Salient Motion Opened Saginaw Parts Facility
The new precision parts division aims to shorten supply lead times for domestic manufacturers.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Manufacturing
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Hawthorne-based Salient Motion Inc. has launched a precision parts division and a new manufacturing facility in Saginaw, Michigan. The operation focuses on producing ball and roller screws to address domestic supply constraints for critical industrial components.
Why it matters
Domestic manufacturers currently face significant delays for precision parts, with China controlling 90% of the market for ball screws. Salient Motion intends to reduce lead times for custom actuators from years to approximately eight weeks.
Salient Motion aims for an annual output of 50,000 ball screws, which currently cost over $1,000 each and can take a year to procure. The expansion follows the company's $12 million venture capital raise in October 2024.
The players
Salient Motion Inc.
A Hawthorne-based manufacturer focusing on motion control technology and precision industrial components.
Garrett O'Brien
The leader of the new precision parts division at Salient Motion.
Boeing
A major global aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor.
Aviointeriors
An Italian aerospace company specializing in the design and manufacture of aircraft cabin interiors.
The details
The Saginaw site integrates ball and roller screw manufacturing into a single assembly line to create a vertical platform. By shortening procurement timelines, the company aims to move away from the current industry standard where parts take up to 12 months to acquire. This approach targets specific efficiency gains for mechanical systems, where ball screws provide 85% to 95% efficiency.
Timeline
2022: Salient Motion was founded.
October 2024: The company raised $12 million in venture capital.
January 2026: Collaborations were secured with Boeing and Boeing Ventures.
February 2026: A collaboration with Aviointeriors was secured.
2027: The facility is projected to reach full capacity.
Market Landscape
The firm is attempting to disrupt a supply chain where 90% of the market for ball screws is currently controlled by China. This move mirrors broader efforts across the industrial sector to localize production of high-precision components to insulate against global logistics disruptions.
Operators reliant on custom actuators should monitor if the eight-week lead time target is met, as this could significantly alter procurement planning. Businesses should assess whether their current hardware vendors are planning similar domestic capacity increases to avoid supply concentration risks.
The takeaway
Vertical integration of precision parts manufacturing is becoming a key strategy for companies looking to shorten multi-year lead times. Operators should evaluate their current hardware supply chains for exposure to the 90% market concentration in the ball screw sector.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts in production, see Manufacturing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Business Journal.
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