K&S

What K&S does

K&S Manufacturing Inc. is a privately held, second-generation female-owned U.S. contract metals manufacturer founded in 1974 in Ixonia, Wisconsin. The company operates from a single 145,000 sq ft facility between Milwaukee and Madison, WI, and serves Fortune 500 OEMs and privately-held manufacturers across agriculture, engine, construction, large truck, on-and-off highway, power transmission, process equipment, rail, seating, thermal transfer, and turf care markets.

Its core offering is vertically integrated contract manufacturing under a Flexible Manufacturing System umbrella, encompassing precision metal stamping (up to 800 tons, including deep-draw, blank-feed, progressive, and transfer-die), laser cutting (4,500-watt with lights-out automation), CNC brake press forming, AWS-certified MIG/TIG/spot welding with in-house fixtures, precision machining (turning up to 17 inches, 17,000-lb in-bed capacity, including EDM), and full in-house tool-and-die design, simulation, tryout, and in-die sensing. The proprietary Predictive Tolerance Modeling (PTM) process is positioned as the engineering differentiator, modeling expected PPM reject rates and cost drivers upstream of tooling commitment. The company is ISO 9001:2015 registered with Level 4 PPAP capability.

K&S generates revenue via quote-based, multi-year contract manufacturing engagements with OEMs, billing against project scope (materials, complexity, volume, tolerances), with no standard pricing tiers publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is relationship- and engineering-led direct sales through dedicated account management and embedded engineering support, with virtually no demand-generation marketing - the company maintains only a minimal LinkedIn presence and legacy social channels. Distribution is exclusively direct to OEM facilities, and operating geography is regional Midwest USA with no international footprint claim. The company is described as financially sound, without external investment, parent affiliation, or disclosed funding rounds.

Name

K&S

Legal name

K&S Tool, Die & Manufacturing, Inc.

Website

https://ksmfg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

K&S Manufacturing is a privately held, second-generation female-owned U.S. contract metals manufacturer in Ixonia, Wisconsin, providing vertically integrated stamping, laser cutting, brake press, welding, machining, and tool-and-die services to Fortune 500 OEMs across industrial, transportation, agriculture, and equipment verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Metal Manufacturing

NAICS

Machine Shops (33271), Special Die and Tool, Die Set, Jig, and Fixture Manufacturing (333514)

SIC

Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490), Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Metal Cutting Tools, Tooling & Workholding (Cutters, Inserts, Chucks, Fixtures) (IMAHADAB), Industrial Saws & Cutting Systems (Band/Circular Saws, Abrasive Cutting) (IMAHADAL)

Keywords

• Metal stamping services
• Contract metal manufacturing
• Precision machining services
• Tool and die manufacturing
• Laser cutting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ixonia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing Services: K&S generates revenue through outsource contract manufacturing of metal components and assemblies. Revenue is derived from turnkey manufacturing capabilities including flexible manufacturing, stamping, tool & die, machining, welding, laser cutting, and brake press forming. The company provides complete lifecycle support from concept to production including material purchasing, manufacturing, and ongoing die support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

K&S is a vertically integrated contract metals manufacturer that designs and produces custom metal components, assemblies, tools, and dies for industrial OEM customers. The company offers turnkey manufacturing capabilities from concept and DFM through die simulation, tool build, die tryout, PPAP, and first production run, delivered from its 145,000 square-foot Ixonia, Wisconsin facility. Core capabilities include precision metal stamping, laser cutting, brake press forming, welding, machining, and tool & die, supported by proprietary Predictive Tolerance Modeling (PTM) and flexible manufacturing systems.

