NTM

What NTM does

NTM Inc. is a privately held, family-owned precision tooling and machining company founded in 1976 in Fridley, Minnesota, operating from a 25,000+ square foot ISO 9001:2015 certified and ITAR-registered facility. The company manufactures STUBBY® carbide boring bars featuring a patented chisel point brazed head design, ultra-precision Magnetic V-Blocks for inspection and workholding, and offers three core services: NU HEAD™ patented boring bar head restoration, custom tool grinding and sharpening (covering carbide, HSS, and powdered metal tooling with in-house PVD coating capabilities including TiN, AlTiN, and PVD diamond), and CNC machining services. Advanced 5-axis CNC grinding equipment (Walter Power 500, ANCA TG7/RGX, Tru-Tech centerless and OD grinders) underpins the vertically integrated production model.

NTM generates revenue through one-time product sales (boring bars priced $263-$667 per unit, V-Blocks $286-$436) and professional services (regrinding at 30-50% of replacement cost, NU-HEAD repairs $108-$240, custom CNC machining on quote). Go-to-market is multi-channel: a domestic distributor network as the primary channel, direct e-commerce via ntminc.com/shop (minimum $50 order), inside sales for custom tooling and bulk orders (10+ units), and emerging international distribution developed through a 2025 Minnesota Trade Office MedTech trade mission to Europe. Customers span precision manufacturing, aerospace and defense (BAE Systems Gold Medallion Supplier), medical devices, and general industrial manufacturing, with notable multi-decade relationships with mid-market machine shops including Accuneering, M&L Industries, Salient, and Productivity.

The company is led by second-generation President Barb Dorumsgaard and co-owner Cindy Blue, who succeeded founder Bob Thielen. NTM holds WBENC Women-Owned Business certification, ITAR registration for defense work, and employs over 30 dedicated staff. The business is currently active, with a 2026 product catalog, recent newsletter updates, October 2025 price adjustments, and ongoing European expansion efforts. No external investment, parent company, or acquisition activity has been disclosed.

Name

NTM

Legal name

NTM Inc.

Website

https://ntminc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NTM Inc. is a family-owned precision tooling manufacturer and machine shop in Fridley, Minnesota, producing patented STUBBY boring bars, Magnetic V-Blocks, and offering custom tool grinding, NU-HEAD bar restoration, and CNC machining services to precision manufacturers in aerospace, medical, and general industrial sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Cutting Tools

NAICS

Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing (3327), Precision Turned Product Manufacturing (332721), Machine Shops (332710)

SIC

Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541), Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal Cutting Tools, Tooling & Workholding (Cutters, Inserts, Chucks, Fixtures) (IMAHADAB)

Keywords

• Precision cutting tools
• Boring bars
• Custom tool grinding
• Magnetic workholding
• CNC machining services

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Precision Cutting Tool Sales: Sale of manufactured precision cutting tools including STUBBY boring bars, carbide boring bars, and magnetic V-blocks through direct e-commerce and distributor network. One-time product sales with per-unit pricing ranging from approximately $260 to $670.
2. Custom Tool Grinding & Sharpening Services: Professional regrinding and sharpening services for solid carbide, carbide-tipped, and HSS tooling. Covers end mills, drills, reamers, taps, thread mills, gun drills, and specialty tooling. Restores tools to original geometry with coatings available.
3. NU-HEAD Boring Bar Repair Service: Patented head replacement and restoration service for indexable boring bars. Priced per size/type, with 10% price increase effective October 2025. Range from $108 to $240 list price depending on bar diameter and configuration.
4. CNC Machining Services: Custom CNC machining services providing precision machined parts to customer specifications with on-time delivery. Positioned as a one-stop tooling and machine shop offering full-service manufacturing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NTM manufactures and sells STUBBY® carbide boring bars and ultra-precision Magnetic V-Blocks for inspection and workholding, and provides Custom Tool Grinding & Sharpening, the patented NU HEAD™ boring bar restoration service, and CNC precision machining services. The company operates as a vertically integrated "One-Stop Tooling & Machine Shop" combining tool manufacturing, regrinding/coating, and contract machining in a single ISO 9001:2015-certified, ITAR-registered facility in Fridley, Minnesota.

