Cincinnati Testing Laboratories

What Cincinnati Testing Laboratories does

Cincinnati Testing Laboratories operates today as Metcut Research, Inc., a privately held, employee-owned materials testing firm headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1948 and rebranded under the unified Metcut brand in 2024, the company provides full-service materials evaluation and specimen preparation across three facilities: the Rosslyn facility (metallic material testing), the Carillon facility (non-metallic and composite testing, formerly CTL), and Metcut Recherches S.A.S. in Grandchamp-des-Fontaines, France (European market services). Its core offerings include mechanical testing, precision specimen preparation using conventional and non-conventional machining techniques, coating evaluation and certification, and customized test plans and fixtures tailored to specialized customer requirements.

Metcut serves 5,000+ customers across aerospace, space, oil & gas, transportation, and medical device industries, with 300+ dedicated employee-owners operating 300+ mechanical testing machines across 130,000+ sq ft of laboratory and machining space. The technology base is rooted in physical materials science expertise, advanced composite machining capabilities, and proprietary testing methodologies refined over 75+ years, with material property data supplied to both industry and government agencies. Strict customer confidentiality is a stated core value, and the firm does not publicly disclose customer names.

The business model is a professional services / contract testing operation with quote-based pricing tied to the scope and complexity of each engagement. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales targeting OEMs and government entities requiring accredited, specialized testing that cannot be easily insourced. Revenue is generated per-test and per-specimen, with customization driving per-engagement value. The employee-ownership model and cross-vertical diversification across regulated industries provide structural resilience, though no public revenue, growth, or AI/ML capability disclosures are available.

Name

Cincinnati Testing Laboratories

Legal name

Metcut Research, Inc.

Website

https://metcutctl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cincinnati Testing Laboratories, operating as Metcut Research, Inc., is an employee-owned materials testing firm providing mechanical testing, specimen preparation, and coating evaluation services across aerospace, space, oil & gas, transportation, and medical device industries from facilities in Ohio and France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Materials Testing Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services (in-house/contract labs; microbiology, metals, organics) (EUANAJAB)

Keywords

• Materials testing services
• Specimen preparation
• Mechanical testing
• Composite material testing
• Coating evaluation

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Materials Testing Services: Professional testing services for metallic and non-metallic materials, providing accurate and reliable materials evaluation. Services include custom test plans, specimen preparation, and quality certifications for aerospace, space, transportation, energy, and medical industries.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Cincinnati Testing Laboratories (now operating under the Metcut brand as Metcut Research, Inc.) provides physical, thermal, mechanical, and specimen preparation testing services for metallic and non-metallic/composite materials. The firm serves aerospace, space, oil & gas, transportation, and medical device industries with mechanical testing, specimen machining, coating evaluation, and customized test plans and fixtures delivered from facilities in Cincinnati, Ohio and Grandchamp-des-Fontaines, France.

Product overview

Metcut (formerly Cincinnati Testing Laboratories) is a full-service materials testing firm offering comprehensive evaluation and specimen preparation services across three primary facilities. The company operates three locations: Metcut Research Cincinnati – Rosslyn (metallic material testing), Metcut Research Cincinnati – Carillon (non-metallic and composite testing, formerly Cincinnati Testing Laboratories/CTL), and Metcut Recherches in France (European market services). Core offerings include mechanical testing, specimen preparation, coating evaluation, and customized test plans and fixtures. The company serves aerospace, space, oil & gas, transportation, and medical device industries with 300+ dedicated employee-owners and 130,000+ ft2 of laboratory and machining space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Metcut Research Cincinnati – Rosslyn: Facility specializing in metallic material testing and specimen preparation. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
• Metcut Research Cincinnati – Carillon
• Metcut Recherches

Products and services

• Metallic Material Testing Services Mechanical and physical testing services for metallic materials, conducted at the Rosslyn facility using 19+ testing machines and 130,000+ ft2 of laboratory and machining space, serving aerospace, space, transportation, energy, and medical industries.
• Non-Metallic and Composite Testing Services Testing and specimen preparation services for non-metallic and composite materials, including advanced composite machining using both conventional and non-conventional techniques, delivered from the Carillon facility for aerospace, space, transportation, energy, and medical device customers.
• Specimen Preparation Services Precision machining and conditioning services for test specimens using conventional and non-conventional techniques, provided by experienced engineers, technicians, and machinists as a standalone service or in support of mechanical testing programs.
• Coating Evaluation Services Examination, evaluation, and certification of coatings for industrial applications, including transportation industry customers requiring coating quality certification and similar quality assurance programs.
• Custom Test Plans and Fixtures Tailored test plans and custom fixtures designed by experienced engineers and technicians to meet specialized customer needs across medical device, aerospace, and other industrial applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 130,000+ ft2 of laboratory and machining space across three global locations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature5 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC company with materials and commodity testing labs serving aerospace, oil & gas, and industrial clients. Overlaps with Metcut on metallurgical testing, coatings evaluation, and certification.
• Intertek: Global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) giant serving aerospace, oil & gas, transportation, and medical. Overlaps with Metcut on mechanical and materials testing but as part of a much broader TIC portfolio.
• SGS: Swiss-based TIC leader providing industrial materials and laboratory testing across aerospace, energy, and transportation. Competes with Metcut on industrial materials testing and certification services globally.
• TÜV SÜD: International testing and certification organization with aerospace, medical device, and industrial materials testing capabilities. Directly comparable on regulated testing and certification for safety-critical industries.

Direct peers

• Applied Technical Services (ATS): Independent US-based testing, inspection, and calibration laboratory serving aerospace, defense, automotive, and medical. Direct comparable on mechanical testing, materials evaluation, and metallurgical services.
• Mistras Group: Provider of non-destructive testing (NDT), mechanical testing, and inspection services to aerospace, energy, and industrial markets. Closely comparable specialty testing/services business with similar customer verticals.
• Element Materials Technology: Largest independent materials and product qualification testing services company globally. Directly comparable to Metcut across aerospace, medical, and transportation materials testing, specimen preparation, and failure analysis.
• Laboratory Testing Inc. Independent materials testing and calibration services provider with mechanical, metallurgical, and chemical testing capabilities serving aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial customers. Direct peer in scope and customer mix.
• Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research: Specialty independent materials testing lab focused on mechanical, fatigue, fracture, and composite testing for aerospace and industrial clients. Nearest direct US peer to Metcut in size and capability mix.
• IMR Test Labs: Independent US materials testing laboratory specializing in failure analysis, mechanical testing, and metallurgical services for aerospace, medical, and industrial markets. Highly comparable specialty testing peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/184225558276738

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 Cincinnati Testing Laboratories