Archie Montrose5 Best Machine Shops in Vancouver
When you are looking for the best machine shops in Vancouver, the task can seem overwhelming.
Machine shops are quite a specialty business, and there is hardly a clear answer as to which shop will be able to deliver what you require.
Keep reading as we list some of the best machine shops in Vancouver.
How Much Do Machine Shops Cost in Vancouver
Machine shops charge different fees for different services. Size, type, and urgency are all important factors in determining how much it will cost.
In general, custom machining costs CAD 30 per hour, while projects that require CNC machining can cost up to CAD 80 per hour.
Take a look at the table below to see the most common type of service and their average estimated rates.
Best Machine Shops in Vancouver
If you’re in the market for a new cutting machine, flooring machine, or anything in between, you would want a reliable company to do business with. When you need a new machine, you’ll undoubtedly want it to be high-quality.
This is why we’ve assessed the following companies based on the criteria below:
1. AMT Machine and Fabricating Shop Ltd.
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Inventory | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Variety of Machines | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Availability | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Rates | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Payment Methods | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Financing Options | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
AMT Machine and Fabricating Shop Ltd. is a full-service custom machine and fabrication company that can accommodate various projects using different materials.
This company offers custom machining services and employs cutting-edge software and equipment such as grinders, milling machines, and planers.
Apart from that, we believe that this establishment is ideal for businesses and industrial companies that require custom machinery.
We also liked that they have a comprehensive work portfolio with examples of previous projects.
We believe this is an effective way for prospective clients to see a sample of their work and decide if they’re a good fit.
Unfortunately, they have a slow turnaround time as they can only accommodate a few clients simultaneously. We also want to mention that they have relatively higher rates.
However, we believe this is reasonable given that they use high-quality equipment that makes them efficient.
Moreover, many of the customers we’ve spoken to comment on how accommodating they were as they’re able to fit in small jobs on short notice.
Overall, we believe AMT Machine and Fabricating Shop Ltd. is one of the best machine shops in Vancouver because they provide custom machining services with cutting-edge technology.
Pros
- Full-service custom machine and fabrication services
- Utilizes modern equipment
- Comprehensive portfolio
- Able to accommodate small jobs on short notice
Cons
- Relatively higher rates
- Slow turnaround time
Customer Reviews
Fair prices and able to accommodate last-minute jobs
“Adam fit me in on short notice for a small job machining a sleeve for an output shaft. Tidy work for a reasonable cost.” -Nigel T.
Highly recommended for all fabrication needs
“I’ve been going to Adam for all my fabrication needs for over 10 years. He can make your fabrication/machining dreams come true. I recommend him to all my friends and family.” -Jordan F.
2. Nova Machine Works Ltd.
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Inventory | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Variety of Machines | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Availability | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Rates | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Payment Methods | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Financing Options | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Established in 1986, Nova Machine Works Ltd. has provided CNC Machining, Manual Machining, and Design Services in North Vancouver.
We were immediately impressed by the fact that they have in-house designers who can assist you in creating your own custom machine.
These experts will assist you in creating an efficient machine design at no additional cost.
In our opinion, this feature is what sets them apart, as it’s included in their custom machining package.
We also appreciate that they thoroughly listed down all their in-house equipment on their website so customers can see what type of work they can accommodate.
However, we did notice that they only have one bandsaw machine, which means that projects requiring woodworking, metalworking, or lumbering can only be accommodated one at a time.
Despite this, we were impressed by their extensive experience working with various materials. We believe this qualifies them to handle any project, no matter how complex.
These materials include, but are not limited to, aluminium, steel, copper, and various other materials used in custom machining.
Aside from this, they also have manual machining for small projects using their manual lathe and mill machines.
If you’re looking for a machine shop that can handle both small and large machine projects, then we highly recommend Nova Machine Works Ltd.
Pros
- In-house designers
- Has experience working with many kinds of materials
- Manual machining services available
Cons
- Only one bandsaw machine
- Closed on weekends
Customer Reviews
Competitive pricing
“Blazingly fast response to quote requests, good technical communication, and competitive pricing! Happy to keep supporting such great local businesses!.” -Bentley B.
Reasonable prices
“Great place for all your machining needs…good prices and quality work.” -Nat D.
3. Mantech Enterprises Inc.
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Inventory | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Variety of Machines | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Availability | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Rates | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Payment Methods | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Financing Options | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Mantech Enterprises Inc., which has been in business since 1995, provides custom manufacturing solutions. They have clients from various industries worldwide, which allows them to accommodate any project, whether small or complex.
