Countries, markets, companies: CNC - Machines

Countries, markets, companies. CNC - Machines

We all know how important numerical control machines (CNC Machines) are for the industry. Indeed, since the numerical controls have been incorporated into the machines, the productivity of the machining centers in all its slopes (milling machines, lathes, drills, tapping machines, etc.) or in complex centers, has been growing as they have left perfecting the numerical controls.

 According to Wikipedia, "The first numerical remote - control machines were built in the 40s and 50s by engineer John T. Parsons, based on existing machines with decodified engines whose numbers are manually linked following the instructions given in a perforated card microscope".

"These initial servomechanisms developed rapidly with the analog and digital equipment. The cheaper and miniaturization of the processors has generalized the digital electronics in all the tool types, which gave rise to the denomination numerical decimal control, numerical control by computer, control numerical by computer or computerized numerical control (CNC), to differentiate them from machines that did not have a computer. Currently the term numerical control is used to refer to this type of system, with or without a computer."

This system has revolutionized the industry due to the lowering of microprocessors and the simplification of the programming of CNC machines (numerical control by computer).

Today we bring to our blog this segment of the machine tool market represented by numerical control machines because they are pioneering machines in the escalation of automation and new trends on digitalization and internet of things (IOT). These aspects will be the subject of new articles in my blog. We refer next to an article published by Thomas (R) Industry Update that I found interesting as a start and introduction to CNC machines. Good reading!

Top USA and International CNC Machinery Manufacturers

   

A CNC machine is a computer numerical control device automated to perform a complex material cutting task. Once a component is designed by an engineer, for example an aircraft part, a CNC machine is programmed to mill that designed part out with high precision into the required material. A CNC can be compared to a mill, a drill, or a router typically seen in a machinist’s shop. A CNC is considered a very expensive investment for manufacturers, other professionals, and hobbyists.

Types of CNC Machinery Manufacturers

There is a broad range of CNC machinery. Lathes, mills, drills, laser cutting, laser engraving, water cutting, plasma cutting, and many other machining tools can be automated. CNC manufacturers typically target a certain price range for their products, from hobbyists at $1k-$3k, to mid-range of $20k-$60k, and the high grade professional range of greater than $100k.

Top 10 CNC Machinery Manufacturers in the U.S.

There are only a few professional level CNC manufacturers within the US, with many more low to mid-range manufacturers across the country. The majority of these manufacturers are privately owned companies, making it difficult to obtain information on their true market size. Our ranking is therefore based on a combination of market capitalization and brand name recognition within the industry.

Table 1 – Key U.S. Manufacturers of CNC Machinery

rank	ticker	Company Name	Market Cap (Billions)*
1	LECO	Lincoln Electric	6.21
2	HURC	Hurco	0.297
3		Haas	private company
4		Powermatic	private company
5		Tormach	private company
6		Bolton Tools	private company
7		CNC Masters	private company
8		Laguna	private company
9		Axiom Precision	private company
10		CNC Router Parts	private company

Notes:

*Market capitalization values are as of September 19, 2018

CNC Manufacturing - Summaries and Company Info

Lincoln Electric is the acquiring company of the Torch mate product line of automated plasma cutting tables which encompasses a broad scope of machines from entry-level CNC machines to industrial plasma cutting tables. Their fully assembled machines are targeted at small and mid-size shops looking to add their first piece of affordable automated machinery to their business. Founded 1979.

Hurco is a global leading CNC machine tool technology company with divisions throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Provides both NC and conversational programming. Designs, manufactures, and sells CNC machine tools to companies in the metal cutting industry, offering general purpose computerized machine tools, such as vertical machining centers, turning centers, knee mills, vertical machining centers, tool room bed mills, combination lathes, slant-bed lathes, horizontal machining centers, bridge mills, double column vertical machining centers, and high-speed drill and tap machines. Founded in 1968.

Haas Automation is the largest machine tool builder in the western world, manufacturing a complete line of CNC vertical machining centers, horizontal machining centers, CNC lathes, and rotary products. Haas manufactures all critical components in-house and has four major product lines: vertical machining centers (VMCs), horizontal machining centers (HMCs), CNC lathes, and rotary tables. Has a number of large five-axis and specialty machines.

Powermatic, founded in 1921, has a large range of general purpose industrial woodworking machinery including a small CNC line. Operates in a 400,000-square foot facility in LaVergne, TN.

