ANN ARBOR, Michigan & MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — ZOLLER Inc. officially launched the 2026 Toolroom of the Year competition during its Open House & Technology Days events in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Mississauga, Ontario. The competition, first introduced in the summer of 2023, celebrates manufacturers who use ZOLLER technology to optimize cutting tool management and maximize shop floor efficiency.

Recognizing the growing need for smart, connected manufacturing, the Toolroom of the Year competition highlights companies that exemplify operational excellence through the strategic implementation of ZOLLER solutions. Entries are judged by a panel of industry leaders and ZOLLER experts who evaluate candidates on key factors including tool organization and setup, integration with CAD/CAM systems, tooling stock transparency, and modernness of equipment.

The competition is now open to applicants across North America. Finalists will be announced in 2026, with third, second, and first-place winners to be revealed at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago. The first-place winner will receive a trip for two to the ZOLLER global headquarters and Smart Factory in Pleidelsheim, Germany. All finalists will also be featured in professionally produced videos showcasing their toolroom operations.

ZOLLER's most recent competition culminated at IMTS 2024, where Atlas Fibre, based in Northbrook, Illinois, was named the inaugural winner. Specializing in high-mix, high-volume machining for the aerospace, semiconductor, electrification, and defense sectors, Atlas Fibre stood out for its exemplary use of ZOLLER systems across its 120,000-square-foot facility. Judges praised the company’s ability to make data-driven decisions that reduced setup times, increased reliability, and significantly
improved production performance.

Second place was awarded to MetalQuest Unlimited, a precision machining company in Hebron, Nebraska, while Primetals Technologies, a global steel mill manufacturer with operations in Sutton, Massachusetts, took third. ProCam Services LLC, a full-service CNC shop in Zeeland, Michigan, received an honorable mention. 

"The future of efficient manufacturing is being shaped in the toolroom," said Rita Conroy-Martin, ZOLLER Inc. Director of Marketing & CX. "With the launch of the 2026 ZOLLER Toolroom of the Year Award, we’re proud to recognize and celebrate ZOLLER customers who are setting the benchmark for what a modern, connected, and future-ready toolroom should be."

For more information or to apply for the 2026 Toolroom of the Year competition, visit https://www.zoller-usa.com/events/toolroom-of-the-year-2026.