KAD Models & Prototypes, Inc.

What KAD Models & Prototypes, Inc. does

KAD Models & Prototypes, Inc. is a privately held, founder-owned precision manufacturing services company incorporated in California in 2011 by Brian Kippen and John Dove. It operates two physical production sites — a headquarters in Alameda, CA (former Listo Pencil Factory) and an East Coast facility in East Randolph, VT (former L.W. Greenwood and Sons building, opened 2021) — providing CNC machining, silicone molding, urethane casting, mechanical assembly, and a suite of in-house finishing services (powder coating, anodizing, citric acid passivation, media blasting, tumbling, laser engraving). Technical capability spans 3-axis and 5-axis CNC (Matsuura MX-850 vertical machining center added 2021), with documented part-size range from sub-grain-of-rice micro components to a 128-inch large part, and material breadth spanning aluminum/steel alloys, engineering plastics, and exotic metals (Inconel, Tungsten, titanium, magnesium).

The company sells on a project-based, custom-quote model with free consultations and a stated 2-hour rapid-response SLA, distributing directly through its website quote system, phone/email, and walk-in consultations at both facilities. Customers are concentrated in medical devices, consumer electronics/devices, automotive, and alternative energy, with named enterprise logos including Tesla, Google, Medtronic, Bio-Rad, Square, and CamelBak, plus testimonial customers in motorsports and wireless energy. A Pay It Forward Prototype Program (PIFPP) provides discounted prototyping to qualifying social-impact organizations. Marketing is content-led through the KAD Blog and Instagram, targeting top-of-funnel education. No external funding, PE/VC backers, or parent company is disclosed; growth and the 2021–2022 capability expansion cycle appear self-financed from operating cash flow.

Name

KAD Models & Prototypes, Inc.

Legal name

KAD Models and Prototypes, Inc.

Website

https://kadmodels.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KAD Models & Prototypes is a privately held precision CNC machining and silicone molding shop operating two U.S. facilities (Alameda, CA and East Randolph, VT), serving enterprise and mid-market customers in medical devices, automotive, consumer electronics, and alternative energy with rapid-turn prototyping and bridge-to-production services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Contract Manufacturing & Prototyping

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering Prototype Builds (Form/Fit/Function) (IMAAAFAB)

Keywords

• Precision CNC machining
• Silicone molding services
• Urethane casting services
• Prototype manufacturing
• 5-axis machining services

Headquarters

HQ city

Alameda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. CNC Machining Services: Precision CNC machining of complex parts using various materials including metals, plastics, and exotic materials. Project-based one-time manufacturing services.
2. Silicone Molding: Quick-turn silicone molding services producing parts in quantities from less than 5 to several thousand units using in-house tooling
3. Urethane Casting: Low-volume plastic part production when machining is cost prohibitive, duplicating machined or supplied patterns
4. Finishing Services: Secondary operations including media blasting, painting, powder coating, anodizing, tumbling, laser engraving, and hardware integration

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KAD Models & Prototypes is a precision contract manufacturer that produces custom prototype and low-volume production parts via CNC machining, quick-turn silicone molding with in-house tooling, and urethane casting. The company supports clients from initial design iteration through bridge-to-production volumes, complemented by in-house finishing operations such as powder coating, passivation, tumbling, and laser engraving. It serves enterprises across medical devices, automotive, consumer electronics, and clean energy sectors, with manufacturing facilities in California and Vermont.

