The old proverb “Fortune favors the bold” is just as true today as it was when it was first used in ancient Rome. Case in point is Mike Bauer, owner of Marathon Precision and a big believer in staying curious, adaptable, and willing to invest in new manufacturing technology when the risk is worth the reward.If You Buy It, They Will ComeWhen first building the Wheeling, Illinois-based company in 2001, Bauer took a leap of faith and invested in his first CNC lathe, believing it would be critical for future business. This forward-looking strategy has positioned Bauer to capitalize on future opportunities. For example, he gave a sizeable down payment two years before the introduction of Haas’s (IMTS booth #338100) premier five-axis machine just so he could have one of the first machines ever made. “I believe in technology,” said Bauer in a recent episode of Making Chips. “If you buy [technology] before anybody else and get good at it, chances are you can win more business. When I get people into my shop and they see the technology investment, I’ll get some percentage of their work.”Rethinking the RiskBauer’s openness to investing in new technology has driven profitable growth. During IMTS 2024, Marathon’s team discovered and purchased the Keyence VL-700 Series 3D Scanner CMM. Marathon lead production engineer Mike Foy calls it a “game changer,” as it has already opened doors to new clients and jobs that the shop previously wouldn’t have been able to support.Bauer was so impressed with the new Keyence (IMTS booth #134129) scanner that he invited a good friend and fellow machine shop owner to check it out, but the friend balked at the $72,000 price tag – a common reaction he’s seen in the industry. “It’s unfortunate when shop owners have a closed-off mindset about investing in new technology,” Bauer said. “By adding up your time inspecting parts for the next three years, it’s easy to see how much time investment in new technology saves to justify the initial cost.”Previously, Marathon relied heavily on more traditional quality control methods, but the new Keyence allows the shop to scan parts mid-process and get a precise digital model to catch issues that could have slipped through the cracks. “With advanced inspection in-house, we don’t hesitate to take tough jobs. That’s how we’ve been able to grow,” Bauer adds.Investing in the FutureToday, Marathon has more than 50 CNC machines, including Sodick, Inc. (IMTS booth #338640) and Matsuura Machinery USA Inc. (IMTS booth #338630) CNCs, a full lathe department, a Helitronic G 200 tool grinder from Walter (a member of UNITED MACHINING Solutions, IMTS booth #236802), Mazak (IMTS booth #338300) Integrex multispindles, chemical milling equipment, high-precision Sodick mills, Sodick wire and sinker EDMs, waterjet and laser-cutting machines, and a Haimer USA (IMTS booth #431510) tool setter.Bauer’s strategy to search out emerging technology includes sending teams to IMTS to walk the show floor and talk with fellow engineers. He believes that exposure to new ideas is just as important as the machines themselves. By staying open to change and trusting the team to explore new capabilities, Marathon Precision continues to evolve – one machine at a time.Check out the latest manufacturing technology that can drive your company’s growth at IMTS 2026, held September 14-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Register for IMTS 2026.
Learn more about how Mike Bauer's philosophy on bold investments in technology has helped his job shop, Marathon Precision, grow.
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