Some of the services they offer include waterjet cutting, welding, CNC machining, and fabrication. We found it impressive that they do all of the design and production in their 20,000-square-foot manufacturing plant.
In our opinion, having their own facility assures the consistency and quality of their products. In addition, they also have in-house engineers that are located next door to perform on-site quality control.
Moreover, they also offer advanced paper systems, from threading to tail-cutting machines, that can handle all paper grades.
Now, we were a little disappointed that they don’t have in-house designers, as we believe this would have been a great addition to their services, allowing them to collaborate with their engineers.
Nonetheless, the majority of the customers we’ve interviewed appreciate how accommodating they are because they can complete jobs quickly without sacrificing quality.
We felt Mantech Enterprises Inc. deserved a spot on our list because they can accommodate large and small projects within their manufacturing facilities.
Pros
- Years of experience
- Has clients worldwide
- Own manufacturing plant
- In-house engineers
- Fast turnaround time
Cons
- No in-house designers
- Only open four days a week
Customer Reviews
Fast and efficient
“Fast, efficient and great people.” -Ric M.
Very accommodating
“Luke was very accommodating and helped me with a CNC project that I couldn’t have done without him. He was quick and completed the job perfectly. I’ll be coming back for more soon and I’d highly recommend him to anyone after my experience today.” -Andrew T.
4. Tri-City Industries
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Inventory | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Variety of Machines | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Availability | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Rates | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Payment Methods | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Financing Options | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Tri-City Industries is a Lower Mainland welding and machining company. We were immediately impressed by their large team of machinists with combined experience, which we believe makes them more efficient.
This company focuses on manufacturing and repairs. We liked that they have extensive experience repairing both new and worn parts, as we believe this will allow them to serve a wide range of clients.
Another thing we liked was that they have four lathes machines. This, in our opinion, allows them to accommodate multiple projects simultaneously, allowing customers to expect a quick turnaround time.
What sets them apart is that they offer railway services in Canada. Tri-City Industries offers preventive maintenance whether you prefer to have monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual checks.
In addition, we thought it was a nice addition to this service that they could implement and design preventative programs to suit varying business needs.
Unfortunately, they have relatively higher rates. However, we liked that they have 24/7 emergency breakdown assistance.
In fact, most of the consumers we interviewed emphasized how responsive they are because they can respond to questions and concerns over the phone right away.
On a whole, we highly recommend Tri-City Industries because they offer 24/7 support and can accommodate machining projects for all metals and plastics.
Pros
- Experienced machinists
- Can repair new and worn parts
- 4 lathes machines
- 24/7 emergency breakdown assistance
Cons
- Relatively higher rates
- Limited machining options
Customer Reviews
Good quality
“Great people, good quality work. Highly recommended.” -Tony H.
Awesome people
“Great people to work with.” -Erin B.
5. Sequoia Manufacturing Inc.
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Inventory | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Variety of Machines | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Availability | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Rates | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Payment Methods | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Financing Options | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Sequoia Manufacturing Inc. is a CNC machine shop in North Vancouver that specializes in creating prototypes of custom parts.
What we liked best about them is that they have worked with various industries, including robotics, electronics, and forestry. This, in our opinion, enables them to do business with almost all industries involved in machining.
We liked how they have dedicated product development services for clients who need assistance with a product idea or design. We believe this service is best suited for start-ups that require assistance designing custom machinery.
If you already have ideas for your product design, Sequoia Manufacturing Inc. offers CNC machining services to bring them to life. We thought this made them very flexible because they could produce products in any quantity.
Having said that, we’re not fans of their limited material selection. Nonetheless, we appreciate that they conduct multiple quality control inspections, as we believe this ensures that each product is consistent and of excellent quality.
Most of the customers we’ve spoken with have also expressed their appreciation for their exceptional attention to detail and craftsmanship.
If you’re looking for a machine shop in Vancouver, we think you should try out Sequoia Manufacturing Inc.
Pros
- Specializes in creating prototypes of custom parts
- Has worked with a variety of industries
- Dedicated product development services
- Quick turnaround time
- Performs quality control
Cons
- Limited range of materials
- Relatively higher rates
Customer Reviews
Excellent workmanship
“Martin has exceptional attention to detail and perfect craftmanship. He is a pleasure to deal with….punctual, fair pricing and trustworthy.” -Caree S.
Top-notch customer service
“Very Impressed with the quality!! Excellent customer service.” -Barry M.
FAQs about Machine Shops in Vancouver
A good machine shop will be able to keep your equipment running smoothly and efficiently, saving you money in the long run.
We hope our list has helped you find the right machine shops for your needs.
In case you’re looking for tools or equipment, read our article on the best hardware stores in Vancouver.