Tormach provides engineered small CNC machines, tooling, and related products. The flagship product is the Personal CNC which is designed for inventors, small/boutique manufacturers, garage entrepreneurs, product developers, hobbyists, and educators. Founded in 2001.

Bolton Tools’ product line includes household hardware items to industrial and residential machinery and equipment. Offers a variety of conventional metal lathes, milling machines, and mill drills. Parent company is Bolton Group, Inc.

CNC Masters has 20+ years’ experience making CNC lathes and mills, controllers, and has their own CNC operating software. 1,500+ employees.

Laguna, founded in 1983, has an extensive line of woodworking machinery and CNC automation products including a CNC Router, CO2 lasers, and plasma cutters.

Axiom Precision offers a wide range of intro-level affordable machines to address nearly any CNC application.

CNC Router Parts sells intro-level affordable CNC kits, accessories, and parts. Products include a ready-to-assemble CNC router and plasma machines along with step-by-step assembly instructions.

Top Global CNC Machinery Manufacturers

The CNC machinery industry involves a large number of mostly small companies offering very similar product lines, with only a few top players offering unique products. In China, for example, there are hundreds of companies offering copy-cat CNC products that all essentially look and operate the same. The following company list covers companies with unique and extensive product lines.

Table 2: Top Global CNC Machinery Firms

rank	ticker	Company Name	location	Market Cap (Billions)*
1	MBH3	Maschinenfabrik Berthold Hermle AG	Germany	1.955
2	6103	Okuma	Japan	1.7
3	DAR	Datron AG	Germany	0.05813
4		Mazak	Japan	private company
5		Blue Elephant	China	private company
6		Dalian Guofeng Machine Tools Co., Ltd	China	private company
7		Jinan iGolden CNC Equipment Co.Ltd.	China	private company
8		BCAM CNC	China	private company
9		Vmade CNC	China	private company

Notes:

*Market capitalization values are as of September 19, 2018 and were converted to US dollars using foreign exchange rates.

Company Summaries and Info

Maschinenfabrik Berthold Hermle AG, based in Germany, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of CNC milling machines, with 22,000 machines installed and 1000+ employees world-wide.

Okuma has a distribution network with nearly 2,000 sales, service, application engineering, and back office personnel - all backed by service staff and engineering experts based in Charlotte, NC. Okuma has a large offering of various CNC lines. Founded in 1898 in Japan.

Datron AG is a publicly traded, international high-tech company from Germany that employs about 235 people and maintains a worldwide distribution network in over 20 countries. The product portfolio covers CNC milling machines for high speed milling (HSC-milling) and 3D engraving, dental milling machines, dispensing machines for accurate and quick bonding and sealing, and tools for high-speed processing.

Mazak leads in the manufacture of advanced technology solutions including a large offering of multi-tasking, hybrid multi-tasking, 5-axis, milling, turning, CNC controls, and automation.

Blue Elephant specializes in the R&D and manufacturing of automated woodworking and CNC equipment for the digital production line of customized furniture. Main products include a CNC router, a 4 axis CNC router, a high-end customized furniture production line, a luxury CNC nesting machine, a cabinet closet cutting machine, a CNC machining center, an automatic punching machine, CNC drilling, and more.

Dalian Guofeng Machine Tools Co., Ltd claims to be one of biggest CNC enterprises in China, developing and producing CNC vertical lathes, conventional vertical lathes, heavy-duty horizontal lathes, vertical multi-tool lathes, etc. Founded in 2002.

Jinan Golden CNC Equipment Co,Ltd. specializes in CNC routing, laser engraving and cutting machines, and plasma cutting. Their main machine configurations employ parts imported from Italy, Japan, and Germany.

BCAM CNC is an international company that markets its products and services in 90 countries. Their product line includes a CNC router, a laser cutting machine, and a digital cutting table.

Vmade CNC has a range of plasma, engraving, and laser CNC machines. Vmade has sold their products internationally to more than 60 countries, with OEM service to more than 15 dealers and distributors.

Conclusion

Above we've listed the top domestic and global CNC manufacturers. For comprehensive information on U.S. based commercial and industrial CNC companies, head over to Thomas Supplier Discovery, where we have a database of over 400 listed CNC machinery companies.

Thanks to Thomas Supplier Discovery to offer this fantastic database.

José Carlos Álvarez Tobar

Member of the Advisory Council
AW Investment Advisory

jcalvareztobar@gmail.