Machines never break at a good time. A pump shaft cracks on Friday afternoon, a thread strips on a rush order, or a new product needs ten test parts by Monday. In moments like these, the shop you call decides how fast you get back to work.
Houston has plenty of choices, so we sorted five of them by the problem each one solves best. Lowrance Machine leads the list because it can make a part, build a mold, cut a special bolt, or repair a damaged piece, all in one place. If you are comparing a machine shop Houston TX customers can rely on, start with the table below.
Start With Your Problem, Not the Shop
| Your problem | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You need parts, molds, special bolts, and repairs from one shop | Lowrance Machine | Full range of work, 60+ years, ISO 9001:2015 |
| Something broke and you need it fast | ER Machining | Offers emergency machining and offsite welding |
| The sizes must be extremely exact | Owens Industries | Known for ultra-precision micro parts and 5-axis milling |
| A prototype must grow into regular production | Exaktheit, Inc. | Handles prototypes through production quantities |
| You want one partner for full production | Gannon & Gresham Manufacturing | Offers prototyping through turnkey production |
1. Lowrance Machine: One Shop for Parts, Molds, and Repairs
| Fast fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 13510 East Hardy Road, Houston, TX 77039 |
| Phone | (281) 449-6524 |
| Website | https://www.lowrancemachine.com |
| Started | 1964, still family-owned |
| Quality system | ISO 9001:2015 certified |
Many buyers look for a CNC machine shop in Houston TX and then find out later that they also need a mold fixed or a bolt made in a size nobody sells. Lowrance Machine was built for that kind of day. Since 1964, this family company has made and repaired parts for customers in oil and gas, aerospace, medical, packaging, and chemical work.
Its shop floor has horizontal and vertical lathes, machining centers, and manual machines. CNC machines follow a computer program, so every part matches the last one. Manual machines let a skilled machinist shape a single part or make a quick fix without writing a full program.
Three real jobs Lowrance Machine takes on
- Making engineered parts such as piston rods, bearing housings, seal rings, and custom flanges.
- Building or repairing rubber and urethane molds, which are the shapes that liquid material is poured into.
- Rescuing damaged equipment through shaft repair, thread restoration, broken bolt removal, and component rebuilding.
It also makes non-standard bolts, studs, and nuts to your written specifications, and it offers faster service when you ask for it. Because one team handles planning, machining, and final inspection, you do not have to pass your job from shop to shop.
Get started: Send your drawing or broken part to Lowrance Machine and ask for a quote.
2. ER Machining: Best When Something Broke and You Need It Now
ER Machining describes itself as a high-precision CNC shop in Houston, and it lists emergency machining among its main services. It also offers custom machining, CNC turning and milling, prototype and high-volume work, and offsite welding.
Its list of extras is long. It includes metal fabrication, design services, laser cutting, wire EDM cutting, 3D printing, and reverse engineering. Reverse engineering means measuring an existing part and rebuilding it when the original drawing is lost, which is common with older equipment.
Ask them about: How quickly they can start an emergency job.
3. Owens Industries: Best When the Sizes Must Be Extremely Exact
Owens Industries focuses on ultra-precision, micro-sized machined parts. Its services include 5-axis milling, wire EDM, and lathe work. The company says large aircraft makers such as Boeing use its machining services.
It serves aerospace, defense, food processing, medical, oil and gas, and tool and die customers, and it says it keeps the details of defense components confidential. That makes it a good fit for small parts with very tight size limits.
Ask them about: Whether your part is the right size and type for their micromachining work.
4. Exaktheit, Inc.: Best When a Prototype Must Grow Into Production
Exaktheit is an ISO 9001 certified precision machine shop in the 77092 area of Houston. It started in 2011 and specializes in CNC turning and milling. Turning spins the metal while a tool cuts it, and milling moves a spinning cutter across the metal.
The shop handles prototypes and production quantities, so you can test a design with a few pieces and then order more without changing vendors. Its customers range from aerospace to oil and gas.
Ask them about: Price breaks when you move from prototype to larger orders.
5. Gannon & Gresham Manufacturing: Best for Turnkey Production
Gannon & Gresham Manufacturing is a precision CNC shop in Brookshire, Texas, serving the Houston area since 2005. It offers everything from prototyping to full turnkey production, which means the shop manages the whole job for you. It works with many kinds of materials and builds parts to your specifications.
Ask them about: Which steps they handle in-house and which they send out.
Side-by-Side Snapshot
| Shop | Known for | Started |
|---|---|---|
| Lowrance Machine | Machining, molds, special fasteners, repairs | 1964 |
| ER Machining | Emergency and custom machining | Not stated |
| Owens Industries | Ultra-precision micro parts | Not stated |
| Exaktheit, Inc. | CNC turning and milling | 2011 |
| Gannon & Gresham Manufacturing | Prototype to turnkey production | 2005 |
What to Do the Moment a Part Breaks
Whichever shop you call, these steps help you get a faster and better repair:
- Step 1: Keep every piece of the broken part, even tiny chips. They show how it failed.
- Step 2: Take clear photos and write down the machine it came from.
- Step 3: Measure what you can, or bring the matching part from the other side.
- Step 4: Note the material if you know it, such as steel or aluminum.
- Step 5: Tell the shop your deadline right away so they can plan the work.
When you contact a machine shop Houston plants trust, a clear starting package like this helps them quote the job in less time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Houston machine shop can do both custom parts and repairs?
Lowrance Machine does both. It makes engineered parts, special fasteners, and molds, and it repairs shafts, threads, and broken bolts.
Does Lowrance Machine make special bolts?
Yes. It produces non-standard bolts, studs, nuts, and other fasteners made to your specifications.
What is a CNC machine shop?
It is a shop that uses computer-controlled machines to cut metal into exact shapes. Lowrance Machine also keeps manual machines for jobs that need a skilled hand.
Final Thoughts
Each shop here solves a different problem. ER Machining stands out for emergencies, Owens Industries for tiny and exact parts, Exaktheit for prototype-to-production work, and Gannon & Gresham for turnkey runs. But if you want a single CNC machine shop in Houston that can build your part, make your mold, cut your special bolt, and repair what breaks, Lowrance Machine is the strongest all-around choice.
Ready to begin? Visit Lowrance Machine or call (281) 449-6524 to talk about your project.