Smith and Richardson
Smith & Richardson is a 1921-founded, privately held precision contract manufacturer producing CNC-machined, stamped, and slide-formed parts plus foundry chaplets for aerospace, medical, transportation, firearms, and industrial OEMs across US and China facilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1921
- HeadquartersGeneva, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Smith and Richardson does
Smith & Richardson Inc. is a privately held precision contract manufacturer founded in 1921 and headquartered in Geneva, Illinois. The company operates across three core product lines — precision machining (CNC Swiss, multi-axis milling/turning, vertical and horizontal machining, wire EDM), precision slide forming (custom wire forms, formed parts, perforated metal forms), and precision chaplets (motor, double head, triple head, fusion plate, perforated, radiator, and separator chaplets for foundry use). Its core technology stack is built on Citizen Swiss CNC lathes, Mazak and Eurotech multi-axis turning centers, Mazak VCN/HCN machining centers, Brother wire EDM, and Four Slide / Multi Slide forming equipment, supported by CMM, vision systems, and Talyrond roundness gauges for inspection. Tolerances to .0002 inches on CNC and .002 inches on slide forming are routinely held, with position tolerance capabilities to .000001 inch on certain multi-axis operations.
The company serves OEMs across aerospace, medical device, transportation (automotive, heavy truck, off-highway, recreational vehicles), casting machining, firearms and sporting goods, and general industrial markets. End applications include firearm receivers, triggers, and bolts; aerospace components in DFARS-approved and ITAR-controlled materials; medical device components with full traceability; and a broad catalog of foundry chaplets for solidification control in metal casting. Certifications include ISO 9001:2015, AD 2000, ITAR, DFARS-approved materials, JCP DD 2345, and FFL6 Federal Firearms License (via the Roberts Automatic Products subsidiary).
Revenue is generated through a job-shop contract-manufacturing model with quote-based pricing and a 3-4 business day RFQ turnaround. Distribution combines direct sales (customer service reps Heather Ortlieb and Rita Wash; quality supervisor Steve Braun) with a regional manufacturer-rep network covering Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Eastern Pennsylvania. The Smith & Richardson Manufacturing Group now comprises the Geneva, IL headquarters (66,000 sq ft), a wholly owned subsidiary in Taicang, China (15,000 sq ft) operational since 2013, and Roberts Automatic Products in Chanhassen, MN (50,000 sq ft) acquired in January 2023. The company is co-owned by Phil Cowen and Rich Hoster (also President), with Renee Schroeder as VP of Operations, and reports a workforce averaging 15-20 years of industry experience.
Smith and Richardson firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Smith and Richardson
- Legal name
- Smith & Richardson Inc.
- Website
- https://smithandrichardson.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1921
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Smith & Richardson is a 1921-founded, privately held precision contract manufacturer producing CNC-machined, stamped, and slide-formed parts plus foundry chaplets for aerospace, medical, transportation, firearms, and industrial OEMs across US and China facilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Smith and Richardson industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Precision Contract Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Machine Shops (33271), Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing (33272)
- SIC
- Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541), Screw Machine Products (3451)
- 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
Where Smith and Richardson is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Geneva
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Smith and Richardson business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Precision Machined Parts Contract Manufacturing: Contract manufacturing of custom precision machined parts for OEM customers. Revenue is generated through production orders based on customer drawings and specifications. The company operates on a job-shop model with various production runs from short run to high volume. Typical RFQ turnaround is 3-4 business days with pricing based on part complexity, materials, and volume.
- Precision Chaplets and Foundry Supplies: Manufacturing and sale of precision chaplets including Chills, Core Box Vents, Motor Chaplets, Double Head Chaplets, Triple Head Chaplets, Perforated Chaplets, Radiator Chaplets, Separator Chaplets, Skim Gates & Core Plates, and Spring Clips. These are standard and custom products sold to foundry and casting operations.
