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Blanchard: Rotary surface grinders - one of the most iconic machine tool brands, known for precision flat surface grinding.
• Fellows
• Springfield
• Mollart
• MT3
• VBX Platform

Products and services

• Bourn & Koch H-Series Gear Hobbers Horizontal CNC gear hobbing machines available in four sizes (25H, 100H, 400H, 600H) for manufacturing gears and spline shafts up to 600mm in diameter and up to 200 inches long. Features FANUC CNC controls with proprietary conversational programming for AGMA class 10+ gears.
• Fellows Gear Shapers Gear shaping machines including new and remanufactured models (10-4, 20-4, 36-6, 50-8, MS450, HDS 1600-300) with CNC controls, electronic stroke shaping, and helical guide capabilities for precision gear production.
• Blanchard Surface Grinders Rotary surface grinders for precision flat surface grinding, available new and remanufactured in models including 8AD-12, 11AD-20, 22AD-42, 32HAD-60, 42HD-84, 54HAD-100, and 72HAD-120. Features CNC controls, automatic wheel dressing, and magnetic chucks.
• Springfield Vertical Grinders Precision vertical grinding machines designed for grinding vertical workpieces to high tolerances, American-made vertical grinders with modular VBX platform compatibility.
• Mollart Deep Hole Drilling Machines Deep hole drilling machines including Drillsprint (gun drilling), Omnisprint, VDM Microdrilling, and Pellet Die Drilling machines for medical, automotive, aerospace, and biomass applications.
• MT3 Vertical Grinder Multi-functional vertical grinding machine combining grinding, milling, turning, and automation in one setup. Features 30kW spindle motor, 36-inch vertical travel, robotic cell compatibility, and Alien Claw gripper for automated tool/spindle changes.
• VBX Modular CNC Machine Platform Modular CNC machine tool platform engineering vertical grinder (VBG), vertical turret lathe (VBT), and gear shaper (VBS) around common base, crossrail, and column components. Available in 1000mm to 2500mm sizes.
• Remanufactured Machines Complete machine remanufacturing services restoring machines to original or improved specifications. Includes new CNC controls, rebuilt spindles, and modernized components while retaining original castings, available at a fraction of new machine cost with 1-year warranty.
• OEM Repair Parts & Field Service Factory-trained technicians providing OEM repair parts, field service, rebuild and retrofit for nearly 30 American machine tool brands including Bullard, Blanchard, DeVlieg, Fellows, Barber-Colman, Mattison, Motch, and King Machine Tool.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% faster setup time on CNC gear hobber vs. manual Barber-Colman machine by sales engineer with minimal gear manufacturing experience vs. veteran operator
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mollart MachinerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2024In 2023, both Bourn & Koch and Mollart Machinery were acquired into InCompass portfolio days apart. Mollart's deep hole drilling machine production and field service support was moved from Chessington, UK to Bourn & Koch's Rockford, IL facility in 2024. All Mollart intellectual property transferred to Bourn & Koch.
• FANUC AmericacoreTechnology or IntegrationBourn & Koch standardizes on FANUC CNC controls across all machine tools due to comprehensive support from FANUC. FANUC provides product that meets each manufacturing application need, and Bourn & Koch incorporates proprietary conversational HMI software into FANUC controls.
• THORSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBourn & Koch partnered with THORS to develop training materials for Blanchard grinding processes to combat skills gap in workforce. THORS developed extensive library of learning content specific to manufacturing processes including gear manufacturing.
• Rock Valley CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBourn & Koch partners with Rock Valley College (RVC) in workforce development including industry advisory committee meetings, career fairs, National Tooling & Machining Association RRVTMA apprenticeship program, and hiring of RVC graduates. Partnership recognized with ICCTA's 2024 Business/Industry Partnership Award.
• AGMA (American Gear Manufacturers Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBourn & Koch is a member of AGMA, participating in industry events and celebrating AGMA's 100th anniversary in 2016. Active in gear manufacturing industry association supporting standards and best practices.
• RPS205 (Rockford Public Schools)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBourn & Koch participates in high school events with RPS205 to inform students about manufacturing career opportunities, supporting workforce development pipeline.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gleason Corporation: Gleason is the global leader in gear manufacturing machinery (hobbers, shapers, grinders, gear finishing), directly competing with Bourn & Koch's H-Series hobbers and Fellows gear shapers. Both companies serve aerospace, automotive, and gear manufacturing customers with comparable CNC platforms.
• Klingelnberg (Höfler / Liebherr): Klingelnberg produces Höfler and previously Liebherr gear manufacturing and finishing machines (hobbing, shaping, grinding, honing), directly competing with Bourn & Koch's gear manufacturing portfolio in aerospace and automotive gears and splines.
• EMAG Group: EMAG manufactures precision CNC turning, grinding, and gear cutting machines for automotive and aerospace. Overlaps with Bourn & Koch's vertical turret lathe (VBT) and gear manufacturing lines in serving similar high-precision metalworking customers.
• Samputensili (Samson Group): Samputensili is a European specialist in gear manufacturing machines (hobbing, shaping, gear grinding), directly overlapping with Bourn & Koch's gear hobbing/shaping product lines for automotive transmission and industrial gear markets.
• Hardinge Inc. Hardinge manufactures precision CNC turning, milling, and grinding machines (including Bridgeport and Kellenberger), competing with Bourn & Koch in the precision grinding and turning equipment space for industrial and aerospace customers.

Emerging players

• Kapp Werkzeugmaschinen: Kapp specializes in gear grinding and hard finishing machines for precision gears, overlapping with the gear manufacturing portion of Bourn & Koch's product portfolio for aerospace and high-precision transmission applications.

Broad incumbents

• DMG Mori: DMG Mori is a global broad-line CNC machine tool manufacturer covering turning, milling, grinding, and additive systems. While not focused on gear manufacturing, it competes with Bourn & Koch in CNC machining cells for aerospace and medical machining customers.
• Mazak (Yamazaki Mazak): Mazak is a major Japanese broad-line CNC machine tool builder (turning, milling, multi-tasking). Competes with Bourn & Koch on CNC turning and machining center purchases for industrial customers.
• Makino Milling Machine: Makino manufactures precision CNC milling, turning, and EDM machines. Competes with Bourn & Koch's grinding and CNC machining products in aerospace and medical device manufacturing markets.

Others

• Diamond Technology Innovations (dti): Diamond Technology Innovations is a Bourn & Koch-owned subsidiary (since 2016) manufacturing waterjet cutting orifices and nozzles. It is an enabling/sister company rather than a competitor, sharing the InCompass/TJM Capital industrial cutting tools platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/user55625904
• Xx.com/bourn_and_koch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Bourn & Koch