Product overview

KAD Models & Prototypes is a precision manufacturing service provider offering a integrated suite of prototyping and low-volume production services. The core offerings consist of CNC Machining, Silicone Molding, and Urethane Casting, supported by finishing services (media blasting, powder coating, anodizing, tumbling), mechanical assembly, and specialized capabilities including 5-axis CNC machining (Matsuura MX-850), custom laser engraving (OmTech 30W Fiber Laser Marker), and citric acid passivation. The company also operates the Pay It Forward Prototype Program (PIFPP), a social impact initiative providing discounted prototyping services for qualifying organizations serving underserved populations. KAD works with diverse materials including aluminum alloys, stainless steels, exotic metals (Inconel, Tungsten, titanium, magnesium), plastics, and wood. The company maintains two locations in California (Alameda) and Vermont (East Randolph) to serve clients across the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CNC Machining Precision CNC machining service for complex parts where precision is critical, supporting iterative prototyping for new products across engineering plastics, aluminum and steel alloys, and exotic metals such as Inconel, Tungsten, and titanium.
• Silicone Molding Quick-turn silicone molding service with in-house tooling fabrication, producing production-quality parts in quantities from less than 5 to several thousand using RTV, LIM, and HCR materials, supporting thin walls, precision insert molding, and complex over-molding.
• Urethane Casting Low-volume production of plastic parts when machining is cost prohibitive, duplicating machined or client-supplied patterns using a large selection of materials with various physical characteristics.
• Finishing Services Comprehensive finishing treatments including media blasting (sandblasting), painting, powder coating, anodizing, tumbling, laser engraving, and hardware integration, available in-house for faster turnaround.
• Mechanical Assembly Complete system assembly, tooling assembly, hardware integration, and STI, fasteners and dowel pin installation, supporting transition from prototype to production.
• 5-Axis CNC Machining Advanced 5-axis CNC machining service using the Matsuura MX-850 vertical machining center, enabling production of complex geometries with tight tolerances and exceptional speed for large, bulky parts.
• Custom Laser Engraving In-house laser engraving service using the OmTech 30W Fiber Laser Marker, offering marking, engraving, etching, and indelible inking capabilities.
• Citric Acid Passivation for Small Parts In-house passivation treatment for small parts using citric acid, a chemical treatment that improves corrosion resistance.
• Pay It Forward Prototype Program (PIFPP) Community program empowering qualifying organizations and individuals to carry out ideas that make a positive impact on underserved, vulnerable, and special needs populations; approved projects receive prototype production at material cost or deeply discounted rates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,800+ prototypes manufactured per year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Vulcan Industries: Vulcan Industries is a precision CNC machining and fabrication job shop serving the Midwest US, comparable to KAD's regional job-shop model with custom prototyping and production services for industrial customers.
• Somerset Machine Shop: Somerset Machine Shop is a precision CNC machining and prototyping job shop serving the Northeast US, providing comparable bridge-production and complex-geometry services to KAD's Vermont-side customers.

Broad incumbents

• Xometry: Xometry operates an on-demand manufacturing marketplace spanning CNC machining, sheet metal, injection molding, and urethane casting. It directly overlaps KAD's custom prototyping and bridge-production service lines via its Instant Quoting Engine and distributed supplier network.
• Hubs (by Protolabs): Hubs is a global on-demand manufacturing platform offering CNC, 3D printing, injection molding, and finishing services. It competes head-on with KAD for prototype and low-volume production work, particularly from startups and SMBs.
• Protolabs: Protolabs is the largest digital manufacturer offering CNC machining, injection molding, urethane casting, and 3D printing with instant online quoting. It is the dominant scaled incumbent in the on-demand prototype and low-volume production market where KAD competes.

Direct peers

• Plethora: Plethora is a San Francisco-based precision CNC machining and prototyping shop serving Bay Area hardware companies, directly overlapping KAD's California customer base and complex-part service offering.
• HLH Prototypes: HLH Prototypes is a global rapid prototyping and low-volume manufacturing provider offering CNC machining, vacuum casting, and finishing for industrial and consumer clients. It is comparable to KAD in service breadth and customer segment focus.
• Quickparts: Quickparts offers custom prototyping and low-volume production including CNC machining, injection molding, urethane casting, and 3D printing. Its quick-turn prototype focus mirrors KAD's 3–5 day standard turnaround positioning.
• Fictiv: Fictiv provides custom CNC machining, 3D printing, injection molding, and urethane casting with an online quoting platform similar to KAD's Paperless Parts workflow. It serves many of the same hardware-startup and enterprise customers in medical devices, robotics, and consumer electronics.

Emerging players

• Star Rapid: Star Rapid is a China-based rapid prototyping and low-volume production manufacturer offering CNC machining, injection molding, and finishing. It competes with KAD on price for prototypes in metal and plastic, particularly for US hardware startups.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/kadmodels

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 KAD Models & Prototypes, Inc.