M S Willett

What M S Willett does

M.S. Willett Inc., operating under the trade name WILLETT and also branded as BLEMA North America, is a specialty industrial manufacturer founded circa 1930 and headquartered at a single facility in Littlestown, Pennsylvania. The company designs and builds metal forming systems, tooling and dies, CNC-fabricated components, and contract metal stampings for industrial manufacturers, with a primary focus on the metal packaging sector (food cans, easy open ends, specialty containers, aerosol cones and domes, tin boxes) and secondary exposure to general industrial and electronics customers. Its core capabilities span computer-aided design (CAD), in-house tool and die engineering, part-transfer and automation mechanism development, CNC metal fabrication, and in-house die maintenance. The technology stack is anchored on CNC machining, CAD-based design, and proprietary tooling expertise rather than software or digital platforms.

The company operates as a single integrated manufacturing operation, delivering turn-key production systems from part design through prototyping and full-scale production runs. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time project contracts for custom tooling, fabrication, and stamping work, supplemented by professional services revenue from engineering, design, and recurring die maintenance. Pricing is quote-based and varies by project scope, complexity, and volume; no public pricing exists. The company employs 251-500 people and sells exclusively through direct enterprise field sales, with industry trade show presence at FABTECH serving as the primary mid-funnel customer acquisition channel.

Since 2020, M.S. Willett has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Leonhardt Group, a family-owned German industrial enterprise. Sister company BLEMA, also part of The Leonhardt Group, established a North American service and technical support division at the Willett facility in 2020, effectively positioning Willett as BLEMA's North American operational hub. Leadership includes Gary Ruby (Director, Engineering & Development), Maik Teubner (General Manager), and Sebastian Leonhardt (President & CEO). No revenue, funding, patent, certification, or customer-logo data is disclosed.

Name

M S Willett

Legal name

M.S. Willett Inc.

Website

https://mswillett.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

M.S. Willett Inc. (BLEMA North America) is a Pennsylvania-based metal forming manufacturer with 90+ years of heritage, specializing in tooling, dies, CNC fabrication, and contract stamping for industrial and metal packaging customers, owned by Germany's The Leonhardt Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Metal Forming & Tooling

NAICS

Special Die and Tool, Die Set, Jig, and Fixture Manufacturing (333514), Machine Shops (332710), Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing (3327)

SIC

Sheet Metal Work (3444), Metal Forgings & Stampings (3460), Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping) (IMAHADAC)

Keywords

• Metal forming systems
• CNC metal fabrication
• Tool and die manufacturing
• Contract metal stamping
• Light metal packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Cockeysville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Metal Forming Systems & Tooling: Design, build, and service tooling and die systems for metal forming applications including transfer systems, automation mechanisms, and complete turn-key production systems
2. CNC Metal Fabrication Services: Custom metal component and assembly fabrication using CNC machinery for precision manufacturing
3. Contract Metal Stamping: Full-service metal stamping from prototyping through large-scale production runs
4. Engineering & Design Services: Professional engineering support from part design through production system development and integration
5. Light Metal Packaging Systems: Specialized tooling for food cans, easy open ends, specialty containers, tin boxes, aerosol cones and domes
6. Die Maintenance Services: In-house die maintenance ensuring consistent quality and minimal maintenance requirements

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

M.S. Willett designs, engineers, and builds tooling, dies, and complete turn-key metal forming and packaging production systems. The company provides in-house CNC metal fabrication, tool & die manufacturing, die maintenance, contract metal stamping, and specialized light metal packaging tooling for food cans, easy open ends, specialty containers, aerosol cones and domes, tin boxes, and electronic strip feeds.

Product overview

M.S. Willett Inc. (BLEMA North America) is a single, unified metal forming operation offering a comprehensive suite of services rather than a modular software platform. The company's core offerings include Engineering & Design Services (CAD capabilities for part design, prototyping, and turn-key production systems), a Metalforming System anchored by its Tool & Die Division (specializing in part transfer, automation, and turn-key production systems), CNC Metal Fabrication (state-of-the-art manufacturing), Die Maintenance (in-house manufacturing and maintenance), a Light Metal Packaging System (food cans, easy open ends, specialty containers, aerosol components, tin boxes), and Contract Metal Stamping (prototyping to full-scale production). These services are offered as integrated capabilities within a single manufacturing operation, serving the metal packaging and forming industry with complete turn-key solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Engineering & Design Services Advanced Computer-Aided Design (CAD) capabilities that support customers from part design and prototyping through complete turn-key production systems, backed by expertise in material science and engineering principles.
• Metalforming System Comprehensive engineering and development support specializing in part transfer and automation mechanisms, including complete turn-key production systems, replacement tooling, and systems integration for metal parts.
• Tool & Die Division Engineering excellence hub providing sophisticated part transfer and automation mechanisms, turn-key production systems, replacement tooling, and seamless systems integration for modern manufacturing.
• CNC Metal Fabrication Full-service manufacturing of components and assemblies using state-of-the-art CNC machinery, executed with precision and accuracy by experienced, dedicated associates.
• Die Maintenance In-house manufacturing and maintenance of dies ensuring consistent quality, minimal maintenance requirements, and cost-effective products over their lifespan.
• Light Metal Packaging System Design and construction of customized tooling for food cans, easy open ends, specialty containers, tin boxes, aerosol cones and domes, and electronic strip feeds.
• Contract Metal Stamping Comprehensive services for stamped and fabricated components from initial prototyping through full-scale high-volume production runs.

Segments3 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

One partnership is on record.

• BLEMAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBLEMA, a member of The Leonhardt Group and renowned manufacturer of complete production lines for metal food and aerosol cans, decorative tins, and various composite containers, is a key collaborator. BLEMA is establishing a service and technical support division at the WILLETT facility to bolster commitment to North American clients.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Wilson Tool International: Global supplier of tooling systems for metal stamping, punching and bending — closest peer in the press-tooling and stamping-die segments of Willett's portfolio.
• Dayton Progress: Supplier of punches, die components and retention knobs used in metal stamping dies — competes in the consumable-die tooling category that supports Willett's stamping work.
• Mate Precision Technologies: Manufacturer of tooling for punch presses, press brakes and laser-cutting machines — overlaps with Willett's fabrication tooling and workholding business.
• Soudronic AG: Swiss maker of welding, can-making and special-purpose machinery for metal packaging; serves the same food/aerosol can customer base with comparable tooling-equipment offerings.
• Belvac Machinery Industries: Manufacturer of can-making machinery for beverage, food, aerosol and specialty containers — competes for the same can-line tooling and production-equipment contracts Willett serves.
• Stolle Machinery Company: U.S.-based designer and builder of integrated production equipment for two-piece beverage cans, food cans and aerosol containers — directly analogous to Willett's food-can and aerosol tooling focus.
• Helander Metal: U.S. precision sheet metal fabricator and stamping house offering CNC fabrication and contract stamping services comparable to Willett's CNC fabrication and contract metal stamping lines.

Broad incumbents

• BTD Manufacturing: Larger diversified metal stamping, fabrication and assembly provider across multiple end markets — adjacent incumbent with overlapping stamping/fabrication capabilities and broader scale.
• Anchor Danly: Established North American supplier of die sets, die components and metal stamping supplies — broader incumbent in the die-set and stamping-tooling space.

Emerging players

• Hargraves Technology Group: Specialty metal forming and press automation integrator serving industrial and packaging customers with transfer systems and automation machinery similar in concept to Willett's turn-key production systems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 M S Willett