Product overview

K&S Manufacturing is a vertically integrated contract metals manufacturer offering a comprehensive suite of manufacturing services. The company operates as a single unified offering combining Flexible Manufacturing as the overarching approach with specialized capabilities including Laser Cutting, Brake Press Forming, Welding, Precision Metal Stamping, Tool & Die, and Machining. These services are designed to work together from concept to production, enabling OEM customers to outsource their entire metal component manufacturing needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flexible Manufacturing Vertically integrated contract manufacturing approach that enables compressed timelines, speed-to-market, cost savings, and predictability for OEM customers through supplier-led innovation, paired with dedicated engineers and a manufacturing execution system.
• Precision Metal Stamping Turnkey stamping capabilities with up to 800 ton bed capacity, supporting deep draw, blank-feed, progressive, and transfer-die stamping within K&S's 145,000 square-foot facilities for OEM customers.
• Laser Cutting Automated laser cutting using 4,500 Watt lasers capable of cutting stainless steel, aluminum, and carbon steel up to 1 inch thick, with lights-out automation that runs under minimal supervision for faster turnaround and lower costs and software-driven nesting that reduces scrap and material usage.
• Brake Press Forming CNC programmable brake press forming with 5-axis back gauging, deep-shut-height capability, precision ground air bending tools, and Predictive Tolerance Modeling (PTM) for accurate parts with minimal tooling.
• Welding AWS certified welding services including robotic and manual welding using MIG, TIG, and spot welding, with all weld fixtures designed, built, and maintained in-house and supported by an in-house PFMEA process.
• Tool & Die Stamping die design, simulation, build, tryout, and sensing from concept through PPAP, including transfer line, progressive, deep draw, blank, pierce, and cam dies with 40-ton lifting capability and a dedicated sensor lab for in-die sensing applications.
• Machining Precision machining including prototyping, tools, jigs, and fixtures with turning up to 17-inch diameter and 17,000 pound bed capacity, with horizontal, vertical, turning, milling, grinding, and wire EDM capabilities for OEM customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Flexible manufacturing paired with PTM creates speed-to-market, cost savings and predictability
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Shiloh Industries: Shiloh Industries was a publicly traded vertically integrated metal-forming and stamping manufacturer serving automotive and industrial OEMs with engineered components. It is comparable to K&S as a vertically integrated stamping/tooling provider, though Shiloh's scale and automotive concentration were significantly larger than K&S's diversified heavy-industrial focus.
• Multimatic: Multimatic is a privately held Canadian contract manufacturer providing engineered metal components, assemblies, and tooling to global OEMs across automotive and industrial markets. It is comparable to K&S in offering vertically integrated stamping, welding, and tool & die services with engineering-led differentiation, though Multimatic operates globally.
• Lakeshore Engineering Industries: Lakeshore Engineering Industries is a US-based contract metal manufacturer providing stamping, fabrication, and assembly services to industrial OEMs. It is directly comparable to K&S as a mid-sized US contract metal manufacturer serving heavy industrial OEM customers with similar vertically integrated capabilities.
• MacLean-Fogg: MacLean-Fogg is a US-based diversified manufacturer of metal-formed components, fasteners, and engineered parts serving automotive, industrial, and utility OEM markets. Comparable to K&S as a metal-forming contract manufacturer with engineering-led solutions and diversified end-market exposure, though at larger scale.
• Talan Products: Talan Products is a US contract metal stamping and fabrication manufacturer serving OEM customers across industrial markets. Comparable to K&S as a mid-sized contract metal manufacturer with stamping and value-added fabrication capabilities targeting similar heavy-industrial OEM customer profiles.
• Anchor Manufacturing Group: Anchor Manufacturing Group is a US-based contract metal manufacturer producing stampings, assemblies, and machined components for OEM customers across industrial markets. Comparable to K&S as a multi-capability contract metal manufacturer serving OEM customers with similar vertical integration of stamping, machining, and assembly.
• Vari-Form: Vari-Form (a Magna company) is a contract metal forming specialist using hydroforming and roll forming to produce structural components for automotive and industrial OEMs. Comparable to K&S as a metal forming contract manufacturer serving OEM customers, though Vari-Form specializes specifically in hydroforming.
• Schafer Industries: Schafer Industries is a US-based precision metal components manufacturer serving heavy equipment, industrial, and commercial vehicle OEMs with gears, splines, and machined components. Comparable to K&S as a mid-sized US contract manufacturer serving heavy-equipment and industrial OEM customers with precision metal capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Gestamp: Gestamp is a Spanish-headquartered global leader in metal stamping and engineered components for automotive OEMs, with a multi-region global manufacturing footprint. Comparable to K&S as a metal stamping and forming contract manufacturer serving OEM customers, but at significantly larger scale and with primarily automotive exposure.
• Magna International: Magna International is one of the world's largest diversified automotive contract manufacturers, with significant metal forming, stamping, and assembly capabilities through its body and chassis structures division. Comparable to K&S in providing outsourced metal component manufacturing to OEMs, though at vastly larger scale and broader product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/484003
• Facebookfacebook.com/kstooldie

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 K&S