L.S. Starrett – Tooling

Where It Began

L.S. Starrett was founded 1880 in Athol, MA, which is still the Company’s World Headquarters. Starrett has a history and reputation so rich and solid that the words “quality” and “Starrett” are virtually synonymous.

The company employs about 2,000 people worldwide. Most precision tools continue to be manufactured in the Athol plant, where it is not uncommon to see devoted generations of toolmakers with 30 or more years of experience.

Precision Tools, Gages and Instruments

The broad Starrett product line includes precision tools (micrometers, calipers, rules, etc.), levels, electronic gages, dial indicators, gage blocks, granite surface plates, optical measuring projectors, vision systems, tape measures, M1 lubricant, precision ground flat stock and drill rod. The Company’s hand measuring tools and precision instruments are used by manufacturing companies, from small machine shops to Fortune 500 firms, to ensure the quality of their products.

Saw Blade Products

Starrett is also a major manufacturer of saw blade products. The broad line of band saw blades are used primarily in manufacturing facilities. The Company also offers power tool accessories including hole saws, jig and reciprocating blades and hacksaw products that are used on construction jobsites, home workshops and in manufacturing. Starrett blades are used to cut everything from metal and wood to exotic space age materials.

Wide Market Penetration and Distribution

Starrett tools are essential for inspecting and cutting the many products that are measured, cut, formed or assembled. The largest consumer of Starrett tools is the metalworking industry in general, and more specifically the automotive, aerospace and appliance industries, machinists, “do-it-yourselfers” and professional tradesmen. Starrett products are sold throughout the United States and worldwide through distributors and dealers. In recent years, the Company has broadened its product offering through acquisitions and innovative product line expansions to more effectively serve its customers.

Today, Starrett has nine manufacturing locations worldwide: Brazil, The U.K., China and The Dominican Republic, and five in the United States. See Manufacturing Facilities Worldwide for more detailed information. Annual sales of the company are in the vicinity of $250 million and the company is traded publicly on the NYSE.

Mitutoyo – Tooling

Mitutoyo was founded in 1934 by Yehan Numata with one product, the micrometer. Mitutoyo’s philosophy at that time was to make high-quality micrometers, but also to produce them in quantities that made them affordable and available to all of manufacturing. This philosophy was expanded in the next several decades to include a wider product offering focused on mechanical, dimensional gaging products, such as calipers, dial indicators, and other measuring tools.

As electronic technology became more widespread in the 1970s, Mitutoyo applied electronics to its line of dimensional gaging equipment to include electronic, or digital, measuring tools. During this time it also began to offer larger, more complex and more sensitive measuring instruments, including optical comparators, form measuring equipment, and coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). As statistical process control (SPC) was introduced, Mitutoyo led the world in the development of output gages, interfaces, data collectors and analysis software to take advantage of this new metrological science.

When the computer made its way into the field of metrology, Mitutoyo again shifted its focus to include this technology into its product offering and push measuring accuracies into the sub-micrometre range. Today, Mitutoyo presents its 6,000+ products as integrated, computer-based metrology systems, where they can be interconnected to form closed-loop-measuring networks.

Mitutoyo America Corporation was formed in 1963 and is headquartered in Aurora, Illinois (just outside of Chicago). Mitutoyo America offers the full product line of precision measuring tools, instruments and equipment with a distribution network, training and education classes, software development, and service support to provide a comprehensive metrology organization.

Dr. Yehan Numata is also the founder of Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai (BDK), the Society for the Promotion of Buddhism, which sponsors the Buddhist Canon Translation Project.

Mitutoyo – Gaging

Mitutoyo was founded in 1934 by Yehan Numata with one product, the micrometer. Mitutoyo’s philosophy at that time was to make high-quality micrometers, but also to produce them in quantities that made them affordable and available to all of manufacturing. This philosophy was expanded in the next several decades to include a wider product offering focused on mechanical, dimensional gaging products, such as calipers, dial indicators, and other measuring tools.

As electronic technology became more widespread in the 1970s, Mitutoyo applied electronics to its line of dimensional gaging equipment to include electronic, or digital, measuring tools. During this time it also began to offer larger, more complex and more sensitive measuring instruments, including optical comparators, form measuring equipment, and coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). As statistical process control (SPC) was introduced, Mitutoyo led the world in the development of output gages, interfaces, data collectors and analysis software to take advantage of this new metrological science.

When the computer made its way into the field of metrology, Mitutoyo again shifted its focus to include this technology into its product offering and push measuring accuracies into the sub-micrometre range. Today, Mitutoyo presents its 6,000+ products as integrated, computer-based metrology systems, where they can be interconnected to form closed-loop-measuring networks.

Mitutoyo America Corporation was formed in 1963 and is headquartered in Aurora, Illinois (just outside of Chicago). Mitutoyo America offers the full product line of precision measuring tools, instruments and equipment with a distribution network, training and education classes, software development, and service support to provide a comprehensive metrology organization.

Brown & Sharpe

The Brown & Sharpe brand name has been synonymous with quality for more than 150 years. Once a stand-alone company, today Brown & Sharpe is a flagship brand of the Hexagon Metrology group. Brown & Sharpe brand Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs), optical measuring systems, 1D, 2D and 3D benchtop measuring machines and precision hand tools represent the highest quality in design, construction and performance.

Brown & Sharpe brand coordinate measuring machines including the Global and ONE CMM series are manufactured in North Kingstown, Rhode Island by Hexagon Metrology, Inc., the U.S. based entity of the global Hexagon Metrology group. Measuring Machines built in the United States are bound for both North American and export markets.

Brown & Sharpe brand CMMs are also manufactured by Hexagon Metrology Qingdao Company, Ltd. , in Qingdao, China, for the local Chinese and Asian markets.

Brown & Sharpe brand equipment, plus DEA, Leitz, TESA and Sheffield branded measurement products are serviced and supported locally in North America by Hexagon Metrology, Inc.

Please note: Brown & Sharpe machine tools and screw machines are no longer sold, serviced or supported in any way by Hexagon Metrology, Inc.

Starrett – Gaging

Where It Began

L.S. Starrett was founded 1880 in Athol, MA, which is still the Company’s World Headquarters. Starrett has a history and reputation so rich and solid that the words “quality” and “Starrett” are virtually synonymous.

The company employs about 2,000 people worldwide. Most precision tools continue to be manufactured in the Athol plant, where it is not uncommon to see devoted generations of toolmakers with 30 or more years of experience.

Precision Tools, Gages and Instruments

The broad Starrett product line includes precision tools (micrometers, calipers, rules, etc.), levels, electronic gages, dial indicators, gage blocks, granite surface plates, optical measuring projectors, vision systems, tape measures, M1 lubricant, precision ground flat stock and drill rod. The Company’s hand measuring tools and precision instruments are used by manufacturing companies, from small machine shops to Fortune 500 firms, to ensure the quality of their products.

Saw Blade Products

Starrett is also a major manufacturer of saw blade products. The broad line of band saw blades are used primarily in manufacturing facilities. The Company also offers power tool accessories including hole saws, jig and reciprocating blades and hacksaw products that are used on construction jobsites, home workshops and in manufacturing. Starrett blades are used to cut everything from metal and wood to exotic space age materials.

Wide Market Penetration and Distribution

Starrett tools are essential for inspecting and cutting the many products that are measured, cut, formed or assembled. The largest consumer of Starrett tools is the metalworking industry in general, and more specifically the automotive, aerospace and appliance industries, machinists, “do-it-yourselfers” and professional tradesmen. Starrett products are sold throughout the United States and worldwide through distributors and dealers.