Automatic Feed Company
Automatic Feed Company (AFCO) is a Napoleon, Ohio-based designer and manufacturer of coil processing machinery and full-line systems for automotive OEMs and Tier 1 stamping suppliers, operating as a subsidiary of Nidec Press & Automation with patented LaserCoil laser blanking technology and an in-house software/automation stack.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1949
- HeadquartersNapoleon, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Automatic Feed Company does
Automatic Feed Company (AFCO) is a US-based designer and manufacturer of coil processing machinery and systems, founded in 1949 and headquartered in Napoleon, Ohio. It operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nidec Press & Automation, with a 168,000 sq. ft. vertically integrated manufacturing facility that handles design, fabrication, machining, assembly, inspection and 24/7 field service. The product portfolio spans individual equipment modules — cassette levelers, straighteners, precision stackers, washers, uncoilers, oscillating dies, oscillating shears, in-die conveyors, bundle turnovers, and scrap systems — and complete full-line systems for high-speed blanking, cut-to-length, progressive die, close-coupled, heavy gauge, and patented LaserCoil laser blanking applications. Underlying technology includes AC servo-driven oscillating dies and shears, a SMART/Distributed Device Architecture control philosophy, multi-PLC integration (Rockwell, Siemens, Mitsubishi, Omron among others), the proprietary LaserCoil dual-head laser blanking platform (patented in the US, Japan, and China), and the AIM manufacturing management software.
AFCO's commercial model is enterprise field sales directly to automotive OEMs and Tier 1 stamping suppliers — including GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Toyota Georgetown, Samuel, Tsusho, WSP, and TAI — augmented by steel service center customers such as Serviacero. Revenue is generated through one-time capital equipment sales, aftermarket services and parts, equipment retrofits/upgrades, and (more recently) subscription-style AIM Software and LaserCoil CAM licensing. Distribution is exclusively direct with no reseller channel; pricing is custom-quoted per specification. The company maintains ISO 9001:2015 certification, holds CMTSE-credentialed sales engineers, and runs a STEM talent pipeline through the Northwest Ohio Learning Center joint venture. In November 2025, AFCO announced a merger with Nidec CHS to consolidate coil line operations under one comprehensive supplier, with the Macomb, MI facility slated for closure by March 31, 2026.
Automatic Feed Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Automatic Feed Company
- Legal name
- Nidec Automatic Feed Company
- Website
- https://automaticfeed.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1949
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Automatic Feed Company (AFCO) is a Napoleon, Ohio-based designer and manufacturer of coil processing machinery and full-line systems for automotive OEMs and Tier 1 stamping suppliers, operating as a subsidiary of Nidec Press & Automation with patented LaserCoil laser blanking technology and an in-house software/automation stack.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Automatic Feed Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial coil processing machinery and pressroom automation equipment
- NAICS
- Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (3333)
- SIC
- Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Process & Batch Control Software (Recipe Management, ISA-88) (IMAGABAH)
Keywords
Where Automatic Feed Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Napoleon
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Automatic Feed Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Coil Processing Equipment: Design and manufacture of custom coil processing machinery including full production lines (blanking, cut-to-length, laser blanking, heavy gauge, progressive die) and individual equipment (levelers, stackers, uncoilers, shears, dies). One-time capital equipment sales with custom engineering per customer specifications.
- Aftermarket Services and Parts: Field service, repairs, preventive maintenance, training, parts supply, and remote diagnostics for both AFCO and non-AFCO equipment. Includes rebuilds, retrofits, upgrades, and calibration services.
- Equipment Retrofits and Upgrades: Vacuum retrofits, electrical upgrades, cassette upgrades, and control system modernizations that extend equipment life and add new functionality.
- AIM Software Solutions: Enterprise software for factory floor control and monitoring, recipe management, and production reporting. Software licensing and support services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom Equipment Solutions |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Automatic Feed Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Automatic Feed Company (AFCO) designs, engineers, and manufactures custom coil processing machinery and complete pressroom systems for the automotive and steel industries. The offering spans individual equipment modules (cassette levelers, straighteners, stackers, uncoilers, oscillating dies and shears, washers, conveyors) and integrated full-line systems (high-speed blanking, cut-to-length, progressive die, close-coupled, heavy gauge, and patented laser blanking lines), supported by AIM manufacturing management software, Controls & Automation engineering, and aftermarket service, parts, and retrofits.
Product overview
Automatic Feed Company (AFCO) is a designer and manufacturer of coil processing machinery and systems, operating as part of Nidec Press & Automation. The product portfolio consists of modular individual equipment components (cassette levelers, straighteners, stackers, washers, uncoilers, dies, shears, conveyors, bundle turnovers, scrap systems) and complete full-line processing systems (high-speed blanking, cut-to-length, progressive die, close-coupled, heavy gauge, and laser blanking lines). The offering also includes the Pro Series compact coil feed lines for Tier suppliers, the LaserCoil patented laser blanking technology with CAM software, and the AIM manufacturing management software platform. Additionally, AFCO provides rebuilds, retrofits, and upgrades services, as well as Controls & Automation engineering for PLC, HMI, and servo drive systems. The company recently announced a merger with Nidec CHS to form a single comprehensive coil line supplier.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Oscillating dies exceed 80 SPM during actual line run
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Automatic Feed Company
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Automatic Feed Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration12 records
AI capability6 records
Feature6 records
Automatic Feed Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.
- Nidec CHScoreMerger partner within Nidec Press & Automation group. CHS coil handling products will continue to be offered from AFC facility. Production transitioning to Napoleon, Ohio with Macomb MI facility closure by March 31, 2026.
