Machine Tool Exchange buys used CNC machines and fabrication equipment directly from general fabrication shops, job shops, and contract manufacturers across all 50 states. Whether you are closing the shop, retiring, right-sizing the floor, swapping an aging CO2 laser for a fiber machine, or clearing a cell after a contract ends, we give you a fast, fair, market-based quote and pay at pickup. We buy the whole fab-shop floor: the press brakes, lasers, plasma tables, and shears that cut and form metal, and the VMCs, lathes, turning centers, and HMCs that machine it.
We are not an auction site and not a broker. We are the buyer. One call, one quote, one transaction. The press brakes, fiber and CO2 lasers, plasma cutters, and machining centers that build brackets, weldments, enclosures, and structural-steel parts are well-built iron that holds strong value on the secondary market. We price it for what it really is, and we buy it whether one press brake is going out the door or an entire shop is being liquidated.
Call 800-822-9524 or submit your machine details to get a quote within 24-48 hours.
We Buy CNC Machines From General Fabrication
Machine Tool Exchange is a direct buyer of used CNC machines and fabrication equipment from general fabrication shops, job shops, and contract manufacturers nationwide. MTE buys CNC press brakes, fiber and CO2 laser cutters, plasma cutters, shears, tube and pipe benders, CNC routers, vertical machining centers, CNC lathes and turning centers, and horizontal machining centers from fabrication operations in any condition, single machines or a full shop liquidation.
General fabrication is the broadest corner of metalworking, and it runs on both chip-making and metal-forming. A fab shop takes carbon steel, structural steel, aluminum, and stainless plate and sheet and turns it into brackets, frames, weldments, enclosures, chassis, ductwork, railings, machine bases, and the thousands of one-off and short-run parts that every other industry depends on. The cutting and forming side is what sets fabrication apart: a fiber laser or plasma table blanks the part out of sheet or plate, a press brake bends it to shape, a shear squares the stock, and a tube bender forms the structural members. The machining side then drills, taps, mills, and turns the features that the forming work cannot produce. MTE buys both halves of that floor, because a fab shop sells the whole operation, not just the mills and lathes.
MTE buys that equipment directly. We are not a listing service, not an auction house, and not a broker. We purchase your equipment outright, never on consignment, and we pay at pickup. We handle the rigging, crating, and freight at no cost to you, whether one CNC press brake is leaving the building or an entire fabrication shop is being cleared after a retirement or closure.
If you have CNC machines or fabrication equipment sitting in a fab or job shop, call 800-822-9524 or fill out the form on our sell page.
CNC Machines Used in General Fabrication
Fabrication shops are the most common CNC machine owners in the United States. From one-person job shops to 50-person contract manufacturers, fab shops run the widest mix of CNC equipment of any industry, because the work itself is the widest mix. A shop might cut a structural bracket on a plasma table in the morning, bend a sheet-metal enclosure on a press brake at midday, and mill a machined fitting on a VMC in the afternoon. The work is high-mix and low-volume by nature: short runs, prototypes, repairs, and custom parts for customers across construction, agriculture, transportation, energy, and general manufacturing. The machines that earn their place on a fab floor are versatile, durable, and easy to set up fast, not single-purpose production iron.
The materials are what frame the fabrication world. Carbon steel and structural steel dominate the cutting and forming side: plate for machine bases and structural members, sheet for enclosures and panels, and bar and tube for frames. Aluminum runs heavily in transportation, signage, and light structural work, and stainless plate and sheet shows up in railings, tanks, and architectural work. These are general-purpose engineering materials worked for strength and form, not the food-grade sanitary stainless of a processing shop, the certified aerospace alloys of an aircraft supplier, or the ultra-precision substrates of a semiconductor floor. A fab shop is measured on throughput, cut quality, and bend accuracy across a constant stream of different parts, which is exactly why its cutting, forming, and machining equipment stays in demand on the secondary market.
These are the parts and operations that CNC machines produce on a fabrication floor every shift:
- Blanked and profiled parts cut from carbon steel, aluminum, and stainless sheet and plate on fiber lasers, CO2 lasers, and plasma tables
- Bent and formed parts brakes, flanges, channels, and enclosures formed on CNC press brakes to precise bend angles and lengths
- Squared and sheared stock plate and sheet sized on CNC shears before downstream cutting and forming
- Weldments and structural assemblies built from laser-cut, plasma-cut, and sheared components, then drilled and machined for fit
- Brackets, frames, and chassis for equipment, vehicles, and machinery across every downstream industry
- Bent tube and pipe structural members and frames formed on CNC tube and pipe benders
- Machined fittings, shafts, pins, and bushings turned and milled on CNC lathes and machining centers to add features the forming work cannot
- Drilled, punched, and notched structural steel processed on ironworkers and machining centers for connection points
MTE buys the machines that produce all of these. We understand fabrication equipment because buying and selling production machine tools and metal-forming equipment is what we do.
