TRUMPF has agreed to acquire Mate Precision Technologies, a move that hands sheet metal fabricators a broader range of punching and bending tools, including, for the first time, tooling compatible with machines outside TRUMPF's own lineup.

Until now, TRUMPF's bending and punching tools have only worked with TRUMPF machines. Mate, a Minnesota-based tooling manufacturer with U.S. production roots going back more than 60 years, builds tooling compatible with nearly every major machine brand on the market. Combining the two portfolios means fabricators running mixed-brand shop floors get more tooling options from a single supplier, rather than sourcing separately for each machine brand.

"Mate manufactures tooling for nearly every major machine brand worldwide and shares our dedication to the success of machine tool customers. Mate's tooling expertise, U.S. manufacturing footprint, and trusted customer relationships will help us to expand our support for sheet metal fabricators with an even greater range of solutions," said Lutz Labisch, President and CEO of TRUMPF, Inc.

Mate will keep operating under its own name, with its management, international teams, products, and customer contacts staying in place. Joe Schneider, a 32-year veteran of the company, continues as president and CEO.

"The Mate story continues, we're just beginning a new chapter. To the team that built this company: the work we do and the culture we've created are exactly what TRUMPF values, and that remains the same. With TRUMPF behind us, we will be able to grow faster and support our customers in more places than we could alone," Schneider stated.

For plant managers and procurement leads, the deal also strengthens domestic manufacturing capacity. Mate's Minnesota operations join TRUMPF's Farmington, Connecticut, facility, where TRUMPF has manufactured products for more than 50 years, giving the combined company two established U.S. production sites supporting fabricators across North America.

"For more than 60 years, Mate has been built on respect for our people and support for our customers—values equally supported by TRUMPF. Joining TRUMPF secures that legacy and opens the door to substantial growth through TRUMPF's global customer base and sales network, while preserving the brand, team, and independence in the market that our customers know and trust," said Dean Sundquist, Former Mate Chairman.

The bottom line for fabricators is that existing contracts, products, and points of contact stay the same. What changes is the resource pool behind Mate's tooling, which is now backed by a global machine tool manufacturer's supply chain and reach.