Product overview

NTM is a family-owned One-Stop Tooling & Machine Shop offering a focused portfolio of precision cutting tools and manufacturing services. The core product lines are STUBBY® Boring Bars (patented stub-length carbide boring bars in solid and coolant-thru configurations) and Magnetic V-Blocks (ultra-precision magnetic workholding devices for inspection and machining). These are complemented by three service offerings: Custom Tool Grinding & Sharpening (precision regrinding and coating of carbide, HSS, and powdered metal cutting tools), CNC Machining (precision machined product delivery), and the proprietary NU HEAD™ Boring Bar Service (patented head replacement for damaged indexable boring bars). Together, the tooling products and services support manufacturers in precision machining operations across aerospace, medical device, and general manufacturing sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STUBBY® Boring Bars Stub-length carbide boring bars manufactured by NTM, designed to minimize vibration and chatter in internal boring operations. Available in solid and coolant-thru (E-series) configurations with bar diameters from 5/16" to 3/4". Feature a patented chisel point and brazed head, with all brazes guaranteed by NTM. Sold to precision manufacturers and machine shops through direct e-commerce and authorized distributors.
• Magnetic V-Blocks Ultra-precision magnetic V-blocks manufactured by NTM for secure hold and accurate alignment of round or irregular workpieces during inspection, machining, and measurement operations. Available in 1" and 2" sizes; V-Blocks are kept in stock for immediate shipment. Sold to manufacturers and inspection operations through direct e-commerce and distributors.
• Custom Tool Grinding & Sharpening Service Professional regrinding and sharpening service for solid carbide, carbide-tipped, and high-speed steel cutting tools, including end mills, drills, reamers, taps, threadmills, gundrills, and special tooling. Supports full-spectrum PVD coatings (TiN, AlTiN, TiCN, ZrN, AlCrN, CrN, TiCrN, PVD diamond) and processes including contour, fine, form, high-speed, precision grinding, and polishing. Regrinding typically costs 30–50% of new tool cost, with credits up to 30% of replacement cost if a tool is damaged beyond repair during sharpening.
• NU HEAD™ Boring Bar Restoration Service Patented boring bar head replacement and restoration service that quickly and accurately restores damaged, indexable boring bars using a proprietary braze process, regardless of the original tool manufacturer. Priced per size and type (solid or coolant-thru) with sizes from -04 through -16 at listed prices and larger sizes available by quote. Avoids full boring bar replacement by replacing only the head.
• CNC Machining Service Custom CNC precision machining service providing on-time, high-quality machined products to customer specifications with dependable delivery. The machine shop operates Walter Power 500 and ANCA 5-axis tool grinders, Tru-Tech centerless and OD grinders, Okamoto surface grinders, and Cincinnati tool grinders to produce precision machined parts for manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Solid carbide end mill regrinding at ~50% of new tool cost; high-performance drill regrinding savings can exceed 90%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Minnesota Trade OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025NTM joined Governor Tim Walz and the Minnesota Trade Office on a weeklong MedTech trade mission to Europe (Zurich, Dusseldorf, Berlin) as the only tooling manufacturer selected for the MedTech track. The mission was designed to highlight Minnesota's global leadership across industries and fostered international collaboration and business opportunities. NTM met with distributors, manufacturers, hospital administrators, and global MedTech leaders.
• EcolabminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Ecolab, a fellow Minnesota-headquartered company, hosted a welcome reception in Zurich for the Minnesota Trade Office delegation including NTM. Represents a networking connection within the Minnesota business community on the trade mission.
• Anoka Technical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTM partners with Anoka Technical College's Professional and Workforce Training Program for employee development. NTM uses the Dual Training Pipeline grant program through Anoka Tech that provides funding for employees to receive certification training two days per week. NTM also supports the Dual Pipeline Training Program offered by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
• iWorks HealthminorOthersiWorks Health provides on-site wellness services to NTM employees as part of their health and wellness program, including a therapist who works with employees on-site to address soreness and pain. NTM also provides periodic healthy lunches for employees.
• Carbide Material SupplierscoreOthersNTM relies on carbide suppliers for raw material inputs. In the context of tariff discussions, NTM credits suppliers for proactive communication and reliable stock levels that help maintain inventory and minimize customer exposure to tariff increases. Multiple supplier relationships referenced.
• BAE SystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNTM is a Gold Medallion Supplier in BAE Systems' Partner2Win supplier program for Combat Mission Systems. The Partner2Win program meets regularly with suppliers at their locations to transfer best practices and ensure components meet the highest quality standards. NTM was one of more than 20 award recipients recognized at the annual Partner2Win Supplier Awards Ceremony.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Horn USA (Paul Horn GmbH): Manufacturer of precision carbide grooving, parting, and turning tooling with a U.S. presence. Closely comparable to NTM in scope (specialty carbide cutting tools sold through distributor networks) and customer segments (precision machine shops), though broader in product breadth.
• Harvey Tool Company: U.S. specialty cutting tool catalog manufacturer focused on precision machining applications in exotic materials. Direct peer in business model: a high-SKU specialty cutting tool catalog with custom options, targeting the same precision machine shop customers.
• OSG USA: Major manufacturer of taps, end mills, thread mills, and drilling tools sold through industrial distribution. Comparable to NTM in end-markets served (precision machine shops, aerospace, medical) and in channel-led GTM, though far larger in catalog breadth.
• Emuge Corp: High-performance taps, end mills, and thread mills manufacturer with a strong reputation among precision machinists. Comparable to NTM in being a family-derived precision tooling specialist serving aerospace and medical OEM customers through technical sales and distribution.
• Advent Tool & Manufacturing: U.S. custom carbide tool manufacturer with in-house grinding services for aerospace, medical, and industrial customers. Highly comparable to NTM in operating model (custom tooling + regrinding) and customer base, though slightly larger in scale.

Broad incumbents

• Kennametal: Global leader in metalworking tools and wear-resistant solutions. Overlaps with NTM's boring bar and cutting tool categories as part of a vastly broader portfolio, serving the same precision machining customers but at much greater scale and breadth.
• Sandvik Coromant: World's largest metal-cutting tooling business, part of Sandvik Group. Competes with NTM's STUBBY boring bars in turning/boring categories, while also offering full machining solutions far beyond NTM's scope.
• Kyocera Precision Tools: Manufacturer of indexable inserts, end mills, and drilling tools for industrial machining. Directly competes in the boring-bar-adjacent indexable tooling category but operates at much broader portfolio scale across global OEM and distribution channels.
• Mitsubishi Materials USA: Major manufacturer of carbide cutting tools, inserts, and wear parts. Comparable to NTM in producing precision boring/turning tooling for aerospace and medical customers, with significantly greater R&D, geographic reach, and product breadth.
• Tungaloy America: Global carbide tooling specialist producing inserts, milling cutters, and boring tools. Competes with NTM in indexable and carbide tooling categories used by the same precision machine shop and aerospace customers.

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

Profiles2 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 NTM