- Precision Slide Formed Parts: Custom wire forms, custom formed parts, and perforated metal forms produced via Four Slide and Multi Slide machines. Revenue from these products is one-time transactional based on customer specifications and volumes.
- Assembly Services: Precision parts assembly combining machined, stamped, and slide formed components. Engineering staff with 20 years of experience develops processes to meet customer assembly needs. Part of full-solution offering to OEM customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Precision Parts - Quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Smith and Richardson product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Smith and Richardson is a contract manufacturer of precision machined, precision stamped, and precision slide formed parts. The company offers custom precision machining services (CNC Swiss, CNC milling/turning, vertical/horizontal machining, Wire EDM), custom and standard precision chaplets for the foundry casting industry, and custom slide formed parts and wire forms. Production is performed to customer drawings and specifications with tolerances to .0002 inches on CNC operations, serving OEM customers across aerospace, medical, transportation, casting, firearms/sporting, and general industrial markets.
Product overview
Smith & Richardson is a precision manufacturing company offering three core product lines: Precision Machining Services (CNC Swiss, CNC Milling/Turning, Vertical/Horizontal Machining, Wire EDM, Assembly, and Materials processing), Precision Chaplets (custom chaplets for foundry casting including motor, triple head, double head, perforated, radiator, separator chaplets, chills, core box vents, skim gates, core plates, and steel tubes), and Precision Slide Forming (wire forms, custom formed parts, perforated metal forms, and spring clips). The company operates from facilities in Geneva, Illinois and Taicang, China, serving aerospace, medical, transportation, casting machining, general industry, and firearms/sporting goods sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Roberts Automatic Products: Precision CNC Swiss, CNC Mill Turn, CNC Multi-axis and Multi Spindle Screw machining company acquired in 2023.
Products and services
- Precision Machining Services Comprehensive precision machining services including CNC Swiss, CNC Milling/Turning, Vertical Machining, Horizontal Machining, and Wire EDM for producing tight tolerance parts from various metals and alloys for OEM customers.
- CNC Swiss Precision Machining Single spindle Citizen Swiss CNC lathes with automatic bar loaders capable of holding tolerances to .0002 inches, featuring live tooling and seven axis motion for high precision parts. Enables 'lights out' unattended operation with fire suppression systems.
- Precision CNC Milling and Turning Services Multi-axis CNC lathes (Eurotech, Mazak, Hardinge) with single and twin turret configurations, capable of holding tolerances to .0002 inches and position tolerance capabilities to .000001 degrees with automatic thermal compensation.
- Vertical CNC Machining Services Mazak VCN510C and VCU500A Vertical Machining Centers with 51 x 22 inch work tables, Renishaw Dual Probing Kits for quicker tool setting and in-process tool breakage detection, and 12,000 RPM spindle with tolerances to .0002 inches.
- Horizontal CNC Machining Services Mazak HCN5000 Horizontal Machining Centers with 20 x 20 x 26 inch work tables, pallet changer, Renishaw Dual Probing for in-process part measurement, and 120 tool magazine capacity.
- Wire EDM Machining Services Brother HS-70AM wire EDM machine with X-axis stroke of 16.1 inches and Y-axis stroke of 10.2 inches, accurate to .0001 inches, with automatic wire threader for unattended operation. Enables in-house tooling production.
- Precision Parts Assembly Assembly services combining precision machined, stamped, and slide formed capabilities for custom designs with engineering staff averaging 20 years of experience developing assembly processes to meet customer needs.
- Materials Machining Services Machining services for castings, extruded shapes, metals and plastics including aluminum, brass, stainless steel, titanium, Hastelloy, tool steels, and various plastics for foundry and OEM customers.
- Precision Chaplets High-quality custom and standard chaplets precision-manufactured for the casting industry since 1921, including motor, pre-glued, fusion plate, machined triple head, perforated, separator, double head, and radiator chaplets for foundry casting applications.
- Chills Chills manufactured using mild steel or wire, generally tinned or coated, produced in various shapes and sizes for controlling shrinkage and achieving directional solidification in casting.
