Lester Detterbeck Enterprises

What Lester Detterbeck Enterprises does

Lester Detterbeck Enterprises Ltd. is a privately held, family-owned precision tooling manufacturer headquartered in Iron River, Michigan. Founded with industry ties spanning over 100 years across the Detterbeck family, the company designs and manufactures cams, special tooling, blanks, and tool holders for automatic screw machines, turret lathes, and CNC lathes. It operates through three product divisions: B&S Machine Services (original Brown & Sharpe and Traub screw machine replacement parts and collets), Boyar-Schultz SMT (tooling and parts for NC lathes, turret lathes, screw machines, and automatics, including the RAPI-CHANGE quick-change tooling system), and Brown-Sharpe SMT (standard tool holders for screw machines, leveraging the 1833-founded Brown & Sharpe brand). A separate Lester Detterbeck Ltd. unit produces Davenport-specific tooling.

The company's core products include cam blanks (ground from mild steel with locating hole and graduated into 100 sectors), cam ground end working tools in HSS and carbide, radial and cam axial relieved tools, precision dovetail form tool blanks (including C2 carbide-tipped variants on 4140 hardened bodies), circular form tool blanks, adjustable drill and reamer holders, cross slide knurling tools, roller rests, spring collets, feeding fingers, tap holders, and back rests. Technical differentiators include tight-tolerance manufacturing (e.g., .0001 T.I.R. concentricity on cam rolls and pins), proprietary relief grinding processes that extend resharpening life, and one of the largest in-stock selections of precision ground dovetails on the market. The firm also offers in-house tool retipping and resharpening services, which provides customers a lower-cost alternative to purchasing new tools.

Revenue is generated primarily through direct sales of tooling products, replacement parts, and professional retipping/resharpening services. Pricing is predominantly quote-based ('Price On Application'), with sales conducted via toll-free phone (1-800-533-3328), email ([email protected]), fax, and downloadable order forms. Customer segments are horizontal by use case: screw machine operators, CNC lathe operators, and turret lathe operators in the Midwest USA manufacturing belt. The company is family-owned, employs 11-50 people, and has no disclosed external investment, M&A activity, or geographic expansion initiatives.

Name

Lester Detterbeck Enterprises

Legal name

Lester Detterbeck Enterprises Ltd.

Website

https://lesterdetterbeck.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lester Detterbeck Enterprises is a family-owned precision tooling manufacturer in Iron River, Michigan, producing cam blanks, tool holders, dovetail blanks, and original Brown & Sharpe and Traub replacement parts for screw machine, turret lathe, and CNC lathe operators in the Midwest USA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Machining Tooling

NAICS

Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing (333515), Machine Tool Manufacturing (333517)

SIC

Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541), Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Precision machining tooling
• Screw machine tooling
• Cam ground tools
• Tool holders holders
• CNC lathe tooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Iron River

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tooling Products Sales: Sale of precision machining tools including cam ground end working tools, circular tools, dovetail tools, and form tool blanks. Products are sold as finished tools or blanks for customer finishing. Revenue generated through one-time product sales with replacement parts and consumables driving repeat business.
2. Replacement Parts: Replacement parts and collets for Brown & Sharpe screw machines and Traub machines. Includes spring collets, feeding fingers, cam rolls and pins, and various machine components. Consumable/replacement nature drives ongoing revenue from established customer base.
3. Tool Retipping and Resharpening Services: Complete tool retipping and resharpening services for customer tools, offering significant savings compared to purchasing new tools. Provides recurring service revenue from existing customer base.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Lester Detterbeck Enterprises designs and manufactures precision machining tooling, including cam ground end working tools, dovetail form and shave tools, circular form tools, and specialty tool holders used in automatic screw machines, turret lathes, and CNC lathes. The company also supplies original Brown & Sharpe and Traub replacement parts and collets through its B&S Machine Services division, and offers in-house retipping and resharpening services for customer tools.

Product overview

Lester Detterbeck Enterprises is a designer and manufacturer of cams, special tooling, blanks, and tool holders with over 100 years of industry experience. The company operates through three main divisions: B&S Machine Services (Brown & Sharpe and Traub replacement parts), Boyar-Schultz SMT (tooling for NC lathes, turret lathes, and screw machines), and Brown-Sharpe SMT (tool holders for screw machines). The portfolio includes cam blanks, adjustable drill holders, knurling tools, roller rests, back rests, tap holders, dovetail tools, feeding fingers, spring collets, RAPI-CHANGE tooling systems, and specialized tools for Davenport machines. Products are used in automatic screw machines, turret lathes, and CNC lathes for turning, drilling, milling, knurling, and thread rolling operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• B&S Machine Services: Provides original Brown & Sharpe Screw Machine Replacement Parts and Collets, along with Traub Replacement Parts.
• Boyar-Schultz SMT
• Brown-Sharpe SMT

