Flex Machine Tools has acquired TARUS, a 57-year-old US machine tool manufacturer based in the Detroit metropolitan area. The acquisition became effective on July 1. TARUS is one of the few remaining American companies that designs and manufactures large CNC machine tools in the United States. The company supplies equipment and solutions to customers in the automotive, aerospace, defence, heavy industry, energy and mould and die sectors.
The acquisition will expand Flex Machine Tools’ manufacturing capacity and add TARUS’ engineering expertise and large-scale CNC machining capabilities to its operations. TARUS will continue to operate under its existing name from its Detroit-area facility. The company will retain its focus on large and high-precision machine tools while becoming part of the wider Flex Machine Tools business.
Don Kemper, President of Flex Machine Tools and TARUS, said the acquisition brings together complementary strengths of the two companies. He said TARUS has engineering expertise and production capacity, while Flex Machine Tools has strong market demand and requires additional capacity for large, precision-machined components.
According to Mr Kemper, the combination will provide greater control over quality, costs and production schedules. It will also increase vertical integration and strengthen the companies’ ability to respond to customer requirements. Nick Kennedy, CEO of Flex Machine Tools, said the acquisition reflects the company’s commitment to manufacturing in the United States. He said American-made machine tools have an important role in supporting domestic manufacturing and that TARUS has maintained its focus on US manufacturing for more than five decades.
The acquisition will allow Flex Machine Tools to increase the amount of equipment and components it can manufacture in the United States using American-built machinery. Flex Machine Tools has been developing machine tool solutions for more than 50 years. The company is based in Wapakoneta, Ohio, and has served more than 25,000 customers worldwide.
Its product portfolio includes FlexArm tapping arms, FlexCNC vertical machining centres, FlexJet waterjet systems and ergonomic manufacturing solutions. TARUS operates as a vertically integrated machine tool manufacturer serving customers across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. It has established a strong position in automotive design studio solutions and specialises in large-volume, high-precision five-axis CNC machines for heavy industrial applications.
In 1984, TARUS introduced the claymill, creating a new machine category for automotive design studios. The acquisition is expected to increase manufacturing capacity, strengthen engineering capabilities and support both companies’ long-term growth in the global machine tool market.