Types of General Fabrication CNC Equipment We Buy
CNC Press Brakes
CNC press brakes are the heart of the forming side of a fab shop. They bend sheet and plate into brackets, flanges, channels, enclosures, and panels, holding a precise bend angle and length across a long run of different parts. A modern press brake with CNC backgauging and angle correction is one of the most-used machines on a fab floor, and a clean one holds strong resale value because every fabrication shop needs bending capacity. Common fabrication press brakes include Amada, Cincinnati, and Accurpress machines. MTE buys CNC press brakes in any condition, single units or the full bending department. Sell your CNC press brake to us directly.
CNC Laser Cutters and Plasma Cutters
Fiber and CO2 laser cutters and plasma tables are the blanking workhorses of fabrication, cutting parts out of sheet and plate before anything else happens to them. Fiber lasers cut thin to medium sheet at high speed with a clean edge, CO2 lasers handle a broad range of materials and thicker work, and plasma tables cut heavy plate and structural steel where edge precision matters less than cutting power. These machines are in constant demand, especially as shops swap older CO2 lasers for faster fiber machines and generate sellable surplus. There is no dedicated laser or plasma listing slug on our site, so call to sell yours: MTE actively buys fiber lasers, CO2 lasers, and CNC plasma cutters alongside the rest of the fab floor. Sell your laser or plasma cutter by calling 800-822-9524.
CNC Vertical Machining Centers (VMCs)
CNC vertical machining centers are the standard machining workhorse in most fab shops. They mill the prismatic, machined work that the forming side cannot produce: machine bases, brackets with tight hole patterns, fixtures, machined weldment features, and the one-off and short-run parts that fill a job-shop schedule. Rigid, accurate milling across a constant stream of different setups is what these machines deliver. Common fabrication VMCs include the Haas VF, Mazak VCN, and Okuma Genos M. MTE buys VMCs in any condition, single machines or full cells. Sell your VMC to us directly.
CNC Lathes and Turning Centers
CNC lathes and turning centers produce the round machined parts a fab shop builds alongside its formed and welded work: shafts, pins, bushings, fittings, spacers, and the cylindrical hardware that goes into weldments and assemblies. A well-kept lathe handles the high-mix turning that a job shop runs, and a multi-axis turning center with live tooling finishes a part complete in one setup. These machines carry strong resale value because turning capacity is universal across fabrication and machining. Common fabrication turning equipment includes Doosan Lynx and Puma machines. MTE buys lathes and turning centers in any condition. Sell your CNC lathe or sell your CNC turning center to us directly.
CNC Horizontal Machining Centers (HMCs)
CNC horizontal machining centers run the higher-volume prismatic work in larger fab and contract-manufacturing shops: production brackets, machine bases, structural fittings, and the repeat machined parts that come with a long-running customer program. Pallet-changing HMCs keep a spindle cutting while the next part loads, and chips fall clear of the work on a horizontal, which is what a shop machining steel and aluminum at volume wants. A well-maintained HMC carries strong resale value because that production capacity stays in demand. MTE buys HMCs in any condition, single machines or a full bank. Sell your CNC horizontal machining center to us directly.
CNC Shears, Tube Benders, Routers, and Ironworkers
Beyond the lasers, brakes, and machining centers, a fab shop carries the supporting cutting and forming equipment that finishes the floor: CNC shears that square plate and sheet, CNC tube and pipe benders that form structural members, CNC routers that cut aluminum and composite, and ironworkers that punch, shear, and notch structural steel. There is no dedicated listing slug for this equipment on our site, so we route it through a direct conversation. MTE buys shears, tube and pipe benders, routers, and ironworkers right along with the rest of your shop in one transaction. To sell this equipment, call 800-822-9524.
Have one of these machines in a fabrication or job shop? Get a quote now or call 800-822-9524.
Why General Fabrication Shops Sell CNC Equipment
General fabrication is dominated by small, owner-run businesses, and the realities of running a fab shop put well-maintained CNC machines and forming equipment onto the secondary market on a steady cycle. These are the situations that most often bring a fabrication seller to MTE.