Products and services

• Cam Blanks Cam blanks for use on automatic screw machines, furnished for lead, cross section, and vertical slide attachment cams. Made from mild steel with locating hole, bored, turned, and graduated into 100 sectors for screw machine operators.
• Model DRH Adjustable Drill & Reamer Holder Adjustable holders for holding drills, reamers, and other cutting tools in screw machines, turret lathes, and CNC lathes. Precision holder adjustable to accurately align cutting tool with workpiece.
• Model SK Cross Slide Knurling Tool Cross slide knurling tools used on single-spindle and multi-spindle screw machines, turret lathes, and CNC lathes. Features floating, self-centering design to compensate for center misalignment.
• No. 230 Back Rests for Swing Tools and Slide Tools Back rests held in shanks of external swing tools, knurling swing tools, and slide tools to support workpiece during operation. Feature V on both ends for full capacity with a single set of rests.
• Copper Head Lap Sleeves Replaceable copper sleeves for copper head laps. Designed to wear longer than other sleeves on the market, reducing replacement costs.
• Model DCR Retrofit Kit Retrofit kit allowing conversion of older Model D floating holder. Nosepiece assembly fits current holder and can be converted in customer's plant in less than three minutes.
• Recessing Tool Blank Made of hardened high-speed steel, used to cut a groove in the I.D. or to recess the back end of a part before cut-off. Adaptable to single and multiple-spindle screw machines, CNC lathes, and engine lathes.
• No. 64 Drilling and Chamfering Tools Combine drilling and chamfering operations to save set-up and production time. Drill held by bushing in adjustable head similar to No. 65 Adjustable Tool Holder.
• Model 70MRDA Oscillating Drilling Tool Deep-hole drilling tool with oscillating action that breaks chips into fine granules, eliminating chip problems and providing longer drill life through cooler running.
• RAPI-CHANGE Tap Holders (Tension-Compression) Part of the RAPI-CHANGE Tooling System. Quick and simple low-cost way to boost productivity and increase machine utilization.
• Cam Rolls and Pins B&S cam rolls and pins providing even wear through accuracy and high concentricity. Feature concentricity of .0001 T.I.R. for exact cross and turret slide motion, with chrome-plated pins for less friction.
• Adjustable V-Jaw Tool Holder Holds any size tool within range securely (fraction, decimal, letter or number, English or Metric). Centers tools accurately with precision capabilities of Toolmaker's V-Block, with V square to face within .003 inches.
• Skive Tool Holder Can be used on either front or back cross slide by changing position of two nuts. Permits setting tool within few thousandths of collet and first holder to permit rolling tool to correct or straighten diameters.
• No. 105 Adjustable Releasing Tap Holder Releasing tap holders with clutch mechanism that releases tap when required depth is reached. Work well in hand-operated machines and on automatic machines; convertible to left-hand tapping.
• Model 3RR Roller Rest Three-roller rest for screw machines, turret lathes, and CNC lathes. Provides more stability and less chatter. Rollers individually adjustable to compensate for workpiece misalignment and wear.
• Dovetail Form Tool Blanks Precision ground dovetails offering one of largest in-stock selections on the market. Hard and ground form tools, with soft blanks and bars also available.
• Roller Blocks and Assemblies Box tool components for turrets of screw machines, turret lathes, and CNC lathes. Recommended for turning diameters where straightness, accuracy, and finish are of primary importance.
• No. 83 and 84 Thread Roll Holders B&S Thread Roll Holders in five different sizes to accommodate standard thread rolls. Available for narrow and wide thread rolls, with swivel arrangement that compensates for deflection.
• Slotted Bushing Blank Used in transfer arm of slotting attachments for carrying workpiece from spindle to attachment cutter. Finished to fit transfer arm work holder.
• Side Knurl Holders Single and double knurl holders for cross slides. Side knurl holders held straight on front or back tool posts. Double knurl system provides cleaner straight, diagonal, and diamond knurls.
• Feeding Fingers Constructed with spring tempered steel bodies and hardened bearing sections. Provide positive feeding with long wear for sustained high production.
• Carbide Tipped Dovetail Blanks Highest quality dovetail blanks with C2 grade carbide brazed on 4140 hardened body. Other grades of carbide available upon request for extended wear life.
• Model RR Roller Rest Roller rests for screw machines and turret lathes providing support for workpiece undergoing cross slide operation. Hardened, precision free-turning rollers eliminate galling and marring.
• Knurling Swing Tools Used for knurling behind shoulders and for knurling sections at distance from end of piece. Also for longitudinal knurling and light thread rolling. Carbide pins used for long life.
• No. 100 Adjustable Non-Releasing Tap Holder Pull-out type for use on automatic machines where spindle is reversed automatically. Taps held directly or by bushing, with extra finish weight spring furnished for finish tap pickup.
