Looking for quick answers about Gates Albert’s precision machining capabilities, industries served, and production expertise? This FAQ hub covers our most common customer questions — from the types of parts and raw materials we machine to our certifications, lead times, and sustainability practices.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gates Albert
1. What services does Gates Albert provide?
Gates Albert machines parts for its customers. These parts are usually less than 1” in diameter and less than 3” long, but diameters up to 12” and lengths greater than 3” can be machined by Gates Albert’s nearby sister-companies. These parts can be made from steel, stainless steel, alloy steels, nylon, certain other plastics, brass, copper, aluminum, titanium, A286, and other metallic and non-metallic materials.
2. How are parts made at Gates Albert?
Gates Albert machines parts using multi-spindle automatic and hybrid CNC lathes. Multi-spindle automatic and CNC-controlled lathes produce parts very quickly and efficiently because the machines simultaneously machine more than one part or work-piece at a time. This reduces unit costs and improves the overall value realization by the customer when compared to alternative production methods.
3. What kinds of parts does Gates Albert produce?
Gates Albert manufactures high-volume, precision-machined parts in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations. Depending on the application, our parts may include:
- Features: slotted, flat, recessed, threaded, knurled, or burnished surfaces
- Machining elements: drilled or partial holes, milled faces, and turned profiles
- Surface finishes: untouched raw surfaces or precision-machined textures
- Post-processing options: passivation, chromating, painting, plating, and decorative finishes
Every part is built to spec for performance, reliability, and efficiency—whether it’s a simple turned pin or a complex, multi-featured component. See our profile of productivity for a complete list.
4. What raw materials does Gates Albert machine?
The parts that Gates Albert makes typically start from long pieces of raw material known as bar stock (usually 12’ long). Bar stock can be tubular, round, square, hexagonal, rectangular, or even custom formed.
Sometimes, parts begin as extruded shapes, forgings, or castings before being machined in multi-spindle lathes (a process sometimes called a chucker operation).
Materials we machine include:
- Steel
- Stainless steel
- Alloy steels
- Nylon
- Certain other plastics
- Brass
- Copper
- Aluminum
- Titanium
- A286
- Other metallic and non-metallic materials
5. What industries use Gates Albert’s machined parts?
Gates Albert serves a wide range of industries that require high-volume, precision-machined components. Our parts are commonly found in:
- Automotive & Transportation – including heavy trucks, motorcycles, braking systems, and RVs
- Aerospace & Defense – for use in fuel systems, controls, and structural components
- Hydraulics & Fluid Power – valves, poppets, sleeves, fittings, and motion control parts
- Electrical & Telecommunications – connectors, fiber optic components, housings, and sleeves
- Plumbing & HVAC – fixtures, fittings, and components for heating and cooling systems
- Medical & Industrial Equipment – including metering sets, actuators, and small mechanisms
- Consumer & Recreational Products – from home appliances to lawn equipment and watercraft
- Construction & Agriculture – with parts used in heavy equipment, tools, and machinery
Our parts are engineered for durability, consistency, and performance—supporting everything from high-volume consumer products to mission-critical industrial systems.
6. When should someone contact Gates Albert for their production needs?
Gates Albert specializes in making parts that have more than 50,000 pieces per year of annual demand. Typical quantities produced exceed 250,000 pieces per item. Since Gates Albert currently makes more than 160 million parts per year, large quantities are welcomed and encouraged. Smaller quantities can be manufactured by Gates Albert’s nearby sister-companies.
7. How does Gates Albert ensure quality when making so many parts?
Gates Albert ensures quality through rigorous engineering and pre-production quality planning, as well as through the use of several ultra-high speed vision inspection systems. In addition, Gates Albert uses rigorous quality control systems, and is AS 9100D, ISO 9001-2015, and IATF 16949:2016 registered.
8. How does Gates Albert clean so many parts?
Gates Albert uses closed, vacuum cleaning and degreasing systems to ensure its parts are free of oils, contaminants, and chips. These systems also ensure that Gates Albert’s facility is clean, and environmentally friendly.
9. Can Gates Albert machine my part?
If you need a high-volume, precision-machined part, there’s a good chance we can make it. Gates Albert specializes in components under 1” in diameter and under 3” in length—but we also work with a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and materials through our sister companies. We typically work with production runs of 50,000+ pieces annually, with many parts exceeding 250,000 per year.
Want to find out if we can make your part?
Contact Our Team to Talk Through Your Needs
10. Where is Gates Albert located?
Gates Albert is proudly located in North Chili, New York, just west of Rochester. We serve clients across the United States and beyond, shipping high-volume precision parts to OEMs, tiered suppliers, and industrial customers in a wide range of sectors.
Address:
3431 Union Street
North Chili, NY 14514
Phone: 585.594.9401
sales@gatesalbert.com
11. What’s the typical lead time for production?
Lead times at Gates Albert vary depending on the complexity and volume of the part, but most high-volume production orders fall within 6–12 weeks from approval to delivery. We work closely with customers to meet critical timelines and maintain reliable delivery schedules. For urgent or time-sensitive needs, we’ll explore all available options to expedite production.
12. Does Gates Albert offer engineering or DFM support?
Yes. Our team works directly with your engineers to review part designs and offer Design for Manufacturability (DFM) feedback that can reduce cost, improve cycle time, and simplify production. Whether you’re refining an existing print or looking to optimize material and tooling strategies, we’re here to help you design smarter.
13. What are Gates Albert’s machining tolerances and capabilities?
We routinely hold tight tolerances down to ±0.0002”, depending on part geometry and material. Our multi-spindle and hybrid CNC lathes are ideal for small, high-precision parts under 1” diameter, but we also support larger sizes through affiliated facilities. Complex features like threads, knurling, recesses, and special surface finishes are common in our parts.
14. What is Gates Albert’s shipping and delivery process?
Gates Albert ships nationwide and internationally from our facility in North Chili, New York. We offer standard bulk packaging or customer-specified options, including barcoded labeling and lot tracking. Most parts are shipped via LTL freight or parcel, but we can also accommodate scheduled releases, drop shipments, or just-in-time delivery programs.
15. What’s the onboarding process for new customers?
Getting started with Gates Albert is simple:
- Share your part drawings or specs for review
- Our team provides a quote, including any DFM recommendations
- Once approved, we move into pre-production planning and scheduling
- Production begins, and you’ll receive regular updates through delivery
We’ll also work with your procurement and quality teams to ensure compliance with documentation and certifications.
16. What is Gates Albert’s approach to sustainability and compliance?
Gates Albert uses closed-loop vacuum degreasing systems to eliminate oils and contaminants in an environmentally safe way. We prioritize sustainable practices and maintain certifications including AS 9100D, ISO 9001:2015, and IATF 16949:2016 to meet the strictest quality and regulatory standards in aerospace, automotive, and industrial markets.
