What Precision Grinding & Manufacturing does

Precision Grinding & Manufacturing Corporation (PGM Corp) is a privately held, family-owned precision contract manufacturer founded in 1967 in Rochester, New York, and currently led by the founder's son, CEO Michael Hockenberger, Ph.D. The company operates from two facilities — a Rochester, NY headquarters and a Manchester, NH plant (PGMNE) — with a workforce of approximately 120 and 58 employees respectively. PGM specializes in tight-tolerance CNC machining, grinding (cylindrical, surface, jig, and creep feed), Swiss turning, and complex assembly, supported by in-house engineering, program management, supply chain management (Vantage Epicor ERP), and Six Sigma quality assurance.

The company serves five primary end markets — defense/military, aviation/aerospace, medical, automotive, and satcom/telecom/optics — with defense and aerospace as the dominant verticals. Notable customers include Raytheon (Zumwalt DDG-1000 components), Lockheed Martin (multi-contract APKWS missile production), the US Army (M16 rifle components), and the US Navy (~$14M FRP7 advanced missile program). Capabilities are anchored by AS9100:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 certifications, NADCAP accreditation, and preferred-supplier status with a Fortune 500 defense/aerospace prime. Proprietary process strengths include creep feed grinding (since the early 1980s), robotic TIG welding (Motoman UP6 cell, 3-4x cycle-time improvement), and deep materials expertise across titanium, Invar, Hastiloy, cobalt, ceramics, and Ultem.

PGM monetizes primarily through project-based B2B contract manufacturing services (contract values disclosed in the $1M-$14M range), supplemented by a high-volume OEM-style line of military and commercial charging handles for AR15, M16, M4, M240, and other weapons platforms (over 1 million units sold, capacity exceeding 20,000 units per month). Go-to-market is enterprise field sales with direct engagement to primes and government end-users; the company reinvests approximately $1M annually into state-of-the-art equipment, most recently expanding capacity by 20,000 square feet in 2015 to support APKWS and adjacent programs.

Name

Precision Grinding & Manufacturing

Legal name

PGM Corporation

Website

https://pgmcorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Precision Grinding & Manufacturing (PGM Corp) is a privately held, family-owned precision CNC machining, grinding, turning, and assembly contract manufacturer founded in 1967 in Rochester, NY, serving defense primes, aerospace, medical, automotive, and satcom/telecom customers from two U.S. facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Contract Manufacturing

NAICS

Precision Turned Product Manufacturing (332721), Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing (33272)

SIC

Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540), Screw Machine Products (3451)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Grinding, Honing & Superfinishing Equipment (IMAHADAE), Metrology & Scanning Services (Inspection Labs, On-Site Measurement) (IMAAAHAJ)

Keywords

• Precision CNC machining
• Aerospace contract manufacturing
• Defense component manufacturing
• Precision grinding services
• Medical device machining

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing Services: Project-based precision manufacturing contracts for defense, aerospace, medical, automotive, and telecom customers. Revenue generated from CNC machining, grinding, turning, and assembly services. Contract values range from $1M to $14M based on program awards.
2. High Volume Charging Handles: Production of military and commercial specification charging handles for weapons systems. Over 1 million units sold, capacities exceeding 20,000 units per month.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Precision Grinding & Manufacturing (PGM Corp) is a full-service precision contract manufacturer offering CNC machining, milling, turning, grinding (cylindrical, surface, jig, creep feed), Swiss turning, assembly, and supply chain management for defense, aerospace, medical, automotive, and satcom/telecom customers. The company also produces high-volume military and commercial charging handles for AR15, M16, M4, and related weapons systems, with over 1 million units sold.

