TM Smith Tool

What TM Smith Tool does

TM Smith Tool (legal entity: T.M. Smith Tool International Corp.) is a privately held, family-owned manufacturer of standard and custom tool holding systems for industrial machining, founded in 1957 and headquartered in Mount Clemens, Michigan. The company designs and produces quick-change tool holders, tap holders, tap adapters, radial floating collet chucks, shrink fit holders, and taper tooling (Jacobs, Morse, ACME/automotive shanks), anchored by two registered proprietary systems: BALL-LOCK and SMITH-LOCK quick-change drilling platforms. Product differentiation rests on precision engineering metrics such as T.I.R. of 0.0002 inches or better, runout reduction of 50% via ultra-precision collets, and thermal shrink-fit clamping with runout of 0.0001 inches or better. Manufacturing is ISO 9001:2015 certified (LRQA, valid through May 21, 2027) and supported by CMM inspection and certified air gauging for HSK and Steep Taper shanks.

The business operates on a direct sales model with quote-based pricing, no public list prices, and revenue generated entirely from hardware sales (standard catalog products and custom engineered solutions). GTM is sales-led, with application engineers and customer service staff accessible via toll-free phone (800-521-4894), email, and an online contact form. The company targets six industrial verticals: aerospace, automotive, medical (primary), plus marine, farm implement, and machine tool (secondary). Distribution is direct from the Michigan facility, including international shipping, supplemented by a Mexico City sales office for Latin American customers. Revenue streams include standard product sales, custom engineering/manufacturing, and application engineering support. The company has no external funding, no parent company, and no subsidiaries, with three generations of family ownership and no disclosed management team changes.

Name

TM Smith Tool

Legal name

T.M. Smith Tool International Corp.

Website

https://tmsmith.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TM Smith Tool is a family-owned, ISO 9001:2015 certified US manufacturer of standard and custom quick-change tool holders, tap holders, and collet systems serving aerospace, automotive, medical, marine, farm implement, and machine tool customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Tool Holding Systems

NAICS

Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing (333515)

SIC

Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal Cutting Tools, Tooling & Workholding (Cutters, Inserts, Chucks, Fixtures) (IMAHADAB)

Keywords

• Quick change tooling
• Precision tool holders
• Tap holders
• Collet chucks
• Shrink fit holders

Headquarters

HQ city

Mount Clemens

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

Revenue model

1. Tool Holder Product Sales: One-time hardware sales of standard and custom tool holders including tap holders, collet chucks, shrink fit holders, end mill holders, and accessories. Products sold directly to manufacturing companies.
2. Custom Tool Holder Manufacturing: Engineering and manufacturing of custom tool holding solutions based on customer specifications, samples, or drawings. Cost-competitive solutions with minimum lead times.
3. Technical Engineering Services: Application engineering support including product selection assistance, custom design consultation, and technical support for tool holding challenges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TM Smith Tool designs and manufactures standard and custom precision tool holders and quick-change tool holding systems for industrial machining applications. The portfolio includes tap holders, tap adapters, radial floating collet chucks, quick-change drilling systems (BALL-LOCK and SMITH-LOCK), Jacobs/Morse/ACME taper tool holders, collet extensions, collets and accessories, shrink fit holders, and floating reamer holders. Products are produced in Mount Clemens, Michigan under ISO 9001:2015 certification, with custom engineering available for non-standard applications based on customer specifications, samples, or drawings.

Product overview

TM Smith Tool is a manufacturer of standard and custom tool holding systems for the machining industry. The product portfolio centers on quick-change tool holding solutions organized around several core product lines: (1) Special Tool Holders for custom and non-standard applications; (2) Quick Change Tap Holders comprising six distinct types (Rigid/SITH, Radial Floating/FITH-II, Tension/Compression/ACTH, Tension/Compression with Radial Float/LCTH, Close Center/CCTH, and Cartridge Style/CSTH-T); (3) Quick Change Tap Adapters with five variants (NTA Ball & Tang Drive, CSTA Collet Style, NTLA Adjustable Length, NTER Extended Range, and TA-TD Torque Control); (4) Radial Floating Collet Chucks for reaming and tapping; (5) Quick Change Drilling Systems under BALL-LOCK and SMITH-LOCK brands; (6) Taper Tooling including Jacobs Taper (#1, #2, #33, #3, #4), Morse Taper (#1-#4), and Automotive/ACME Shank Tooling; (7) Collets, Collet Nuts and Accessories including ER standard, ultra-precision, and sealed styles; and (8) Shrink Fit Tool Holders using thermal expansion technology. The company operates on a made-to-order basis with custom engineering capabilities and offers ISO 9001:2015 certified quality assurance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BALL-LOCK: Quick change drilling system for CNC lathes, screw machines, and automotive spindles.
• SMITH-LOCK