• Circular Plain Cut-Off Tools Cutoff tools that can also chamfer front end of next part to desired diameter. Designed to break down front end sufficiently to prepare for threading operation.
• Circular Form Tool Blanks All blanks ground both sides with O.D. turned concentric with thread. Standard B&S pinholes can be furnished on any blank.
• RAPI-CHANGE DA and ER Collet Holders Part of the RAPI-CHANGE Tooling System. DA and ER collet holders for various machine sizes and collet ranges.
• RAPI-CHANGE Floating Holder DA Collets Floating holder DA collets as part of the RAPI-CHANGE Tooling System for quick tool changes.
• Davenport CAM Blanks CAM blanks available cut round for Davenport machines.
• Master Feeding Fingers and Pads Master feeding fingers that can be used in place of regular fingers for corresponding sizes. Wrench furnished for inserting or removing pads.
• Spring Collets Designed with high degree of concentricity for precise work. Hold stock accurately and securely with hardened and ground heads. Most round sizes come with concentric rings in I.D.
• Feeding Finger Adapters Workholding solutions for automatic screw machines. Various adapters for reduction from one size to another.
• Davenport Size Tools Size tooling for Davenport machines with various diameters and thread specifications.
• Davenport Size Tool Roll Blanks Rough ground tool roll blanks for Davenport machines in various sizes.
• Davenport Form Tools Form tooling for Davenport machines in 2 inch diameter with 9/16 inch RM and 6-P.H. through specifications.
• RAPI-CHANGE Single-End Holders Part of the RAPI-CHANGE Tooling System. Single-end holders for single and multi-spindle machines allowing simple hand changing of tool types in seconds.
• RAPI-CHANGE Straight Shank Master Holders Part of the RAPI-CHANGE Tooling System. Master holders for single and multi-spindles with simple master nut locking secondary holders into spindle during heavy cutting.
• Slide Tool with Interchangeable Heads Slide tool body with 3 interchangeable heads for recessing, turning, and knurling. Features faster, easier set-up with one-to-one movement ratio and straight-line movement.
• Knee Turners Adjustable knee turners that save production time. Adjust from either side with travel of .125 inches and allow microfine adjustments.
• Model BBMRDA Oscillating Drilling Tool Deep-hole drilling tool with oscillating action breaking chips into fine granules for longer drill life through cooler running.
• No. 165 Combination Right and Left Hand Knee Tools Knee tools for right or left-hand turning by changing blade screws. Adjusting screw permits fine radial adjustment of cutting blade.
• RAPI-CHANGE End Mill/Straight Shank Tool Part of the RAPI-CHANGE Tooling System. End mill and straight shank tools for various applications.
• Model AP Adjustable Pointing Tool Adjustable pointing tools used to point, form, or face end of workpiece. Universal tool for right-or-left-hand operation with adjustable compensation for turret and spindle misalignment.
• Model BT Adjustable Boring Tool Holder Used in screw machines, turret lathes, and CNC lathes for fast set-up when boring from turret. Reversible eccentric bushing permits right or left-hand boring with micrometer adjustment.
• Model G Universal Tool Bit Grinding Fixture Fixture for duplicating any cutting angles for tool bits. Graduated in degrees for grinding right or left-hand tool bits. Holds tool bits from 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
• Screw Machine Cam Rollers and Pins Made of hardened high-alloy steel, precision machined for accuracy necessary for proper operation of screw machines.
• No. 95 Closer for Self-Opening Die Holders For use with all makes of die heads on B&S Closed Bed Automatic Screw Machines. Has longitudinal adjustment for correct positioning.
• Spare Parts Kits Comprehensive spare parts kits including roller and pin assemblies, carbide inserts, carbide shims, chip-breakers, and adjustment screws.
• Dovetail Form Tool Holder Dovetail form tool holder usable on both cross slides and in both spindle directions. Clamps accessible from either side with center line adjusting screw.
• B&S Machine Services Division Division providing original Brown & Sharpe Screw Machine Replacement Parts and Collets, along with Traub Replacement Parts for screw machine operators.
• Boyar-Schultz SMT Division Division offering tooling and parts for NC lathes, turret lathes, screw machines, and automatics, covering all turning, drilling, and milling requirements.
• Brown-Sharpe SMT Division Division providing durable, reliable tool holders for screw machines, widely used in turned parts production. Brown & Sharpe, founded in 1833, sets industry standards.
• Specialty Tooling Line Product line comprising internal and end forming type tools, radial and cam axial relieved tools, circular tools, special dovetail form and shave tools, and carbide insert styling tooling.
• Cams Cam ground end working tools in both HSS and Carbide, designed for automatic screw machines. Includes cam blanks for lead, cross section, and vertical slide attachment cams.
