What American Etching & Mfg does

American Etching & Manufacturing (AEM) is a B2B precision metal fabrication company based in Pacoima, California, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of APL Manufacturing. With 6 employees and 40+ years of operating history, AEM specializes in photochemical machining (chemical etching) of thin-gauge metals — typically 0.0005" to 0.040" thick stainless steel, aluminum, copper alloys, titanium, and specialty metals — producing burr-free, stress-free components with tolerances as tight as ±0.0001 inches. Its core technology uses controlled chemical reactions rather than mechanical force or heat, enabling complex geometries without heat-affected zones or tooling-induced stress.

AEM integrates photochemical machining with metal stamping, forming, and plating under a single AS-9100D-certified quality system, complemented by ISO 9001:2015 and ITAR registration that qualify it for military and aerospace supply. It serves three primary segments — military & defense, electronics, and high-tech commercial — for mission-critical thin-gauge subcomponents such as shields, screens, precision springs, fuel cell plates, and medical components.

AEM operates a quote-based, project-driven revenue model: customers contact the firm via phone, email, or website to request pricing on prototype or full-scale production runs. There is no published price list, no standardized product catalog, and no disclosed recurring-revenue stream. As part of APL Manufacturing's 11-company, 500+ employee network across California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, AEM benefits from shared group capabilities in EDM, laser/water-jet cutting, heat treating, brazing, and plastic injection molding, plus distribution synergies such as the in-network exclusive U.S. agency for UK-based Lomas Engineering cutting tools.

Name

American Etching & Mfg

Legal name

American Etching & Manufacturing

Website

https://aemetch.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

American Etching & Manufacturing is a Pacoima, California precision metal fabricator and APL Manufacturing subsidiary specializing in photochemical machining of thin-gauge components (±0.0001" tolerances) for military, electronics, and high-tech commercial customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Metal Manufacturing

NAICS

Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers (332812)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470), Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Photochemical machining
• Precision metal etching
• Thin gauge metal fabrication
• Chemical etching services
• Precision metal stamping

Headquarters

HQ city

Pacoima, California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Precision Manufacturing Services: AEM generates revenue through provision of precision photochemical machining, metal stamping, forming, and plating services to military, electronics, and high-tech commercial customers. Services cover both prototype and full-scale production runs, with revenue derived from project-based manufacturing contracts rather than standardized product sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

American Etching & Manufacturing (AEM) is a precision metal fabrication company specializing in photochemical machining (chemical etching) of thin-gauge metals to produce burr-free, high-tolerance components with complex geometries. Integrated complementary capabilities include metal stamping, metal forming, and plating services, supporting both prototype and full-scale production for military, electronics, and high-tech commercial applications.

Product overview

American Etching & Manufacturing (AEM) is a precision manufacturing company operating as a subsidiary of APL Manufacturing. The company specializes in producing high-reliability thin gauge metal subcomponents for military, electronics, and high-tech commercial industries. AEM offers an integrated suite of manufacturing services centered on photochemical machining as its core competency, supported by metal stamping, forming, and plating capabilities. This combination enables complex geometries and tight tolerances while preserving material integrity, suitable for both prototype and full-scale production requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Photochemical Machining Chemical etching process producing high-precision metal components with intricate geometries and fine details for thin-gauge metals (0.0005" to 0.040" thick) including stainless steel, aluminum, copper alloys, titanium, and specialty metals. Achieves tolerances as tight as ±0.0001 inches with burr-free edges and no heat-affected zones, suitable for shields, screens, precision springs, fuel cell plates, and medical components.
• Metal Stamping Precision metal stamping services producing complex metal components with tight tolerances and high repeatability, supporting both prototype and full-scale production requirements.
• Metal Forming Metal forming services including bending, coining, embossing, and deep drawing to shape precision metal parts into functional and structurally optimized components.
• Plating Services Metal plating services that enhance corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, wear resistance, and aesthetic appeal for precision-engineered metal components.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tolerances as tight as ±0.0001 inches (10% of material thickness) for photochemical machined parts
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Lomas EngineeringminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUnited Drill Bushing Corp (an APL Manufacturing subsidiary) serves as the exclusive U.S. agent for Lomas Engineering, a UK-based manufacturer of precision aerospace cutting tools including drills, reamers, counterbores, and custom solutions. This partnership extends the product offering available through the APL network of companies.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Fotofab: U.S.-based photochemical machining specialist producing custom precision thin-gauge metal parts for aerospace, defense, electronics, and medical customers. Directly comparable to AEM in core process, materials range, and target end-markets.
• Etched Group: Specialist photochemical etching group providing thin-gauge precision metal parts across aerospace, medical, electronics, and industrial sectors. Closely comparable process, customer segments, and material range to AEM.
• Veco (Hittech Group): European precision metal etching specialist producing complex thin-gauge components for aerospace, medical, semiconductor, and industrial applications. Directly comparable PCM service offering with similar tight-tolerance capabilities and certifications.
• Tech-Etch Inc. Precision photo-chemical etching and metal stamping company serving medical, aerospace, defense, and electronics markets. Closely comparable to AEM in PCM process, integrated stamping, and AS-9100-grade customer base.
• Metaltek International: Specialty metal fabrication and casting provider serving aerospace, defense, power generation, and industrial customers. Comparable as a precision metal components manufacturer with aerospace certifications and similar end-market exposure to AEM.

Broad incumbents

• Xometry: On-demand manufacturing marketplace connecting buyers with CNC machining, sheet metal, and other fabrication suppliers. Competes with AEM on custom precision metal parts through its AI-driven quoting platform and broad supplier network.
• Protolabs: Digital manufacturing platform offering CNC machining, injection molding, sheet metal, and rapid prototyping services globally. A broader incumbent that competes with AEM for prototype and low-volume precision metal work via automated quoting and faster lead times.

Regional players

• Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE): UK-based chemical etching specialist focused on thin-gauge precision components for aerospace, automotive, medical, and electronics. Comparable process technology and end-market mix to AEM, but primarily serves European customers.
• Precision Micro Ltd: UK-based specialist in photochemical etching of thin-gauge precision components for aerospace, medical, electronics, and automotive customers. Offers the same core PCM technology as AEM and serves many of the same end-markets, but primarily in Europe.

Emerging players

• Fictiv: Digital manufacturing platform specializing in custom mechanical parts with instant quoting and a curated supplier network. Targets similar prototype and low-volume precision metal demand as AEM, particularly in tech and electronics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-etching-&-mfg

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 American Etching & Mfg