What Precision Laser Services does

Precision Laser Services, Inc. (DBA: PLSMFG) is a privately held, family-owned contract manufacturer founded in 1941 and headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with manufacturing operations in Huntertown, Indiana. The company runs a vertically integrated precision metal fabrication job shop, offering laser cutting (including a 6kW fiber laser and a large-format 72" x 144" fiber laser), four-axis CNC machining and turning, press brake forming (including 8-axis and CI Autoform capability), engineering CAD/CAM, and assembly services, plus supporting capabilities such as Keyence WM-3000 CMM inspection, nitrogen assist gas cutting, Haeger hardware insertion, and Hydmech sawing. Management claims the company was America's first laser job shop after it acquired its first ruby laser in 1972, and the firm holds three patents in wire drawing die technology.

The company's go-to-market is direct and sales-led, with a network of territory-based sales engineers and representatives (Tom Langenhop, Chris Kauffman, Kevin Hamman, Chris Kauffman) covering Northern Indiana, Northwest Indiana, Southwest Michigan, and Ohio. Revenue is generated project-by-project through custom quote-based pricing; quotes carry a 10-day validity window, payment terms are 30 days net with interest accrual on overdue invoices, and pricing is not publicly disclosed. Customers include the US Navy, Army, Air Force, and Special Forces (weapons racks, weapons lockers, Mk97 Machine Gun Mounts, M240 components, UH-1N/Y ejection chute assemblies, gun-mount components), as well as commercial customers in food service equipment, transportation, recreational vehicles, marine, industrial equipment, medical instruments, automotive, and specialty manufacturing (including Motus Motorcycles).

Defense work appears to be the primary revenue vertical, anchored by a $30M IDIQ contract for Crew Served Weapons Systems (2011), a $14M Navy gun-mount contract (2009), a $9.99M Navy weapons-rack contract (2009), and additional Navy and Army awards through 2026. The company joined the Northeast Indiana Defense Industry Association (NIDIA) in 2010 alongside primes such as Raytheon, ITT, Northrop Grumman, Navistar, and General Dynamics, was named to the Inc. 5000 in 2009 and 2010 with reported 23% revenue growth, and was designated a Critical Infrastructure Sector supplier during COVID-19 (2020). Current leadership rests with Ed Ferrier as President and CEO, continuing a three-generation Ferrier family stewardship with no disclosed institutional or external investment.

Name

Precision Laser Services

Legal name

Precision Laser Services, Inc.

Website

https://plsmfg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Precision Laser Services is a privately held, family-owned Fort Wayne, Indiana contract manufacturer offering precision laser cutting, four-axis CNC machining, metal fabrication, forming, and assembly services for US military weapons programs and commercial customers in industrial, transportation, RV/marine, medical, and food-service equipment markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Metal Fabrication Services

NAICS

Precision Turned Product Manufacturing (332721)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Sheet Metal Machinery (Laser/Plasma/Waterjet Cutting, Punching) (IMAHADAD)

Keywords

• Laser cutting services
• CNC machining services
• Metal fabrication
• Contract manufacturing
• Precision machining

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Wayne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing Services: Job shop contract manufacturing providing custom laser cutting, machining, metal fabrication, and assembly services to customers across multiple industries. Revenue is generated through project-based work with quotes provided for each job. Services include quick turn laser cut parts and complicated assemblies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Precision Laser Services is a contract manufacturing job shop providing custom laser cutting, four-axis CNC machining, metal fabrication, press brake forming, and complete assembly services. The company produces parts to customer designs across materials including steel, stainless, brass, copper, plastics, aluminum, and castings, with large format laser cutting capability up to 72" x 144" and serves military, industrial, transportation, RV/marine, medical, and food service equipment customers.

Product overview

Precision Laser Services is America's first laser job shop (since 1972) offering a comprehensive suite of precision metal manufacturing services. The company operates as a single unified contract manufacturing service rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core offerings include laser cutting (both standard and large format up to 72" x 144"), four-axis CNC machining and turning, metal fabrication, press brake forming, and engineering CAD/CAM with assembly services. Supporting capabilities include CMM inspection (Keyence WM-3000), nitrogen clean cutting, hardware insertion, and sawing/blanking services. The company serves diverse industries including military/defense, industrial, transportation, RV/marine, medical instruments, and food service equipment, working with materials such as Steel, Stainless, Brass, Copper, Plastics, Aluminum, and Castings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Laser Cutting & Metal Fabrication Precision laser cutting services for carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and copper, with large format capability up to 72" x 144" and nitrogen assist gas clean cutting; serves industrial, military, food service, transportation, RV, marine, and medical customers needing quick turn parts.
• Machining & Turning

Quantifiable outcome

• 23% revenue growth during economic downturn (2007-2010)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Northeast Indiana Defense Industry Association (NIDIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 August 2010Precision Laser Services joined NIDIA to promote and expand the defense industry in NE Indiana. Other members include major defense contractors: Raytheon, ITT, Northrop Grumman, Navistar, General Dynamics, and Undersea Sensor Systems.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mayville Engineering Company (MEC): Public contract metal manufacturer offering laser cutting, machining, fabrication, forming, and assembly for industrial and defense customers; comparable in services and end markets to PLS but at materially larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• BTD Manufacturing: Minnesota-based contract metal manufacturer providing laser cutting, stamping, machining, fabrication, and assembly; serves defense, industrial, and agricultural customers with a Midwest footprint and scope directly comparable to PLS.
• Winsert Inc. Wisconsin-based manufacturer of precision machined metal components and alloy parts serving industrial, defense, and heavy equipment markets; comparable as a precision metal parts supplier with similar mid-scale Midwestern contract manufacturer profile.
• Metaltek International: Wisconsin-based precision metal components manufacturer offering casting, machining, and fabrication services to industrial and defense customers; comparable to PLS as a multi-process precision metal job shop serving similar end markets.
• MGS Manufacturing Group: Wisconsin-based precision contract manufacturer offering metal and plastic manufacturing, assembly, and engineering services for industrial customers; comparable as a Midwest multi-process contract manufacturer with overlapping capabilities.
• Fox Valley Metal-Tech: Midwest sheet metal and laser cutting fabricator providing laser cutting, CNC machining, forming, and welding for industrial customers; directly comparable as a regional laser/metal job shop serving similar contract manufacturing customers.
• Riverside Metal Products: Midwest contract metal fabricator providing laser cutting, stamping, machining, and assembly services for industrial customers; comparable as a regional precision sheet metal job shop with similar service mix and customer types to PLS.

Broad incumbents

• Patrick Industries: Elkhart, Indiana-based manufacturer of components for RV, marine, and industrial markets including laminated products, aluminum, and fabricated parts; broader incumbent serving some of PLS's RV/marine customer base but at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/precisionlaserservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/precision-laser-services-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Precision Laser Services