Dathan Tool & Gauge

What Dathan Tool & Gauge does

Dathan Tool and Gauge Co.Ltd is a UK-headquartered, family-owned manufacturer of bespoke precision gear cutting tools, founded in 1924 and based in Meltham, West Yorkshire. The company designs and produces gear shaper cutters, power skiving tools, gear hobs, straight bevel generating cutters, rack type cutters, form tools, machine adaptors, and chamfering tools, serving customers in aerospace, automotive, power generation, construction, agriculture, and oil and gas. Its core technology rests on in-house CNC profile grinding machines built to its own specification, proprietary design software for gear geometry, the Dathan 'Pass Thro' method for power skiving, and the Dathan ribbing method, with the company claiming market leadership in gear shaper cutters and power skiving.

The business operates on a quote-based, direct sales model. The majority of products are made bespoke for specific client requirements, complemented by aftermarket revenue from re-sharpening, PVD recoating, full inspection, consultation, and reverse engineering services, plus a stockholding programme for standard tooling. Dathan reaches customers via a field sales team in the UK, regional sales and technical offices in Shanghai (established 2016) and Neukirchen-Vluyn, Germany (established August 2021), and recurring participation in international trade shows including EMO Hannover, CIMT Beijing, and IPTEX/GRINDEX India. Wholly-owned subsidiaries handle regional sales, technical support, and (in Germany) sharpening services.

The company remains under Moorhouse family control across three generations, with Richard, Robert and Simon Moorhouse serving as Technical, Sales, and Production Directors respectively. The 2023 promotion of Victoria Butterworth to Operations Director marked the first non-family appointment to the board. The company has no disclosed institutional investors, no public listing, and no reported funding rounds; growth has been funded organically alongside one disclosed acquisition (David Brown Gear Tools in 2004).

Name

Dathan Tool & Gauge

Legal name

Dathan Tool and Gauge Co.Ltd

Website

https://dathan.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dathan Tool & Gauge is a 100-year-old, UK-based, family-owned manufacturer of bespoke precision gear cutting tools (shaper cutters, power skiving tools, gear hobs, bevel and rack cutters), serving aerospace, automotive, and industrial customers globally through offices in the UK, China, and Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Gear Cutting Tools

NAICS

Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing (333515), Special Die and Tool, Die Set, Jig, and Fixture Manufacturing (333514)

SIC

Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal Cutting Tools, Tooling & Workholding (Cutters, Inserts, Chucks, Fixtures) (IMAHADAB)

Keywords

• Precision gear cutting tools
• Gear shaper cutters
• Power skiving tools
• Gear hobs manufacturing
• Custom bevel generating cutters

Headquarters

HQ city

Holmfirth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Gear Cutting Tools: Design and manufacture of bespoke precision gear cutting tools including gear shaper cutters, power skiving tools, gear hobs, straight bevel generating cutters, rack type cutters, form tools, machine adaptors, and chamfering tools. Majority of products are made bespoke for specific client requirements.
2. Tool Services: Re-sharpening, edge preparation, and coating services to extend tool life. Full strip, resharpen and recoat service using specialist PVD coatings.
3. Inspection Services: Full inspection and reporting service for gear cutting tools, including fault finding and reverse engineering support.
4. Consultation Services: Technical and design consultation services, partnership on customer projects with access to technical and inspection teams.
5. Stockholding: Manufacturing and holding stock of standard gear cutting tools with phased release to customers over agreed periods.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Dathan Tool & Gauge designs and manufactures bespoke precision gear cutting tools for industrial customers. Core products include gear shaper cutters, power skiving tools, gear hobs, straight bevel generating cutters, rack type cutters, form tools, machine adaptors, and chamfering tools. The majority of products are made bespoke to customer specifications, with supporting services covering full inspection, PVD recoating, re-sharpening, reverse engineering, bespoke design consultation, and stockholding.

