IMS Buhrke-Olson

What IMS Buhrke-Olson does

IMS Buhrke-Olson LLC is a North American contract manufacturer specializing in custom precision metal stamping and mechanical assembly. Formed in 2008 when IMS Companies combined Buhrke Industries (acquired 2004) and Olson International (acquired 2008), the company traces its operating history to 1937. It runs three manufacturing facilities — a 235,000 sq ft headquarters in Arlington Heights, Illinois (229 employees), a Matamoros, Mexico plant (314 employees, established 1987-1988), and a Monterrey, Mexico plant (319 employees, opened 2007) — collectively comprising 635,000+ sq ft and 862 employees. Capacity includes 80+ punch presses ranging from 30 to 660 tons, high-speed presses capable of 1,500 strokes per minute, and tooling capacity of 150+ progressive tools built yearly, yielding 50+ million parts per month. The company holds IATF 16949:2016, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 16232-10 certifications across all facilities and operates a DOL-registered Buhrke Tool & Die Maker Apprenticeship Program.

The core technology platform is progressive-die metal stamping augmented by proprietary in-die assembly capabilities (hardware insertion, high-speed servo tapping, TOX locking), automated resistance and MIG welding built 100% in-house, ISO 16232-10 certified in-house parts cleaning, and design-for-manufacturability engineering using FASTFORM Advanced strain analysis. The product portfolio spans precision stampings, busbars for EV battery and power-distribution applications, burst discs for automotive airbag inflators, and a full surface treatment / finishing offering (plating, painting, e-coat, anodizing, heat treating). The company serves eight vertical end-markets — automotive (primary), appliance, electronics, consumer, lighting, industrial power, electrical controls, and solar — with safety, structural, and complex-assembly components for Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs.

The business model is sales-led B2B contract manufacturing with project-based and long-term supply-agreement pricing. Customer acquisition is direct, supported by engineering engagement from prototype through production and marketed through the corporate website, capability content, LinkedIn, and an industry-focused blog. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of IMS Companies LLC (Des Plaines, IL), a private strategic operating company, and discloses no public financials, cap-table, or revenue figures.

Name

IMS Buhrke-Olson

Legal name

IMS Buhrke-Olson LLC

Website

https://metalstamper.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

IMS Buhrke-Olson is a precision metal stamping and mechanical assembly contract manufacturer serving automotive, appliance, electronics, and industrial markets. Operating three facilities in Illinois and Mexico, the company produces 50+ million parts monthly from prototype through production.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Metal Stamping Services: Contract manufacturing of custom precision metal stampings and mechanical assemblies. Revenue generated through production contracts with automotive, appliance, electronics, and industrial customers. Pricing is typically project-based or through long-term supply agreements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

IMS Buhrke-Olson is a custom precision metal stamping and mechanical assembly contract manufacturer operating three facilities in the U.S. (Arlington Heights, IL) and Mexico (Matamoros and Monterrey). The company produces high-volume stamped components and assemblies for automotive, appliance, electronics, and industrial customers, supported by integrated in-house capabilities including progressive tooling, in-die assembly, automated welding, in-house parts cleaning, and surface treatment/finishing services.