• Davenport Tooling (Lester Detterbeck Ltd.) Produces Davenport tools including CAM blanks, size tools, and form tools for Davenport multi-spindle automatic machines.
• Tool Retipping and Resharpening Service In-house retipping and resharpening service for customer tools, offering significant savings compared to purchasing new tools and providing recurring service revenue from existing customers.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Brown & SharpecoreTechnology or IntegrationBrown & Sharpe, founded in 1833, is a renowned manufacturer of tool holders for screw machines. Lester Detterbeck provides original Brown & Sharpe Screw Machine Replacement Parts and Collets, as well as extensive tooling compatible with Brown & Sharpe equipment. The company also supplies Cam Blanks and various B&S branded tools including thread roll holders, adjustable tool holders, and accessory tooling.
• Boyar-SchultzcoreTechnology or IntegrationBoyar-Schultz SMT (Surface Mount Technology) division provides tooling and parts for NC lathes, turret lathes, screw machines, and automatics. Products include drill and reamer holders, box tools, burnishing/knurling/thread rolling tools, RAPI-CHANGE tooling system, lap tools, roller rests, and dovetail tools. Covers all turning, drilling, and milling requirements for customers.
• TraubcoreTechnology or IntegrationLester Detterbeck provides Traub Replacement Parts through their B&S Machine Services division, supporting customers with machines requiring Traub-compatible components and tooling.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Traub (INDEX Group): German manufacturer of CNC turning machines, sliding headstock automatics, and Traub-branded screw machines, now part of INDEX Group. Comparable to Lester Detterbeck because Lester Detterbeck sells Traub Replacement Parts and tooling compatible with Traub automatic lathes — Traub is both a partner and the original equipment manufacturer for those platforms.
• Sandvik Coromant: Part of Sandvik Group, manufactures cutting tools and tooling systems for metalworking including turning, milling, drilling, and tool holders. Comparable because it sells precision cutting tools and tool holders into the same screw machine, turret lathe, and CNC lathe customers that Lester Detterbeck serves, though at much greater scale and global reach.
• Kennametal: Global manufacturer of metal cutting tools, tooling systems, and wear-resistant solutions serving aerospace, defense, transportation, and general industrial markets. Comparable to Lester Detterbeck because both produce precision metal-cutting tooling (inserts, tool holders, cutting tools) for CNC and turning applications, though Kennametal operates at vastly larger scale and breadth.
• ISCAR Metals: Major manufacturer of metal cutting tools (inserts, end mills, drills, tool holders) used in turning, milling, and grooving operations across CNC and conventional machines. Comparable to Lester Detterbeck as both supply precision cutting tooling for lathe-based machining operations, though ISCAR operates globally with a vastly broader product range.
• Guhring: Manufacturer of rotary cutting tools including drills, taps, reamers, end mills, and tool holders, with strong presence in metalworking industrial markets. Comparable to Lester Detterbeck because both produce precision cutting tools and tool holders for CNC lathes, turret lathes, and screw machines.
• Tornos: Swiss manufacturer of Swiss-type automatic lathes and multi-spindle turning machines, plus related tooling and services. Comparable to Lester Detterbeck because both serve the high-precision turning market with tooling and replacement parts for screw machine and automatic lathe operators.
• Star Micronics (Star CNC): Manufacturer of Swiss-type CNC automatic lathes (Star CNC) used for precision small-diameter part production, along with related tooling. Comparable to Lester Detterbeck as both serve screw machine and automatic lathe operators with precision tooling for high-volume turned parts.

Direct peers

• Sutton Tools: Australian-owned manufacturer of cutting tools including drills, taps, end mills, reamers, and tooling systems. Comparable to Lester Detterbeck as both produce metal cutting tools and tool holders targeting precision machining customers across CNC, turret lathe, and conventional machine applications.
• Davenport Machine: Original manufacturer of Davenport multi-spindle automatic screw machines used in high-volume turned parts production. Comparable because Lester Detterbeck sells a dedicated line of Davenport CAM blanks, size tools, form tools, and dovetail tooling specifically for these machines — Davenport is both a peer and an adjacent ecosystem supplier.

Others

• MSC Industrial Supply: Large MRO and metalworking distributor offering cutting tools, tool holders, workholding, and machine tool accessories from many brands. Comparable to Lester Detterbeck because MSC is a competing purchasing channel for the same screw machine and CNC lathe tooling customers, though as a distributor rather than a manufacturer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LDETooling

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 Lester Detterbeck Enterprises