Products and services

• Special Tool Holders (Custom) Custom and standard tool holders engineered for complex part or fixture interference situations where standard catalog holders cannot be used. TM Smith designs and manufactures solutions based on customer specifications, samples, or drawings. Targeted at manufacturers with non-standard machining setups in aerospace, automotive, medical, marine, and farm implement industries.
• Rigid Tap Holders (SITH) Modular rigid tap holder solution for fast tapping and interchangeability with CNC machinery using quick-change tooling systems. Compact design available in Steep Taper, HSK, Straight, and ACME shanks for manufacturing engineers needing rigid synchronous tapping.
• Radial Floating Tap Holders (FITH-II) Designed to compensate for misalignment between cutting tool and workpiece with 360-degree radial float and adjustable centering pressure. Available in Steep Taper, HSK, Straight, ACME, Morse, and Jacobs taper shanks with coolant-through design for production tapping on CNC machinery.
• Tension/Compression Tap Holders (ACTH) Axial compensation holders for CNC machines without rigid tapping capability. Eliminates over/undersized tapped holes or damaged threads through adjustable tension/compression ratio with quick-change functionality.
• Tension/Compression with Radial Float Tap Holders (LCTH) Tap holders designed with both axial and radial compensation for comprehensive misalignment correction. Available with Straight, ACME, or Morse Taper shanks in full tension, tension and compression, or full compression configurations, including a straight shank collet chuck variant launched in May 2018.
• Close Center Tap Holders (CCTH) Quick change size-specific tap holder with small outside diameter for use when standard holders are too large, enabling clearance in tight machining setups. Available in rigid or with tension configurations.
• Cartridge Style Tap Holders with Tension (CSTH-T) Compact quick-change tap holders designed for use with end mill holders or in tool blocks where space constraints require a cartridge-style form factor.
• Quick Change Tap Adapters Comprehensive line of quick change tap adapters including NTA (Standard Ball & Tang Drive), CSTA (Collet Style), NTLA (Adjustable Length & Reducing), NTER (Extended Range), and TA-TD (Torque Control) variants. Compatible with ANSI, DIN, ISO and JIS standards and interchangeable with most Bilz style holders. Designed for CNC machining centers requiring tap adapter interchangeability.
• Radial Floating Collet Chucks Free-floating collet chucks preferred for reaming and tapping applications. Provide 360-degree radial float that allows reamers or taps to find existing holes easily. Accept standard ER collets (ER11 to ER40) with adjustable centering pressure for CNC machining precision.
• BALL-LOCK Quick Change Drilling System Proprietary trademarked quick change drilling system compatible with CNC lathes, screw machines, automotive straight bore, and Tru-Taper spindles. Enables cutting tool changes in approximately 5 seconds via over-spindle adapters for use with most lathe tool blocks. Targeted at high-volume manufacturing operations.
• SMITH-LOCK Quick Change Drilling System Proprietary trademarked quick change drilling system proven for CNC lathes, screw machines, automotive straight bore, and Tru-Taper spindles. Converts ACME shank tool holders to quick change with a conversion nut, compatible with ASA spindles including Sugino drilling units.
• Jacobs Taper Tooling Tool holders with internal Jacobs taper in sizes #1, #2, #33, #3, and #4 (Jiffy). Product line includes Jacobs Taper Rigid ER Collet Chucks with T.I.R. of 0.0002 inches or better, quick change radial floating tap holders, and rigid tap holders, compatible with standard Jacobs taper spindles.
• Automotive/ACME Shank Tooling Full line of automotive ACME shank tool holders ranging from 1/2 inch to 1-7/8 inches and TR16 to TR36. Designed for compatibility with automotive straight bore spindles and convertible to quick change via BALL-LOCK or SMITH-LOCK conversion nuts.
• ER(SA) & DA Straight Shank Collet Extensions Collet extensions for straight shank applications including ER(SA) and DA (Double Angle) styles, providing extended reach and part clearance in machining operations.
• Morse Taper Tooling Morse Taper quick change tap holders available in sizes #1, #2, #3, and #4 for various spindle and lathe applications in general machining.
• Collets, Collet Nuts & Accessories Comprehensive selection of collets, collet nuts, and accessories including standard, ultra-precision, and sealed styles for ER collet systems. Ultra-precision collets reduce runout by 50% and sealed collet systems support coolant-through applications.