Product overview

Dathan Tool & Gauge is a precision gear cutting tool manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of custom and standard cutting tools including Gear Shaper Cutters (Disc, Shank, Hub, Helical, Extended Back Boss types), Power Skiving Tools, Gear Hobs, Straight Bevel Generating Cutters, Rack Type Cutters, Form Tools, Machine Adaptors, and Chamfering Tools. The company provides supporting services including Full Inspection, Coating (PVD coatings), Re-sharpening, Bespoke Design, Reverse Engineering, and Stockholding. The product range serves aerospace, automotive, power generation, construction, agriculture, and oil & gas industries, with operations in UK (headquarters), China, and Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gear Shaper Cutters Precision cutting tools for gear manufacturing, available in Disc, Shank, Hub, Helical, and Extended Back Boss configurations for shaping teeth on internal and external gears, serving aerospace, automotive, power generation, construction, agriculture, and oil & gas customers.
• Power Skiving Tools Modern gear machining tools combining elements of gear shaping and milling for high-speed synchronous cutting of internal and external gears, available in Disc, Shank, and Extended Back Boss types for automotive and aerospace applications.
• Gear Hobs High-performance gear cutting tools for hobbing machinery, used for producing external gears and splines; available in various body shapes, tooth forms, HSS and carbide materials, and PVD coatings for aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications.
• Straight Bevel Generating Cutters World-leading straight bevel generating tools for use on Gleason and Heidenreich & Harbeck machines, manufactured from ASP 2030 grades for cutting tougher materials.
• Rack Type Cutters
• Form Tools
• Machine Adaptors
• Chamfering Tools
• Dedicated Service Centre (Germany) Full sharpening, edge preparation, and coating service for gear shaper cutters, power skiving tools, and hobs based in Dusseldorf, Germany.
• Full Inspection Service
• Coating Service
• Re-sharpening Service
• Bespoke Design Service
• Reverse Engineering Service
• Stockholding Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 100 years of continuous operation and industry leadership
• +1 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Profilator GmbhcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Joint project collaboration with Profilator Gmbh in 2014, leading to the acquisition of a Schneeberger machine for precision grinding of Carbide Power Skiving Tools. This partnership enhanced Dathan's manufacturing capabilities for advanced power skiving technology.
• MTA (Manufacturing Technologies Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDathan exhibited under the MTA umbrella in the UK Village at CIMT Beijing, using the joint exhibition space to increase visibility in the China region with support from the UK trade association.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Profilator GmbH: Profilator is a German machine tool and tooling specialist that has collaborated with Dathan on power skiving technology. It operates in adjacent gear cutting technology space and is a relevant emerging peer in advanced skiving tools.

Direct peers

• Star SU LLC: Star SU supplies cutting tools including hobs, shaper cutters, gear milling cutters, and skiving tools, with a strong North American presence. Direct competitor in the special gear cutting tool segment.
• Gleason Corporation: Gleason is a global leader in gear technology, manufacturing gear cutting machines, gear cutting tools (hobs, shaper cutters, skiving tools), and related design software. It is the most direct competitor to Dathan in gear shaper cutters and bevel generating cutters.
• Klingelnberg: Klingelnberg produces bevel gear cutting machines, cylindrical gear cutting tools (hobs, shaper cutters), and gear measuring equipment. It directly competes with Dathan in precision gear cutting tools for aerospace and automotive customers.

Broad incumbents

• Liebherr (Gear Cutting Machines): Liebherr manufactures gear cutting machines (LCS, LH, LFG series) and supplies associated tooling. As a large industrial conglomerate, it competes with Dathan at the integrated machine-plus-tool level but is a much broader industrial group.
• Kennametal: Kennametal manufactures metal cutting tools including gear hobs and milling tools for industrial customers. It is a broad incumbent serving similar aerospace and automotive end markets as Dathan.
• FFG (FFG Werke / MAG): FFG is a global machine tool group including gear cutting machine builders. It competes with Dathan in the broader gear manufacturing market through its integrated machine and tooling solutions.
• Walter Tools: Walter Tools produces precision cutting tools for metalworking, including gear cutting solutions. Competitor in the broader metal cutting tool market serving industrial and automotive customers.
• Sandvik Coromant: Sandvik Coromant is a global cutting tool giant offering gear hobs, milling cutters, and a wide metalworking tooling portfolio. It serves similar aerospace and automotive customers as Dathan but as a broad-line supplier rather than a specialty gear cutting tool manufacturer.
• Mitsubishi Materials (Cutting Tools): Mitsubishi Materials manufactures a wide range of cutting tools including gear hobs and skiving tools. As a major Japanese conglomerate, it competes with Dathan in aerospace and automotive gear cutting applications across multiple geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Dathan Tool & Gauge