Product overview

PGM Corp is a full-service precision manufacturing corporation offering precision CNC machining, turning, grinding, and assembly services. The company operates as a single-source supplier with integrated capabilities including Milling (3-5 axis), Grinding (cylindrical, surface, jig, creep feed), Turning (Swiss, chucker, bar feed), and Assembly services. Supporting manufacturing operations are Program Management, Supply Chain Management (powered by Vantage Epicor), and Quality Assurance with Six Sigma and SPC capabilities. Additional offerings include high-volume charging handles for military and commercial weapons systems, and robotic TIG welding services. The company serves diverse markets including Aviation/Aerospace, Defense/Military, Automotive, Medical, and Satcom/Telecom sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Precision CNC Machining Full-service precision CNC machining for low to high volumes across defense, aerospace, medical, automotive, and telecom customers; capabilities include 3- to 5-axis milling, high velocity machining, Swiss turning, cylindrical/surface/jig/creep feed grinding, and assembly under one roof.
• Milling Services Largest manufacturing area at PGM offering 3-axis to 5-axis milling, high velocity machining up to 40,000 RPM, vertical and horizontal milling with tolerances from 0.0001 to 0.0005 inches.
• Grinding Services Precision cylindrical (ID/OD), surface, jig, and creep feed grinding with tolerances as tight as 0.000020 inches for critical aerospace and defense components.
• Turning Services Swiss, chucker, and bar feed turning with multi-axis capabilities and complex close tolerance operations at 0.0002 inch tolerances.
• Assembly Services Dedicated high-tech assembly facility focused on simplifying complex assemblies for demanding defense, aerospace, medical, and industrial customers.
• Creep Feed Grinding Cost-effective creep feed grinding providing close tolerance grinding at machining costs, using Magerle and Blohm equipment with 14" x 63" x 17" capacity and 106 HP spindle.
• Program Management Dedicated program management for successful launch of new programs with real-time tracking, communication, and complete program control from concept to delivery.
• Supply Chain Management Vantage Epicor-powered supply chain management including project planning, resource purchasing, vendor selection, and strategic supplier monitoring for end-to-end program support.
• Quality Assurance Six Sigma, SPC, and automated inspection using Brown & Sharpe, Zeiss, Sheffield CMM, Smart Scope Vision System, and Nikon toolmakers microscope for AS9100/ISO9001-compliant quality assurance.
• High Volume Charging Handles Military and commercial specification charging handles for AR15, M16, M4, M240, M249/MK48, MK19, and 9MM weapons systems, produced at scale for defense and commercial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million charging handles sold in 14 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• R&L CarriersminorOthers · 17 September 2008Trucking service provider serving PGM for several years. R&L Carriers is their number one service provider for trucking throughout the United States. Brought NASCAR racecars (including Matt Kenseth's car) for a visit to PGM associates.
• RochesterWorks!minorOthersWorkforce development organization that helped PGM obtain a $49,586 training grant. Provided technical assistance on navigating local and state grants and identifying staffing needs. Designated PGM as Employer of the Month.
• Monroe CountyminorOthersProvided 25-L BUSINYS grant for $49,586 to train employees in Lean Manufacturing and Process Excellence.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Precision Castparts Corp: Large-cap supplier of complex metal components and assemblies for aerospace and defense, including investment-cast and machined parts. Most relevant scaled incumbent comparable to PGM's precision machined components for aerospace primes, though significantly larger and broader in scope.
• TransDigm Group: Designs, produces, and supplies proprietary aerospace components including highly engineered precision parts for defense and commercial aviation. Comparable broader incumbent serving similar end-markets with mission-critical, niche components.
• Senior plc: Diversified international supplier of precision engineered components and systems for aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Comparable as a broader incumbent offering precision machined fluid conveyance and structural products to similar OEM customers.
• Howmet Aerospace: Global leader in engineered metal products including precision investment castings and machined aerospace components. Comparable as a major Tier 1 aerospace precision components supplier, though substantially larger and more diversified than PGM.
• Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings (L3Harris segment): Missile and propulsion systems manufacturer with significant precision machined components for defense and space. Relevant broader incumbent comparable to PGM's work on advanced navy missiles (FRP7) and APKWS components.

Direct peers

• Magellan Aerospace: Supplies precision machined components and assemblies to the aerospace and defense industry, including flight-critical structures and engine components. Comparable business model to PGM with broader geographic footprint and similar defense/aerospace customer base.
• Triumph Group: Designs, engineers, manufactures, and services precision aerospace and defense components, structures, and systems. Directly comparable mid/large precision aerospace manufacturer serving similar prime contractor and military end-customers.
• Ducommun Incorporated: Aerospace and defense supplier of engineered products including precision machined and assembled components for commercial and military aircraft, missile systems, and other platforms. Closely comparable mid-size precision manufacturing peer serving similar end-markets and prime contractors.
• Heroux-Devtek: Designs, develops, and manufactures landing gear, hydraulic systems, and precision components for aerospace and defense markets. Comparable precision manufacturing peer serving defense primes with mission-critical, tight-tolerance components.
• Moog Inc. Designs and manufactures precision motion control products and systems for aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Comparable as a precision-engineering manufacturer serving defense and aerospace primes with mission-critical components requiring tight tolerances.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Precision Grinding & Manufacturing