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For more than seven decades, Gilman Precision has helped machine builders, OEMs, and manufacturers solve their most demanding motion challenges. From precision spindles and linear slides to integrated assemblies, Gilman products sit at the heart of complex manufacturing systems.
What began as a mission to better serve the North American machine tool industry has grown into a precision manufacturing partner trusted across industries that require consistency at the micron level.
Gilman Precision was founded in the early 1950s by Russell T. Gilman, with a clear objective: build higher-quality motion components for the machine tool industry than what was available at the time. From the beginning, the company focused on precision, durability, and engineering rigor rather than volume or commoditization.
Early work supporting government and naval applications helped shape a culture of accountability and performance—where failure was not an option and documentation, repeatability, and craftsmanship mattered. That foundation still defines how products are engineered and built today.
Over the decades, Gilman has evolved through multiple ownership transitions while maintaining its core identity: an engineering-first manufacturer focused on doing difficult work well. A pivotal moment came roughly a decade ago, when leadership acted to keep Gilman’s manufacturing, talent, and intellectual capital in the United States rather than allowing the business to be offshored. That decision preserved not just jobs, but decades of institutional knowledge.
In August 2024, Gilman Precision entered its next chapter through acquisition by Madison Lakes Capital. This transition brought renewed investment, strategic clarity, and a commitment to long-term growth—without sacrificing the engineering discipline and customer focus that define the brand.
Today, Gilman is intentionally investing in:
The objective is simple: ensure Gilman remains a trusted, relevant, and highly capable precision manufacturing partner for decades to come.
Gilman is led by a hands-on leadership team with deep operational, engineering, and market experience.
This leadership structure reflects Gilman’s belief that precision manufacturing success depends on cross-functional alignment—not silos.
Chief Executive Officer, leads the organization’s vision and strategic direction.
Director of Sales and Marketing, leads business development and marketing strategy.
CFO, leads finance, IT, and HR functions.
Gilman’s culture is shaped by the realities of precision manufacturing. Components are built for applications where downtime is costly, tolerances are unforgiving, and performance expectations are explicit.
That environment fosters:
As Gilman grows, preserving this culture—while adding new talent, systems, and capabilities—is a deliberate priority.
All Gilman products are engineered and manufactured in the United States, at the company’s headquarters and production facility in Grafton, Wisconsin. Gilman strives to source locally, with the majority of our raw materials purchased from mills and forges in the State of Wisconsin.
This domestic, vertically integrated approach allows Gilman to:
Gilman Precision is not standing still. The company is actively expanding its reach beyond legacy markets, investing in brand visibility, and strengthening the systems that support customers throughout the full lifecycle—from design and integration to service and rebuild.
The goal is not growth for growth’s sake, but durable progress: broader market relevance, diversified revenue streams, and deeper partnerships with customers who value precision done right.
Gilman Precision is not standing still. The company is actively expanding its reach beyond legacy markets, investing in brand visibility, and strengthening the systems that support customers throughout the full lifecycle—from design and integration to service and rebuild.
The goal is not growth for growth’s sake, but durable progress: broader market relevance, diversified revenue streams, and deeper partnerships with customers who value precision done right.
