Gilchrist Metal Fabricating

What Gilchrist Metal Fabricating does

Gilchrist Metal Fabricating Company (GMFCO) is a privately held, third-generation family-owned industrial manufacturer founded in 1975 in Hudson, New Hampshire. The company operates from a 70,000 sq. ft. facility (expanded from an original 13,000 sq. ft. footprint) and provides large-scale custom metal fabrication and CNC machining services, with particular specialization in oversized components — including parts up to 275 inches long, 157 inches wide, 96 inches high, and 44,000 lbs. Its capabilities span multi-axis CNC milling, boring, turning, laser and plasma cutting, press brake forming up to 750 tons, and MIG/TIG/robotic welding, all under one roof with in-house quality assurance backed by ISO 9001:2015, AISC, and ITAR certifications.

GMFCO serves industrial B2B customers across at least eight verticals — defense and military, construction and architecture, power generation, food processing and pulp/paper, semiconductor and industrial machinery, marine and transportation, oil and gas, and broadcasting/communications — and maintains an explicit policy that no single industry exceeds 20% of annual sales. The customer base includes Bechtel (recognized for nuclear and defense supply chain performance), the Federal Reserve, Mohegan Sun, Smith's Center in Las Vegas (~$1M architectural stainless package), and a major Boston financial institution for signage. The company earned SBA Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certification in April 2025, opening access to set-aside federal contracting.

The business model is quote-based, project-driven, direct enterprise sales with no resellers or distributors; revenue is generated per machined part or fabrication project from short-run job-shop work through long-run KanBan production contracts. The company is led by President Jack Gilchrist, holds 11-50 employees, has no external institutional investors or funding rounds on record, and pursues continuous yearly equipment and capability additions as its primary growth mechanism. A 2017 co-location with Modern Metal Solutions adds architectural metal detailing capability, supporting deeper penetration into the construction and architecture vertical.

Name

Gilchrist Metal Fabricating

Legal name

Gilchrist Metal Fabricating Co., Inc.

Website

https://gmfco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gilchrist Metal Fabricating (GMFCO) is a third-generation, family-owned industrial manufacturer in Hudson, NH specializing in large-scale custom CNC machining and metal fabrication (up to 275" and 44,000 lbs) for defense, construction, power, semiconductor, and architectural customers nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Metal Fabrication Services

NAICS

Machine Shops (332710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

CNC Machine Tools (Turning, Milling, Machining Centers) (IMAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping) (IMAHADAC), Metal Airframe Structures & Machined Parts (IMABAEAC)

Keywords

• Custom metal fabrication
• Large CNC machining
• Industrial welding services
• Heavy metal manufacturing
• Structural metal fabrication

Headquarters

HQ city

Hudson

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, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Metal Fabrication Services: Job-shop style custom metal fabrication services ranging from simple job-shop requirements to long-run KanBan production projects. Services include cutting, bending, forming, welding, and assembly. Revenue is generated on a per-project basis with quotes provided based on specifications, complexity, and volume.
2. CNC Machining Services: Precision CNC machining including boring, milling, and turning services for large components. The company handles both short-run and long-run production with KanBan manufacturing systems, charging per machined part or project based on complexity and specifications.
3. Contract Assembly Services: Full assembly services for customers seeking consolidated supply chain solutions, providing end-to-end manufacturing from fabrication through assembly and shipping.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

GMFCO delivers large custom metal fabrication and CNC machining services for industrial customers, including cutting, bending, forming, welding, and assembly of oversized components. Operations are housed in a 70,000 sq. ft. Hudson, NH facility equipped with multi-axis machining centers, robotic welding, and laser/plasma cutting systems capable of parts up to 275 inches long and 44,000 lbs. The company serves defense, construction, power generation, semiconductor, marine, and other industrial sectors through quote-based, project-specific engagements.

Product overview

Gilchrist Metal Fabricating Company (GMFCO) is a precision metal fabrication and machining services provider offering a comprehensive suite of manufacturing capabilities under one roof at its 70,000 sq. ft. facility in Hudson, NH. The company's core offerings include Large Custom Metal Fabrication Services and CNC Machining Services, with specialized capabilities in Large CNC Machining (handling parts up to 275" x 157" x 96" and 44,000 lbs), CNC Turning and Boring, CNC Milling Services, Metal Cutting Services (laser, plasma, shearing), Metal Bending and Forming (up to 750 tons), and Welding Services (MIG, TIG, and Robotic Welding). GMFCO also offers specialty services including Architectural Fabrication, Stainless Steel Fabrication, Aluminum Fabrication, Machine Frame Fabrication, and Large Metal Fabrication for oversized projects. The company serves diverse industries ranging from defense and aerospace to construction, architecture, marine, and power generation, with a focus on precision tolerances and quality assurance backed by ISO 9001:2015 certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Large Custom Metal Fabrication Services

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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 minor and core.

