What Modern Machine Shop does

Modern Machine Shop (MMS) is a B2B media brand and publication serving the CNC machining and metalworking industry in North America. Founded in 1928 and operated by Gardner Business Media, Inc. from its headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, the company produces technical articles, shop tour videos (View From My Shop), a podcast (Made in the USA), webinars, email newsletters (MMS Extra, MMS The Shop), and a print and digital magazine, all distributed primarily through mmsonline.com and a sister site, Manufacturing Connected. Its audience is composed of CNC job shop owners and operators, manufacturing engineers, tooling professionals, and machine tool and tooling suppliers seeking technical knowledge, benchmarking data, and industry intelligence. Signature programs include the annual Top Shops benchmarking program (expanded in 2026 to include industrial finishing) and the TASC (The Automated Shop Conference) automation conference, both of which function as recurring community and revenue engines beyond the core publication.

Name

Modern Machine Shop

Legal name

Gardner Business Media, Inc.

Website

https://mmsonline.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Modern Machine Shop is a B2B media brand published by Gardner Business Media that delivers editorial content, benchmarking programs, conferences, a podcast, and a job board to CNC machining and metalworking professionals and their suppliers in North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Advertising: Display advertising, sponsored content, and brand partnerships with machine tool manufacturers, tooling companies, and industrial suppliers. Featured suppliers include Starrett, Okuma, DN Solutions, Haas, Keyence, and others.
2. Subscriptions: Digital and print magazine subscriptions providing access to editorial content, premium articles, and industry benchmarking data.
3. Job Board: Career center platform connecting machining and manufacturing professionals with employers, featuring job postings for machinists, CNC programmers, and manufacturing roles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Modern Machine Shop is a B2B trade media brand that publishes editorial articles, videos, podcasts, and webinars covering CNC machining and metalworking for manufacturing professionals. It complements this content with industry benchmarking programs, a manufacturing job board, and live events such as the Top Shops Conference and TASC, serving machine shops, manufacturing engineers, and tooling/aerospace buyers.

Product overview

Modern Machine Shop is a media and publishing brand that provides comprehensive coverage of the metalworking and CNC machining industry through multiple channels. The core offering consists of the Modern Machine Shop website/online platform delivering articles, videos, news and podcasts; the Top Shops benchmarking program for shop improvement; the TASC automation conference; the Made in the USA podcast; a Supplier Directory for sourcing equipment; a Career Center/job board; and the Modern Machine Shop Magazine. These products serve CNC machining professionals seeking industry news, benchmarking opportunities, educational content, and business resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Top Shops: A benchmarking and business improvement program for CNC machining shops
• TASC (The Automated Shop Conference)
• View From My Shop
• Made in the USA Podcast

Products and services

• Modern Machine Shop (trade media brand and editorial publication) Flagship B2B trade media brand publishing editorial articles, news, and analysis on CNC machining and metalworking for machine shop owners, manufacturing engineers, and tooling buyers.
• Modern Machine Shop Podcast Audio content program featuring interviews, shop visits, and technology discussions targeted at CNC machining and metalworking professionals.
• Modern Machine Shop YouTube Channel Video channel featuring shop tours, product demonstrations, and machining technology content for manufacturing professionals.
• Modern Machine Shop Webinars Live and on-demand webinar programming delivering education on machining processes, tooling, and shop management to manufacturing professionals.
• Top Shops Benchmarking Program Survey-based benchmarking program that collects operational and business data from machine shops and produces comparative performance insights for participants and the industry.
• Top Shops Conference Annual conference gathering machine shops, benchmarking participants, and suppliers for education, networking, and recognition tied to the Top Shops program.
• TASC (Tooling & Workholding for Aerospace) Industry event focused on tooling and workholding solutions for aerospace machining applications, bringing together aerospace manufacturers, tooling suppliers, and engineering professionals.
• Modern Machine Shop Job Board Online job board connecting machining and metalworking employers with manufacturing job seekers, including machinists, manufacturing engineers, and shop leadership roles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Machine monitoring implementation at Coastal Machine and Supply boosted five-axis utilization by 46%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• AMT (Association for Manufacturing Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChannel partner for IMTS coverage; Modern Machine Shop provides media coverage and editorial content for IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show), the largest manufacturing trade show in the Western Hemisphere.
• NTMA (National Tooling and Machining Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChannel partner relationship with NTMA for industry coverage, Top Shops program alignment, and workforce development content serving the tooling and machining industry.
• Gardner Business Media (Parent Company)flagshipOthersModern Machine Shop is the flagship brand of Gardner Business Media, which also publishes Additive Manufacturing, CompositesWorld, MoldMaking Technology, Products Finishing, Production Machining, and Plastics Technology.
• Manufacturing ConnectedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint content initiative with Manufacturing Connected covering advanced manufacturing topics including AI, robotics, and digital manufacturing; shares content and editorial coverage across platforms.
• TECHSPEXminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured partner link on Modern Machine Shop website providing manufacturing technology comparison and sourcing services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Engineering.com: Digital-first engineering and manufacturing media platform covering design, machining, and emerging industrial technologies. Represents the digital-native competitive threat to legacy trade publications like MMS.

Broad incumbents

• IndustryWeek: Established manufacturing trade publication (Endeavor Business Media) covering the wider manufacturing executive audience. Overlaps MMS's manufacturing content category but at broader scope and different buyer persona.
• Manufacturing Engineering Magazine: SME-published trade magazine covering manufacturing engineering and technology including machining. Comparable B2B media brand with a broader manufacturing scope than MMS's CNC machining focus.

Direct peers

• Tooling & Machining Magazine: Official publication of the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA, an MMS channel partner), covering tooling, machining, and metalworking operations. Directly overlaps MMS's editorial focus and audience.
• MoldMaking Technology: Gardner Business Media sister publication covering moldmaking and tooling. Runs the same trade media model as MMS and overlaps many of the same advertisers, tooling suppliers, and shop floor readers.
• American Machinist: Long-running B2B trade publication (BNP Media) covering metalworking, machining, and manufacturing technology. Directly comparable to MMS as a North American trade media brand serving the same CNC-machining audience with a similar mix of advertising, subscriptions, and live properties.
• Additive Manufacturing Media: Another Gardner Business Media sister publication focused on additive manufacturing. While the topic is adjacent to CNC machining, it operates the same B2B media business model (advertising, subscriptions, events) and shares corporate distribution and sales infrastructure with MMS.
• Plastics Technology: Gardner Business Media sister publication serving plastics processing professionals. Operates the same B2B trade media model and shares corporate infrastructure, making it a relevant operational peer for MMS even though the underlying industry differs.
• Production Machining: Sister Gardner Business Media brand covering production machining buyers with shared corporate infrastructure. Operates essentially the same B2B trade media model as MMS and competes for overlapping advertisers and readers.
• Cutting Tool Engineering: CTE-published trade title covering metalcutting tooling, workholding, and machining processes, with print, digital, and conference properties. Closely comparable B2B media model and audience overlap with MMS in the same machine shop and tooling buyer category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/mmsonlinevideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/mmsonline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/modernmachineshop
• Instagraminstagram.com/modernmachineshop
• Xx.com/mmsonline

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 Modern Machine Shop