Owner Retirement and Shop Closure
This is the predominant reason fab shops sell. Fabrication shops are overwhelmingly small businesses, often built and run by a single owner over decades, and when that owner retires or decides to close, the entire floor needs a buyer who can move quickly and pay fairly for the whole package. A retirement or closure releases a full shop at once: press brakes, lasers, plasma tables, shears, VMCs, lathes, and the support equipment around them. MTE buys the complete shop in one transaction, with one point of contact and one pickup schedule, so the owner is not left running an auction on top of winding down a business.
Contract Turnover and Job-Shop Cycles
Job shops and contract manufacturers build capacity around specific customer programs, and that work turns over. When a program ends, the volume drops, or a customer pulls work in-house, the equipment that was dedicated to that contract can go surplus even though it still cuts and forms accurate parts. The high-mix, low-volume nature of contract work means a shop is constantly adjusting its floor to match its book. MTE buys that turnover surplus, single machines or a full cell, and turns idle equipment back into capital.
Technology Upgrades
Fabrication technology moves fast on the cutting side. Shops swap aging CO2 lasers for faster fiber machines, replace manual press brakes with CNC backgauged units, and move from older plasma tables to high-definition cutting. On the machining side they upgrade from 3-axis to multi-axis and add live tooling. Every one of those upgrades generates sellable surplus, and the machine being replaced still holds real value. MTE buys the equipment you are retiring so it converts to cash instead of taking up floor space next to the new install.
Capacity Right-Sizing and Floor-Space Pressure
Demand shifts, workload swings, and seasonal cycles mean fab shops regularly carry more equipment than the current book needs. Idle machines cost money in floor space, insurance, taxes, and maintenance, and a fab floor is almost always tight on room. When a shop right-sizes down or clears space for a more productive machine, the surplus iron is worth real money. MTE buys single machines or a block of them out of a capacity adjustment, with one contact and one pickup schedule, so the equipment converts to cash quickly while the work you keep stays running.
Mergers, Relocations, and Plant Consolidation
When fab shops merge, get acquired, or relocate, duplicate equipment and machines that do not fit the new building become surplus. Two shops becoming one leaves duplicate press brakes, lasers, and machining centers, and a relocation often means selling the heavy iron rather than paying to move it. MTE buys single machines or an entire floor out of a consolidation, acquisition, or move in one transaction, and we work around an active operation so the lines you are keeping never stop.
Wondering what your equipment is worth? Submit your machine details or call 800-822-9524 for a fast quote.
How to Sell Your General Fabrication CNC Machines to MTE
Selling CNC machines and fabrication equipment from a fab or job shop to Machine Tool Exchange is a three-step process.
Step 1: Tell Us What You Have
Call 800-822-9524 or fill out the form. Give us the make, model, year, condition, and quantity. For machining equipment, spindle hours and photos help us get to an accurate number faster. For fabrication equipment, the details that matter are table or bed size, tonnage on a press brake, laser wattage and source type, and cutting capacity on a plasma or shear. For a full shop liquidation, a basic equipment list with quantities is enough to start. Photos are helpful but not required.
Step 2: Get a Quote Within 24-48 Hours
Our purchasing team evaluates your equipment against current market data, brand, model, age, and condition, then gives you a transparent, market-based offer. Well-maintained fabrication equipment, especially fiber lasers, CNC press brakes, and versatile VMCs and turning centers, holds steady demand because that capability stays in use across every fab and job shop in the country. No lowball formulas, no pressure, no obligation.
Step 3: We Handle Rigging, Freight, and Pay at Pickup
Accept the quote and MTE takes it from there. We arrange rigging, crating, and freight at no cost to you, and we pay at pickup. We coordinate around your schedule and your floor, whether one press brake is going out or an entire shop is being cleared for a retirement, closure, or sale.
No listing your machines and waiting months. No auction gamble. No tire-kickers. One quote, one pickup, one payment.
Ready to sell? Call 800-822-9524 or submit your machine details for a quote within 24-48 hours.
Why General Fabrication Sellers Choose MTE
- Direct buyer, not a broker. MTE purchases your equipment outright. No consignment, no marketplace listings, no waiting for a third party to materialize.
- We buy the whole fab floor, not just the mills. Machine Tool Exchange is an affiliate of Superior Machine Tools, an established direct buyer of used CNC equipment, and we know what a CNC press brake, a fiber laser, a plasma table, a shear, a VMC, and a turning center off a fabrication floor are actually worth. Forming and cutting equipment, not only chip-making machines.
- No commissions, no listing fees. The quote you accept is the amount you receive. Zero deductions.
- We buy single machines or entire shop liquidations. Closing, retiring, or right-sizing? MTE quotes a single machine or the whole shop in one transaction, with one contact and one pickup schedule. No splitting your equipment across multiple auctions or dealers.