• Mechanical Mayhem (FIRST Robotics)minorOthers · 1 January 2017GMFCO sponsored the Mechanical Mayhem FIRST Robotics team, a Milford Area Homeschoolers team that qualified for the national quarterfinals in St. Louis. The partnership supports STEM education and workforce development in manufacturing and engineering careers.
• Modern Metal SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Modern Metal Solutions, led by nationally known architectural metal detailer Chris Aubrey, operates from GMFCO's Hudson, NH facility. The partnership provides comprehensive architectural metal consulting services, detailed shop drawings, and specialized expertise for complex architectural fabrications, enhancing GMFCO's construction industry capabilities.
• GoGreenRacing.net (GGR)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2012GMFCO partnered with GoGreenRacing.net to sponsor their #39 Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The partnership was designed for recruitment outreach to attract skilled welders, leveraging racing's appeal to machinery enthusiasts. The #39 Mustang was driven by Matt Frahm at events including New Hampshire Motor Speedway and O'Reilly Raceway Park.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Worthington Industries: Worthington Industries is a large diversified industrial manufacturer producing steel processing, pressure cylinders, and custom metal fabrication for industrial, automotive, and construction customers. It is comparable to GMFCO on custom metal fabrication and end-market overlap, though it operates at vastly greater scale across a wider portfolio.
• Hurco Companies: Hurco Companies is a US-based manufacturer of CNC machining centers, turning centers, and control software used by metalworking shops worldwide. It is comparable to GMFCO as part of the broader metalworking-machinery ecosystem and serves many of the same contract manufacturer and job-shop customers with overlapping end markets.
• Standex International: Standex International is a multi-segment industrial manufacturer including engineered components, metal fabrication, and specialty products serving industrial, aerospace, and energy customers. It is comparable to GMFCO on custom metal components manufacturing and shared end markets, while operating across a much broader portfolio.
• TriMas Corporation: TriMas is a diversified industrial manufacturer whose segments include custom metal fabricated components for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. It overlaps GMFCO on defense- and aerospace-adjacent metal components and is comparable as a broader incumbent in similar end markets.

Direct peers

• Major Tool & Machine: Major Tool & Machine is an Indianapolis-based precision machining and fabrication shop specializing in large-format components for aerospace, defense, and energy. It is closely comparable to GMFCO on large-format machined parts, defense customer exposure, and ITAR-disciplined operations.
• Xometry: Xometry operates an on-demand manufacturing marketplace aggregating CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, and other services for industrial buyers. It is comparable to GMFCO as a competing channel for outsourced custom metal parts, with similar end markets and a marketplace extension of the job-shop model.
• Protolabs: Protolabs is an on-demand digital manufacturing services provider offering CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, and related services to industrial buyers. It directly overlaps GMFCO on CNC machining and custom metal fabrication for industrial and defense customers, though it operates a software-driven, automated model at much larger scale.
• MetalTek International: MetalTek International is a US custom metal components manufacturer offering sand castings, investment castings, centrifugal castings, and machining services. It overlaps GMFCO on custom metal component manufacturing for industrial, defense, and power-generation OEMs with similar quality certifications and engineering-to-order workflows.
• Haynes International: Haynes International is a US manufacturer of high-performance nickel- and cobalt-based alloys and related components for aerospace, chemical processing, and industrial gas turbines. It is comparable to GMFCO as a specialty metal products supplier serving defense and industrial OEMs, though it operates upstream in alloy production rather than as a job shop.
• BTD Manufacturing: BTD Manufacturing is a Minnesota-based custom metal stamping, fabrication, and machining services provider serving industrial OEMs. It is comparable to GMFCO as a mid-market contract metal fabricator offering large-format custom work across OEM end markets, with a similar job-shop-plus-program-production operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gilchristmetal
• Facebookfacebook.com/GilchristMetalFabricating
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gilchrist-metal-fabricating-co

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Gilchrist Metal Fabricating