Product overview

IMS Buhrke-Olson is a premier precision metal stamping and mechanical assembly contract manufacturer operating since 1937, with three manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Mexico. The company's core offering is high-volume precision metal stamping using progressive die technology, supported by integrated services including prototype-to-production engineering, in-die assembly, resistance welding automation, progressive tooling, and in-house parts cleaning. The product portfolio centers on the Precision Metal Stamping service as the primary offering, complemented by specialized capabilities for busbar stamping, burst disc manufacturing (for automotive safety), and automated welding systems. The company serves automotive, appliance, electronics, industrial, and other manufacturing markets with world-class quality standards certified to IATF 16949, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Precision Metal Stamping Custom precision metal stamping services using progressive die technology to produce high-volume metal components with tight tolerances, from prototyping through full-scale production, for automotive, appliance, electronics, and industrial customers.
• Prototype to Production Engineering Comprehensive engineering support from early design phase through production, including prototype stamping, tooling development, and project management for OEM and Tier 1 supplier customers.
• Progressive Tooling Complete tool engineering and project management for progressive die tooling with over 150 tools built yearly, supported by in-house CNC and wire machines, with tool management software tracking tools from design to production.
• Complex In-Die Assembly Services Complex in-die assembly integrating hardware insertion, high-speed servo tapping, and TOX locking directly within the stamping press, combining multiple assembly steps into a single continuous process to reduce secondary operations.
• Resistance Welding Automation Automated resistance welding and MIG welding services with fully and semi-automated systems, including TOX locking and component insertion, designed and built 100% in-house for manufacturing customers.
• In-House Parts Cleaning ISO 16232-10 certified in-house cleaning using high-micron water filtration with recycled water, custom-engineered fixtures for each customer part, and PPM systems to meet strict cleanliness requirements for automotive and industrial applications.
• Busbar Stamping Precision busbar metal stamping for electrical distribution applications including EV battery connections, charging ports, powertrain components, and industrial power systems using copper and aluminum materials.
• Burst Disc Manufacturing High-precision burst discs for automotive airbag inflator systems, manufactured with exact pressure tolerances and advanced metal stamping techniques to meet stringent automotive safety standards.
• Design for Manufacturability Services Engineering services using FASTFORM Advanced software for stress/strain analysis, providing design recommendations to improve manufacturability, material changes, and geometry optimization for customer parts.
• Surface Treatment and Finishing Services Additional surface treatment and finishing services including cleaning, deburring, lapping, grinding, heat treating, annealing, passivating, zinc plating, black oxide, painting, e-coat, and anodizing for stamped components.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ million parts per month production capacity
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gestamp: Global Spanish-headquartered automotive metal forming and stamping company serving similar OEM and Tier 1 customers with body-in-white, chassis, and structural components. Highly comparable as a multinational precision stamper focused on automotive safety and structural applications.
• Martinrea International: Canadian automotive metal forming, stamping, and assemblies supplier serving light vehicle OEMs and Tier 1s across North America. Closely comparable in business model, customer mix, and product portfolio to IMS Buhrke-Olson.
• Autokiniton: US-based automotive metal stamping and assemblies supplier serving OEMs and Tier 1s, which acquired former peer Shiloh Industries' assets. Directly comparable as a North American-focused automotive stamper with overlapping structural and safety component exposure.
• Trans-Matic: US-based precision metal stamping contract manufacturer serving automotive, appliance, and industrial markets. Comparable as a mid-sized custom stamper with similar customer mix and progressive die capabilities.
• Helander Products: US precision metal stamping and assemblies manufacturer serving automotive, industrial, and electronics customers. Closely comparable in scale, contract manufacturing model, and progressive die tooling capabilities.
• Mid-Continent Industries: US-based precision metal stamping company serving similar automotive and industrial customers with progressive die and assembly capabilities. Comparable as a mid-sized custom stamping competitor in North America.
• KMC Stamping: US precision metal stamper focused on automotive and industrial customers with progressive die tooling and assembly services. Comparable as a regional contract stamper competing for similar Tier 1 supplier programs.
• Anchor Manufacturing Group: US-based contract metal stamping and assemblies manufacturer serving automotive, appliance, and industrial end markets. Comparable as a Tier 2/3 supplier with overlapping customer base and progressive die capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Magna International: One of the largest global automotive suppliers with extensive metal stamping, body-in-white, and structural assembly operations (including the former Tower International). Overlaps in stamping products but competes across a much broader portfolio rather than specializing in contract stamping.
• Flex-N-Gate: Large privately held automotive supplier with metal stamping, plastics, and assembly capabilities serving Tier 1 and OEM customers. Comparable stamping capabilities but operates as a much larger, more diversified industrial group.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ims-buhrke-olson-llc

Compliance4 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 IMS Buhrke-Olson