UDT

What UDT does

UDT, Inc. is a precision CNC machine shop and full-service defense manufacturer founded in 1969 by Navy Submariner veteran Jim Balsters, headquartered in a 15,000 square foot facility at 2304 Grant Avenue, Panama City, Florida. The company has supported the U.S. Department of Defense continuously for over 50 years, manufacturing precision-machined components, prototypes, and unique parts for marine submersible and non-submersible watercraft, aircraft, and clinical applications. Its primary program heritage is the Seal Delivery Vehicle (SDV) MK-VII trainer — UDT manufactured the first units in 1969 — and it continues to produce components for the SDV program, Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules, Gen II and III Mine Roller Systems, and diving/hyperbaric systems.

The company's technical capabilities span CNC milling (Haas VF series, 3-axis and 4-axis with live tooling), CNC turning, a 10' x 20' water jet cutting materials up to 10-12 inches thick with +/- 0.001 inch accuracy, AMS AW6X Wire EDM with +/- 0.0000020 inch motion accuracy, hydrostatic testing chambers up to 60" x 120" at 10,000 psi, certified welding in aluminum alloys, stainless steel, titanium, and carbon steel (TIG, MIG, brazing, plasma), and Mil-Spec/CARC painting in a 14' x 40' booth. The business operates a custom, quote-based manufacturing services model with direct, relationship-based contracting to government agencies (primarily the DoD and Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City) and a smaller commercial client base. Note: one input block references "United Data Technologies" (a technology lifecycle services firm founded 1995, opening an Irmo, SC facility in July 2025) — this appears to be a different entity that shares the UDT acronym and should not be conflated with UDT, Inc., the precision machine shop described by the company website and firmographics.

Name

UDT

Legal name

United Data Technologies

Website

https://udtmachine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UDT, Inc. is a 55-year-old precision CNC machine shop in Panama City, Florida, serving the U.S. Department of Defense with tight-tolerance machining, welding, Mil-Spec painting, EDM, water jet cutting, and hydrostatic testing for naval and defense systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Defense Contract Manufacturing

NAICS

Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (33281), Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811210)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), Sheet Metal Work (3444), Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

EDM & Electrochemical Machining (Wire/Sinker EDM, ECM) (IMAHADAF)

Keywords

• CNC machining services
• Precision defense manufacturing
• Military specification welding
• Water jet cutting services
• Hydrostatic pressure testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Panama City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

UDT, Inc. is a full-service CNC machine shop that has supported the U.S. military since 1969. It provides precision CNC machining (milling and turning), water jet cutting, EDM wire machining, certified welding in exotic metals, Mil-Spec and CARC painting, assembly and disassembly, and hydrostatic pressure testing for defense and commercial customers. Its work underpins components for Seal Delivery Vehicles, LCAC, Littoral Combat Ship mission modules, and Mine Roller Systems, operating from a 15,000 sq ft facility in Panama City, FL.

Product overview

UDT (United Data Technologies) operates two distinct business units. UDT, Inc. (udtmachine.com) is a full-service CNC machine shop providing precision machining, welding, painting, assembly/disassembly, water jetting, EDM wire machining, and pressure testing services. UDT's Lifecycle Services division handles technology fleet management including device integration and repair. The company has specialized in supporting the Department of Defense since 1969, manufacturing components for Seal Delivery Vehicles (SDV), Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules, Mine Roller Systems, and various aircraft and watercraft systems. The 15,000 square foot facility in Panama City, Florida houses CNC mills, CNC lathes, water jet, wire EDM, welding equipment, and a paint booth to support these manufacturing capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Precision CNC Machining Services CNC milling and turning services with tight tolerances, supporting prototype requirements and special needs using CAM/CAD systems for Department of Defense and commercial customers.
• Welding Services Certified welding services in aluminum alloys, stainless steel, titanium, and carbon steel, utilizing gas tungsten, gas metal, shielded metal arc welding, brazing, and plasma cutting.
• Painting Services (Mil-Spec and CARC) Mil-Spec and CARC painting services performed in a 14' x 40' paint booth, including automotive finishing, operated by a painter with 20+ years of experience.
• Water Jet Cutting Services Extra large water jet cutting on a 10' x 20' bed, capable of cutting various materials up to 12 inches thick with an accuracy of +/- 0.001 inches.
• EDM Wire Machining Services Wire EDM cutting using extremely thin wire, ideal for cutting gears or squares in material, with accuracy of +/- 0.000002 inches over the entire X and Y axis travel on AMS AW6X equipment.
• Assembly & Disassembly Services Complete assembly and disassembly services for military systems and components, supporting defense and commercial customers in their manufacturing and maintenance workflows.
• Pressure Testing Services Hydrostatic and vacuum testing services using specialized chambers and gauges up to 10,000 psi pressure capability, with chambers up to 60" x 120" for validating component integrity.
• Military Systems Prototyping Specialized prototyping and unique parts manufacturing for marine submersible and non-submersible watercraft, aircraft, and clinical applications, including SDV MK-VII trainers, LCAC components, LCS Mission Modules, and Mine Roller Systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supporting SDV program since 1969 with continuous military contracts
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 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 indicators5 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• HEICO Corporation: NYSE-listed manufacturer of aerospace and defense components and parts through its Flight Support and Electronic Technologies segments, comparable as a precision parts supplier to defense and commercial aerospace customers.
• Mercury Systems: NASDAQ-listed defense manufacturer of mission-critical subsystems, RF/microwave, and integrated manufacturing services for DoD primes, comparable as a precision defense component manufacturer serving Navy and special-operations programs.
• Ducommun Incorporated: NYSE-listed provider of engineered products and manufacturing services for aerospace and defense, including tight-tolerance machined assemblies - smaller and more size-comparable to UDT than other public peers.
• Curtiss-Wright Corporation: NYSE-listed defense and aerospace manufacturer with a Defense Solutions segment producing precision-machined components and engineered systems for Navy and undersea programs, directly comparable to UDT's SDV/LCAC-focused work though at significantly larger scale.
• Loar Holdings: NYSE-listed niche aerospace component manufacturer focused on proprietary, mission-critical parts - similar profile to UDT as a specialized precision parts supplier serving defense platforms.
• Park Aerospace Corp: NYSE-listed manufacturer of advanced composite and metal parts for aerospace and defense applications, comparable as a specialized precision parts supplier to defense and commercial customers.
• Astronics Corporation: NASDAQ-listed supplier of aerospace and defense electronics, lighting, structures, and test/integration services - comparable as a mid-sized defense parts manufacturer serving DoD primes.

Broad incumbents

• Triumph Group: NYSE-listed tier-one supplier of aerospace structures, precision machined components, and integrated systems for defense and commercial aerospace - operates across a far broader portfolio than UDT but competes for similar DoD machining programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 UDT