Aerospace Manufacturing

Throughput in an aerospace shop is measured in tolerances held and parts delivered on schedule, and the equipment that determines both of those outcomes is expensive, specialized, and slow to procure. A five-axis CNC machining center for titanium structural components, a coordinate measuring machine for first-article inspection, or a composite autoclave for primary structure laminates all carry price tags that make internal capital approval a multi-quarter conversation. Meanwhile the production schedule does not adjust to the capital planning calendar.

We finance aerospace manufacturing equipment including CNC machining centers, EDM systems, composite fabrication equipment, precision inspection machines, and the associated automation that keeps high-value parts moving through the cell. Our minimum is $50,000 and most aerospace deals we structure fall landing between $100k and $500k. New and used equipment are both eligible. Application-only approvals up to roughly $400,000 require only three months of bank statements and move in one to two weeks from application to funding.

Equipment Types We Finance

CNC machining centers are the core asset in most aerospace shops, from three-axis vertical mills for aluminum airframe parts to five-axis horizontal machining centers for complex titanium and Inconel components. These machines run from $150,000 for a capable but basic three-axis configuration to well above $1,000,000 for a large-table five-axis with integrated pallet changers and probing. Both ends of that range are in our financing wheelhouse.

Coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) for first-article inspection and in-process quality verification are another common category. A granite-bed CMM from Zeiss, Hexagon, or Brown and Sharpe in the 500mm to 1,000mm range costs $80,000 to $400,000. These are precision instruments with established secondary markets, which lenders treat favorably as collateral. Composite fabrication equipment, including heated forming presses, fiber placement machines, and autoclaves for curing primary structure, is also eligible. Those assets are larger and more specialized, but the same structure applies: identifiable asset, documented revenue, and a credit profile we can work with.

Precision grinders, surface treatment systems, non-destructive testing equipment (including digital radiography and ultrasonic inspection stations), and laser measurement systems all fall within the aerospace manufacturing equipment universe we finance. Supporting automation like part-transfer robots and Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Financing for moving high-value work-in-process through a controlled-access cell can be included in the same transaction.

Aerospace Manufacturers We Work With

The aerospace supply chain has layers, and we work at most of them. Prime contractors running internal fabrication shops for fuselage or engine structural components, Tier 1 suppliers manufacturing flight-critical assemblies like landing gear components and hydraulic actuators, and Tier 2 job shops holding NADCAP approvals for specialized processes like chemical milling or heat treatment all have equipment financing needs we can address.

MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) facilities that repair and recertify aircraft components also qualify. MRO capital spending patterns are different from production shops, often tied to a specific aircraft fleet overhaul cycle, but the equipment types are similar and the credit evaluation is the same. Defense sub-contractors with multi-year production contracts are a particularly clean credit profile because the revenue visibility is strong.

Shops in the Pacific Northwest aerospace corridor around Kent, WA, in the Wichita, KS aerospace cluster, and in the Huntsville, AL defense manufacturing corridor are all active markets for us. These areas have established aerospace ecosystems with deep supplier bases, and financing equipment to serve those programs is a core part of what we do.

Timeline from Application to Funding

Aerospace equipment financing moves faster than most shops expect. The application process starts with a one-page form and three months of bank statements. For transactions up to $400,000, that documentation package is typically all a lender needs to reach a credit decision. The decision comes back in two to four business days. Funding after approval and documentation signing generally completes in three to five additional business days.

Larger credits, or credits with complexity such as a business that went through a recent ownership change or has a tax lien being resolved, require a more complete financial package. Even in those situations, turnaround is measured in weeks, not months. The practical difference between our process and a traditional bank equipment loan is not just speed, it is certainty. A bank may run a 90-day process and still decline. Our credit committee gives a faster and more predictable answer.

Application-Only Equipment Financing for Production Lines is the fastest path for shops with routine aerospace production revenue. If the deal is clean, the asset is identifiable, and three months of statements show consistent deposits, the process rarely gets complicated.

Rates, Terms, and Deal Structure

Aerospace equipment financing typically structures over 36 to 84 months depending on asset type and credit profile. A well-maintained CMM with an active resale market supports a longer term. Highly specialized single-purpose equipment may carry a shorter term because the resale market is narrower. The rate environment varies by credit and asset, and we do not publish rates because the right structure depends on factors specific to each transaction.

For shops weighing whether to use Equipment Loans or Equipment Leasing, the choice often comes down to ownership intent and tax strategy. A loan is typically right when the shop wants to own the machine outright at end of term and take full depreciation benefits. A lease is right when the shop wants operational flexibility or needs to match the payment structure to a specific program contract duration. Both options are available, and we can run through the tradeoffs for a specific asset and credit profile during the application process.

Finance Your Aerospace Manufacturing Equipment

Submit a short application with your equipment details and we respond within one business day. We work with NADCAP-approved shops, defense sub-contractors, MRO facilities, and general aerospace job shops. Minimum $50,000, new and used equipment considered, B and C credit profiles eligible.