Analysis
NAICS 333517 is the 2022 national industry for machine tool manufacturing, part of 33351 (Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing). Census lists 90 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 1,195 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 28,524 people at an average annual payroll of $75,447 per employee (63rd percentile of national industries). 41% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include arbor presses, metalworking, manufacturing, automatic screw machines, metal cutting type, manufacturing, beader machines, metalworking, manufacturing and bending and forming machines, metalworking, manufacturing, among 90 in all.
Its goods appear in 256 statistical lines of the US tariff schedule, mostly under headings 8462 (machine tools (including presses) for working metal by…), 8459 (machine tools (including way-type unit head machines) for…) and 8461 (machine tools for planing, shaping, slotting, broaching…). That link is how import data is matched to domestic producers, for example in trade-remedy cases.
Census lists 4 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 333992, 333991, 333519 and 333515. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
For example, manufacturing welding and soldering equipment are classified in 333992 (Welding and Soldering Equipment Manufacturing) instead.
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) manufacturing metal cutting machine tools (except handtools) and/or (2) manufacturing metal forming machine tools (except handtools), such as punching, sheering, bending, forming, pressing, forging and die-casting machines.
Illustrative Examples:
Bending and forming machines, metalworking, manufacturing Buffing and polishing machines, metalworking, manufacturing Drilling machines, metalworking, manufacturing Grinding machines, metalworking, manufacturing Home workshop metal cutting machine tools (except handtools, welding equipment) manufacturing Metalworking lathes manufacturing Milling machines, metalworking, manufacturing Stamping machines, metalworking, manufacturing
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing welding and soldering equipment | 333992 Welding and Soldering Equipment Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing power-driven handtools | 333991 Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing rolling mill machinery and equipment | 333519 Rolling Mill and Other Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing accessories and attachments for metal cutting and forming machine tools (except saw blades) | 333515 Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing |
Index entries (90)
- Arbor presses, metalworking, manufacturing
- Automatic screw machines, metal cutting type, manufacturing
- Beader machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Bending and forming machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Boring machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Boring, drilling, and milling machine combinations, metalworking, manufacturing
- Brakes, press, metalworking, manufacturing
- Broaching machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Brushing machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Buffing and polishing machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Burnishing machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Can forming machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Centering machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Chamfering machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Chemical milling machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Chucking machines, automatic, metalworking, manufacturing
- Crankshaft grinding machines metal cutting type, manufacturing
- Custom roll forming machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Cut-off machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Cutting machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Cylinder boring machines metal cutting type, manufacturing
- Deburring machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Die sinking machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Die-casting machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Drill presses, metalworking, manufacturing
- Drilling machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Drop hammers, metal forging and shaping, manufacturing
- Duplicating machines (e.g., key cutting), metalworking, manufacturing
- Electrochemical milling machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Electrode discharge metal cutting machines manufacturing
- Electrolytic metal cutting machines manufacturing
- Electron-discharge metal cutting machines manufacturing
- Extruding machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Facing machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Filing machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Flange facing machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Forging machinery and hammers manufacturing
- Forming machines (except drawing), metalworking, manufacturing
- Gear cutting and finishing machines, metalworking, manufacturing
- Gear rolling machines, metalworking, manufacturing