- Northwest Ohio Learning Center for Manufacturing SciencessupportingJoint venture between Automatic Feed, Northwest State Community College, and Napoleon Area City Schools. Located at AFCO headquarters, provides hands-on STEM education in engineering technologies, print-reading, manufacturing processes, and industrial computing. Aims to address manufacturing skills shortage and inspire youth toward manufacturing careers.
- LaserCoil Technologies LLCcoreFormed in 2011, LaserCoil provides metal fabricating systems featuring patented laser cutting technology for blanks from coil in aluminum, mild steel, AHSS and other materials. Technology originated from Automatic Feed Company based on over half a decade of research and successful production runs. Serves as affiliate company expanding AFCO's laser blanking capabilities.
- High Production Technologies LLC (HPT)minorFounded in 1997, HPT originally produced advanced material handling pressroom automation. Over past half-decade focused on energy sector, specifically manufacturing advanced linear rod pumps (LRP) for oil fields to replace less efficient horse-head style pumps.
- Northwest State Community CollegesupportingPublic two-year college providing technical education programs. Partners with AFCO on STEM program offering college credits and manufacturing technology training.
- Napoleon Area City SchoolssupportingLocal school district partnering with AFCO and NSCC on STEM program. Students receive high school credit and community college credits through the learning center at AFCO headquarters.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Automatic Feed Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bystronic: Global supplier of laser cutting, bending, and automation solutions for sheet metal processing with significant automotive exposure. Broader incumbent competitor to AFCO's LaserCoil laser blanking systems with wider product portfolio and global service network.
- TRUMPF: Global market leader in industrial laser technology, machine tools, and automation including laser cutting systems used in automotive blanking. Competes with AFCO in laser blanking from coil and is a much larger incumbent with global service footprint.
- Schuler Group: Leading global supplier of press automation, press lines, and coil feeding systems for the automotive industry. Direct competitor to AFCO in coil-fed press lines and stamping automation for automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.
- Fagor Arrasate: Spanish-headquartered supplier of presses, automation, and coil processing systems for automotive, metal processing, and heavy industry. Comparable to AFCO in coil-fed blanking and cut-to-length line scope with broader European automotive footprint.
Others
- Goudsmit Magnetics: European manufacturer of magnetic systems used in metal handling and stacking applications. Comparable as a component/technology supplier whose magnets are integrated into AFCO's precision stacker technology (switchable vacuum zones and permanent magnets).
Direct peers
- The Bradbury Group: Manufacturer of coil processing lines, levelers, CTL systems, and roll forming equipment for metal building products, automotive, and general industry. Directly comparable to AFCO in coil processing machinery and OEM-supplier business model.
- Herr-Voss Stamco: Designer and manufacturer of coil processing equipment including levelers, CTL lines, blanking lines, and tension leveling systems for steel service centers and automotive customers. Closely comparable to AFCO in target segments and product categories (levelers, blanking, cut-to-length).
- Braner USA (Atlas Technologies): Manufacturer of coil processing and roll forming equipment including slitting, cut-to-length, blanking, and leveler systems. Direct competitor to AFCO in the heavy-gauge coil processing and stamping line equipment space.
- Red Bud Industries: US-based manufacturer of coil processing equipment including blanking lines, cut-to-length lines, and multi-blanking systems serving the steel service center and automotive stamping markets. Directly comparable to AFCO in product scope (blanking, CTL, precision stackers) and customer base (automotive stampers, service centers).
Regional players
- Pannier Corporation: US-based manufacturer of industrial marking, finishing, and material handling equipment with limited overlap in coil processing. Adjacent peer relevant to AFCO's bundling of scrap handling, conveyance, and auxiliary pressroom equipment.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Automatic Feed Company social profiles
Digital presenceAutomatic Feed Company compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Automatic Feed Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Automatic Feed Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Automatic Feed Company subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Automatic Feed Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Automatic Feed Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Automatic Feed Company
What does Automatic Feed Company do?
Automatic Feed Company (AFCO) designs, engineers, and manufactures custom coil processing machinery and complete pressroom systems for the automotive and steel industries. The offering spans individual equipment modules (cassette levelers, straighteners, stackers, uncoilers, oscillating dies and shears, washers, conveyors) and integrated full-line systems (high-speed blanking, cut-to-length, progressive die, close-coupled, heavy gauge, and patented laser blanking lines), supported by AIM manufacturing management software, Controls & Automation engineering, and aftermarket service, parts, and retrofits.
Is Automatic Feed Company a public or private company?
Automatic Feed Company is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Automatic Feed Company founded?
Automatic Feed Company was founded in 1949. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Automatic Feed Company based?
Automatic Feed Company is headquartered in Napoleon, United States, in the North America region.
How does Automatic Feed Company make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Custom Coil Processing Equipment is the primary driver. The others are aftermarket Services and Parts, equipment Retrofits and Upgrades and AIM Software Solutions.
Who are Automatic Feed Company's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bystronic, TRUMPF, Schuler Group and Fagor Arrasate. Goudsmit Magnetics is listed as an others. Direct peers are The Bradbury Group, Herr-Voss Stamco, Braner USA (Atlas Technologies) and Red Bud Industries. Pannier Corporation is listed as a regional player.
Does Automatic Feed Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for Automatic Feed Company.
What industry is Automatic Feed Company in?
Automatic Feed Company's product category is Industrial coil processing machinery and pressroom automation equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGABAH, Process & Batch Control Software (Recipe Management, ISA-88). Its NAICS code is 334513 and its SIC code is 3559.