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Gilman Precision’s story is one of continuity, craftsmanship, and quiet leadership in American manufacturing. For more than seven decades, the company has supported machine builders and advanced manufacturers with motion solutions designed to perform under real-world conditions.
What follows is not just a list of dates, but a progression—each era building on the last, guided by the same core belief: precision matters, and it must be earned.
Gilman Precision’s story is one of continuity, craftsmanship, and quiet leadership in American manufacturing. For more than seven decades, the company has supported machine builders and advanced manufacturers with motion solutions designed to perform under real-world conditions.
What follows is not just a list of dates, but a progression—each era building on the last, guided by the same core belief: precision matters, and it must be earned.
Gilman Precision was founded in the early 1950s by Russell T. Gilman, at a time when American manufacturing was accelerating rapidly and demanding higher levels of reliability from machine tools.
Unable to serve directly due to a medical limitation, Russell Gilman sought another way to contribute. His vision was to support the U.S. government and military by advancing integrated machine tool capabilities, including early applications tied to naval systems.
That origin established a mindset that still defines Gilman today.
As manufacturing matured through the 1960s and 1970s, Gilman became known for precision linear slide systems that delivered rigidity, repeatability, and long service life.
Rather than pursuing mass production, the company focused on application-specific engineering. Machine builders turned to Gilman when off-the-shelf components introduced risk, rework, or performance compromises.
These years laid the foundation for Gilman’s reputation as a partner to OEMs who valued engineering collaboration and long-term reliability over short-term convenience.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Gilman expanded its capabilities to include spindle manufacturing and integrated motion assemblies. This evolution reflected a broader shift in the machine tool industry toward higher precision, tighter tolerances, and more compact, high-performance systems.
Gilman’s strength during this era was not just in building components, but in understanding how those components interacted within larger systems.
Gilman moved into a brand new, purpose built production facility in 1989.
Like many long-standing manufacturers, Gilman experienced ownership transitions in the early 2000s. While the business environment evolved, the core engineering culture remained intact.
The company continued to support OEMs across industrial, medical, and specialty markets, maintaining a focus on:
This period reinforced Gilman’s role as a steady, dependable supplier in an industry undergoing rapid technological change.
A defining chapter occurred roughly a decade ago when leaders within the business acted to preserve Gilman’s manufacturing and engineering capabilities in the United States.
Faced with the possibility of offshoring under prior ownership, individuals closely tied to the company stepped in to keep jobs, expertise, and production domestic. That decision safeguarded decades of institutional knowledge and reinforced Gilman’s commitment to U.S.-based precision manufacturing.
For customers, it meant continuity. For employees, it meant stability. For the brand, it reaffirmed what Gilman stood for.
In August 2024, Gilman Precision entered its most recent chapter through acquisition by Madison Lakes Capital.
This transition marked a renewed focus on:
The goal is not reinvention, but acceleration—building on a strong foundation with the discipline and resources to support long-term growth.
Today, Gilman Precision operates from its headquarters in Grafton, Wisconsin, serving customers across the United States. Manufacturing remains entirely U.S.-based, with a regional emphasis on repair and service to support uptime-sensitive operations.
Gilman supports a wide range of applications, including:
Backed by experienced leadership and a clear strategic roadmap, Gilman is focused on ensuring that the next decades are as impactful as the first.
Gilman Precision’s history is not something the company trades on—it is something it honors through performance. The same principles that guided its earliest work continue to shape how it engineers, builds, and supports motion solutions today.
Precision. Accountability. Longevity.
Those values remain unchanged.
Gilman Precision’s history is not something the company trades on—it is something it honors through performance. The same principles that guided its earliest work continue to shape how it engineers, builds, and supports motion solutions today.
Precision. Accountability. Longevity.
Those values remain unchanged.