- Core Box Vents Wide range of core box vents available in US and Metric sizes, including brass slotted, steel slotted, aluminum slotted, Super Vent, brass screen, nylon, and sintered vents for foundry cores.
- Double Head Welded Chaplets Welded chaplets manufactured using mild steel, generally coated with tin, for heavy metal casting sections where increased strength from welding is required.
- Fusion Plate Triple Head Chaplets Chaplets with a third center dam plate to prevent porosity defects in castings where two-headed chaplets do not knit or fuse properly during solidification.
- Machined Triple Head Chaplets Triple head chaplets with center dam design to eliminate casting porosity defects, manufactured in various metals with grooved or plain stems.
- Motor Chaplets Mild steel chaplets, generally tin-coated, used in thin-walled casting applications with height ranging from 3/16 inch to 3 inches.
- Perforated Chaplets Core stabilizers, box chaplets, pipe chaplets and channel chaplets manufactured from tin coated steel or non-ferrous sheet, best suited for bottom or drag of mold placement.
- Preglued Motor Chaplets Motor, Triple Head, or Double Head Chaplets with uniform glue layer applied to one head, ready for placement in mold or on core for increased placement efficiencies.
- Radiator Chaplets Stem chaplets, ram chaplets, shoulder chaplets and single head chaplets for thin-walled castings with stem lengths from 1/2 inch to 3-1/2 inches.
- Separator Chaplets Chaplets used in water jacket cores for engine block casting, with plates that can be solid or perforated, curved, with protrusions or extensions.
- Skim Gates and Core Plates Tin-coated steel or non-ferrous skim gates used to control metal flow and remove impurities; core plates restrict flow and create bearing surfaces in casting operations.
- Steel Tubes Tubes manufactured using cold rolled steel, tin coated steel or non-ferrous material with butt seam, overlapped seam or welded seam options for chaplet and casting applications.
- Custom Wire Forms Four Slide machine-produced wire form parts including wire clips, hooks, springs, eyelets, hangers, and formed pins in various metals for OEM customers.
- Custom Formed Parts Slide formed custom parts from Four Slide and Multi Slide machines capable of punching, notching, slotting and forming from four different directions in the same cycle to .002 inch tolerances.
- Perforated Metal Forms Slide formed parts using perforated material for screens, filters, air-permeable shapes, and light support applications manufactured via Four Slide and Multi Slide machines.
- Spring Clips Four Slide and Multi Slide machine-produced spring clips capable of holding tolerances to .002 inches, working with stainless steel, martensite, spring steels, and phosphor bronze.
Quantifiable outcome
- Tolerance capability of .0002 inches on CNC operations
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Smith and Richardson
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Smith and Richardson technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Smith and Richardson partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Roberts Automatic Products Inc.coreSmith & Richardson acquired Roberts Automatic Products in January 2023, doubling the company's size and adding milling and Swiss depth to existing capacity. The acquisition added new multi-spindle production capabilities and a modern 50,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Roberts Automatic Products, established in 1947, is a leading producer of precision parts specializing in CNC Swiss, CNC Mill Turn, CNC Multi-axis and Multi Spindle Screw machining. The company is ISO 9001 certified, ITAR registered, JCP DD 2345 Approved, and holds an FFL6 Federal Firearms License. All employees were retained following the acquisition. The combination brings together 178 years of manufacturing expertise.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Smith and Richardson competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Protolabs: Protolabs is a leading digital manufacturer of custom prototypes and on-demand production parts using CNC machining, injection molding, sheet metal, and 3D printing. Directly comparable to Smith & Richardson as a contract precision machining provider serving aerospace, medical, and industrial OEMs with quick-turn capabilities.
- Xometry: Xometry operates an AI-driven on-demand manufacturing marketplace connecting customers with CNC machining, sheet metal, and injection molding suppliers. Comparable to Smith & Richardson's precision machining services through overlap in target customers (aerospace, medical, industrial) and contract manufacturing model, though Xometry is a marketplace aggregator rather than a direct manufacturer.
