Metalworking Machinery Manufacturers

The 5,600 metalworking machinery manufacturers in the US produce metal cutting and forming machinery, dies, machine tools, jigs, and industrial molds. Major customers are machine shops, industrial machinery wholesalers, industrial supplies distributors, construction firms, oil and gas firms, mining companies, power companies, defense contractors, and manufacturers of vehicles, aircraft and aerospace components, ships, and a wide range of products that require the machining or molding of metal, glass, rubber, or plastic.

Competition from Used Equipment

Metalworking machinery manufacturers not only compete with one another but also the used equipment market.

Historically Weak Pricing Growth

Strong competition from domestic competitors and imports has historically prevented metalworking machinery manufacturers from significantly raising their prices.

Sep 14, 2026 - New Canadian Counter-Tariffs Affect Industrial Supply Chains

• Canada’s latest counter-tariffs on US goods are now in effect, covering everything from dairy products and household appliances to industrial machinery, steel products, and equipment used in the mining, oil, and gas industries. The tariffs apply at rates of 15%, 25% and 50% to $27.6 billion worth of imports from the United States. The list reaches deeply into industrial supply chains and includes steel pipes and fittings, some fittings specifically intended for mining and oil and gas applications, grinding balls used in mills, and components used in oil and natural gas development. Heavy equipment components are also included, such as buckets, shovels, grabs and grips, bulldozer and angledozer blades, and parts for boring or sinking machinery. Other industrial products facing tariffs include hydraulic jacks and hoists, cranes, forklifts and other loading and material-handling equipment. The federal government of Canada says the measures match US tariffs dollar for dollar and rate for rate. The US imposed tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of Canadian goods on August 22.
• US orders for metal-cutting and metal-forming machinery totaled $441.4 million in January 2026, down sharply from December’s unusually high levels, but still 24.4% higher compared to a year ago, signaling a return to more typical demand levels, American Machinist reports. Machine unit orders also fell significantly, reflecting slower purchasing activity across most regions. For metalworking machinery manufacturers, this indicates a near-term slowdown in order volume following a year-end surge, with more cautious buying behavior from machine shops. However, the YoY growth suggests underlying demand remains healthy, supported by ongoing investments in automation and higher-value equipment, according to AM. Notably, automotive-related demand is strengthening, with manufacturers of transmission and powertrain parts significantly increasing orders, driven by a shift back toward internal combustion and hybrid vehicles. This presents a key growth opportunity for machinery suppliers serving automotive customers.
• Tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the US have a direct impact on small fabricators’ cost structures, bidding strategies, and overall competitiveness, according to Exiil, a provider of software to metal manufacturers. In March, President Trump raised steel and aluminum import tariffs to the US by 25% (since doubled to 50%), ending all country exemptions, in addition to hiking tariffs on China, according to Reuters. Russian aluminum imports carry a tariff of 200%. Beyond raw metal, the US has increasingly added “downstream” or “derivative” products – such as stamped parts, fasteners, tubing, wire, or other items with high steel/aluminum content – to existing Section 232 tariffs. As a result, metal fabricators face higher materials costs. Even businesses that source metals domestically are likely to pay more for metal as US mills often raise their prices when foreign competitors’ costs go up – because the “floor” of the market shifts.
• Metalworking machinery manufacturers increased prices 5.27% year over year in August, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Metalworking machinery manufacturing industry employment and average wages for nonsupervisory employees increased slightly during the first seven months of 2026, according to the BLS. Metalworking machinery manufacturing industry sales are forecast to grow at a 1.34% compounded annual rate from 2026 to 2030, slower than the growth of the overall economy, according to Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc.

Industry size & Structure

A typical metalworking machinery manufacturer operates out of a single location, employs 27 workers, and generates about $6.2 million annually.

• The metalworking machinery manufacturing industry comprises about 5,600 companies, which employ about 151,400 workers and generate about $34.7 billion annually.
• Most companies are small, independent operators - about 72% of establishments employ fewer than 20 workers.
• Customer industries include machine shops, industrial machinery wholesalers, industrial supplies distributors, construction firms, and manufacturers of metal, glass, rubber, and plastic products.
• Large companies include Baileigh Industrial, Mazak, Kennametal, and Amada.