• Shrink Fit Tool Holders Tool holders using heating and cooling properties of metal to secure cutting tools. Offers powerful grip with runout of 0.0001 inches or better and the thinnest nose diameters of all holder types, providing precision clamping for high-tolerance CNC machining.
• Floating Reamer Holders Floating reamer holders using free-moving axial bearings that allow reaming tools to follow existing holes with precision. Prevent barreled, scarred, and oval holes while maintaining near-perfect concentricity in finishing operations.
• Custom HSK Tool Arbors Custom designed and manufactured HSK tool arbors created to customer specifications where standard holders do not fit the application. HSK hollow taper shanks offer up to 5x more radial stiffness than BT, SK, or CAT holders.
• Steep Taper MQL Tool Holder Solution Complete Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) tool holder system including precision ER collet chuck, retention knob with MQL delivery tube, and MQL adjusting screw. Multiple interchangeable MQL screw designs with CAT and BT MQL Shrink fit holders available, co-developed with Unist, Inc.
• Quick Change Sleeve Adapter (QCSA) Quick Change Sleeve Adapter designed for CNC lathes and screw machines. Reduces downtime by enabling tool changes in approximately 5 seconds, compatible with BALL-LOCK and SMITH-LOCK quick change systems. Available for 1.50 and 2.00 straight bore tool blocks with collet chucks from ER16 to ER40.
• Technical Engineering Services Application engineering support including product selection assistance, custom design consultation, and technical support for tool holding challenges. Provided by experienced application engineers and customer service representatives as part of the sales engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tool changes in as little as 5 seconds with BALL-LOCK system
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Unist, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnist is referenced as a partner for MQL (Minimum Quantity Lubrication) solutions. TM Smith developed steep taper MQL tool holder solutions in collaboration with Unist, Inc. located in Grand Rapids, MI. Unist specializes in MQL technology and their contact information is provided for customers interested in retrofitting steep taper spindles for MQL applications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Kennametal: Kennametal is a major industrial tooling manufacturer offering tool holders, inserts, and complete machining solutions, competing with TM Smith across multiple verticals with broader product portfolios.
• Mitsubishi Materials: Mitsubishi Materials produces cutting tools, tool holders, and wear-resistant materials, competing broadly with TM Smith in industrial machining applications across multiple verticals.
• Sandvik Coromant: Sandvik Coromant is a global leader in metal cutting tools and tool holding systems, serving the same aerospace, automotive, and medical customers as TM Smith but at much greater scale and with bundled solutions.
• Guhring: Guhring is a global manufacturer of rotary cutting tools, taps, and tool holders, overlapping with TM Smith in tap holders and tool holding solutions for precision machining.
• Tungaloy: Tungaloy is an international manufacturer of metal cutting tools and tool holders, serving the same aerospace, automotive, and general machining markets as TM Smith with a broader product range.

Direct peers

• Parlec: Parlec produces tool holders, ER collet chucks, and shrink fit holders for CNC machines, making it a direct competitor to TM Smith's tool holding product portfolio.
• Big Kaiser: Big Kaiser specializes in premium precision tool holders, HSK spindle tooling, and shrink fit holders, competing directly with TM Smith in CNC machining and aerospace applications.
• Bilz: Bilz is a specialist manufacturer of quick-change tap holders and tool clamping systems, directly competing with TM Smith's BALL-LOCK and SMITH-LOCK quick-change product lines for tapping and drilling applications.
• Haimer: Haimer is a leading manufacturer of precision tool holders including shrink fit, ER collet, and quick-change systems, directly comparable to TM Smith's tool holder portfolio across CNC machining applications.
• Emuge: Emuge manufactures tapping tools, tap holders, and thread mills, overlapping directly with TM Smith's tap holder product line across CNC and manual machining applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tm-smith-tool

Compliance1 record

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 TM Smith Tool