- Fictiv: Fictiv is a digital manufacturing platform that produces custom mechanical parts via a global network of CNC machine shops and injection molders. Directly comparable to Smith & Richardson's CNC machining and custom parts business model serving similar engineering and procurement buyers at OEMs.
- Hubs (Protolabs Network): Hubs, now part of Protolabs, provides on-demand CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, and 3D printing services globally. Directly comparable as a precision machining service provider serving similar OEM customers with quick-turn custom parts.
- Cannon Industries: Cannon Industries is a US-based precision machining and metal fabrication contract manufacturer serving aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Highly comparable to Smith & Richardson in terms of precision CNC capabilities, ITAR compliance, aerospace/defense customer base, and mid-market contract manufacturing model.
- Quality Metal Craft: Quality Metal Craft is a precision CNC machining and metal stamping contract manufacturer serving medical, aerospace, and industrial OEMs. Directly comparable to Smith & Richardson's combined precision machining and stamping capabilities for regulated industries.
Regional players
- Midwest Precision Products: Midwest Precision Products is a US Midwest-based precision machining contract manufacturer similar to Smith & Richardson in geography and customer base. Both are PMPA member shops serving transportation, industrial, and aerospace customers in similar regional manufacturing corridors.
Broad incumbents
- Precision Castparts Corp: Precision Castparts (a Berkshire Hathaway company) is a major diversified manufacturer of complex metal components for aerospace, power, and industrial markets. Comparable to Smith & Richardson as a precision metal components manufacturer serving aerospace with related machining and casting capabilities, though at vastly greater scale and vertical integration.
- Haynes International: Haynes International manufactures high-performance alloys and produces precision machined components from corrosion-resistant and high-temperature alloys for aerospace, chemical processing, and industrial markets. Comparable to Smith & Richardson through precision machining of exotic alloys for similar regulated end markets.
Others
- GF Machining Solutions: GF Machining Solutions is a leading manufacturer of CNC milling, EDM, and laser texturing machine tools. Related to Smith & Richardson as a supplier of the type of capital equipment (CNC mills, EDM machines) that Smith & Richardson operates, rather than as a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Smith and Richardson social profiles
Digital presenceSmith and Richardson compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Smith and Richardson financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Smith and Richardson leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Smith and Richardson subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Smith and Richardson funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Smith and Richardson M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Smith and Richardson
What does Smith and Richardson do?
Smith and Richardson is a contract manufacturer of precision machined, precision stamped, and precision slide formed parts. The company offers custom precision machining services (CNC Swiss, CNC milling/turning, vertical/horizontal machining, Wire EDM), custom and standard precision chaplets for the foundry casting industry, and custom slide formed parts and wire forms. Production is performed to customer drawings and specifications with tolerances to .0002 inches on CNC operations, serving OEM customers across aerospace, medical, transportation, casting, firearms/sporting, and general industrial markets.
Is Smith and Richardson a public or private company?
Smith and Richardson is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Smith and Richardson founded?
Smith and Richardson was founded in 1921. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Smith and Richardson based?
Smith and Richardson is headquartered in Geneva, United States, in the North America region.
How does Smith and Richardson make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Precision Machined Parts Contract Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are precision Chaplets and Foundry Supplies, precision Slide Formed Parts and assembly Services.
Who are Smith and Richardson's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Protolabs, Xometry, Fictiv, Hubs (Protolabs Network), Cannon Industries and Quality Metal Craft. Midwest Precision Products is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Precision Castparts Corp and Haynes International. GF Machining Solutions is listed as an others.
Does Smith and Richardson have an API?
No public API is recorded for Smith and Richardson.
What industry is Smith and Richardson in?
Smith and Richardson's product category is Precision Contract Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHADAA, CNC Machine Tools (Turning, Milling, Machining Centers), with a secondary code of IMAHADAC, Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping). Its NAICS code is 33271 and its SIC code is 3541.