- Any brand, any condition, any quantity. Running in production, under power, sitting idle, or decommissioned. Single press brake or a full fabrication shop. Same process, same speed.
- Nationwide logistics, fast payment. We buy in all 50 states, coordinate rigging and freight around your floor and timeline, and pay promptly at pickup. No net-30 invoicing, no waiting on auction results.
Selling an Amada, Haas, Mazak, Okuma, or Doosan machine from a fabrication shop? See what MTE pays for your equipment. Call 800-822-9524.
About the Buyer
Jason Puuri is the owner of Machine Tool Exchange and its parent company, Superior Machine Tools, based in Lansing, Michigan. He founded the business in 2012 and leads MTE's used-CNC and fabrication-equipment acquisition work, handling final equipment valuations and closing conversations directly with sellers. His focus is the secondary market for industrial machine tools and metal-forming equipment: what fabrication, job-shop, and contract-manufacturing equipment is actually worth, how retirements, shop closures, and contract turnover move that equipment, and how to get a fair number into a seller's hands quickly.
Under Jason's direction, MTE buys CNC machines and fabrication equipment outright from shops nationwide, handles the logistics, and pays at pickup. He is a regular source for questions on used-equipment valuation, shop liquidation, and the cutting, forming, and machining equipment that general fabrication relies on. When you sell to MTE, you are working with the people who set the price and write the check, not a broker passing you along.
Reach Jason's purchasing team at 800-822-9524 or through the sell your machine form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of equipment does MTE buy from fabrication shops?
MTE buys CNC press brakes, fiber and CO2 laser cutters, plasma cutters, shears, tube and pipe benders, CNC routers, ironworkers, vertical machining centers, CNC lathes, turning centers, and horizontal machining centers from fabrication shops. Any brand, any condition, any quantity. We purchase single machines, full departments, and entire shop liquidations. If you have a machine that is not on this list, call 800-822-9524 and we will tell you if we buy it.
Does MTE buy fabrication equipment like press brakes, lasers, and plasma cutters, or only CNC machines?
MTE buys both. We purchase CNC machining equipment such as VMCs, lathes, turning centers, and HMCs, and we purchase fabrication-specific equipment such as press brakes, fiber and CO2 lasers, plasma cutters, shears, tube benders, and ironworkers. If it cuts, bends, forms, or machines metal, we want to hear about it. We buy the whole fab floor, not only the chip-making machines.
Can MTE buy my entire fabrication shop if I am closing or retiring?
Yes. Owner retirement and shop closure are the most common reasons fab shops sell, and MTE regularly purchases complete shop equipment packages. One quote, one contact, one transaction. For a full shop, a basic equipment list with quantities is enough to start, and we coordinate one pickup schedule around your building and timeline so you are not running an auction on top of winding the business down.
How fast can I get a quote for my fabrication shop equipment?
Most quotes are returned within 24-48 hours of receiving your machine details. Call 800-822-9524 or submit the form on our sell page with the make, model, year, and condition. For fabrication equipment, including table or bed size, press-brake tonnage, laser wattage, and cutting capacity speeds up the process and helps us value the equipment at the top of the range.
Does MTE buy CNC press brakes and laser cutters separately, or only as part of a full shop?
Both. We buy a single CNC press brake, a single fiber laser, or any one machine on its own, and we buy entire shops. There is no minimum. Whether you are clearing one machine to make room for an upgrade or liquidating a full floor for a retirement, the process is the same: tell us what you have, get a market-based quote in 24-48 hours, and we handle rigging, freight, and payment at pickup.
When do I get paid, and does MTE buy on consignment?
MTE pays at pickup. We are a direct buyer that purchases equipment outright, so there is no consignment, no waiting for a third-party sale, and no net-30 invoicing. Payment is processed promptly once terms are finalized and the equipment is collected.
How does MTE decide what my fabrication CNC machine is worth?
Our purchasing team values your equipment using current market data along with the machine's brand, model, age, condition, hours or usage, and demand on the secondary market. Well-maintained fabrication equipment, especially fiber lasers, CNC press brakes, and versatile VMCs and turning centers, holds steady value because that cutting, forming, and machining capability stays in demand across every fab and job shop. You get a transparent, market-based offer with no lowball formulas and no obligation.
Sell Your General Fabrication CNC Equipment to MTE Today
The fastest way to find out what your machines are worth is to tell us what you have.
Call: 800-822-9524 (toll-free) Or: Submit your machine details online and we will respond within 1-2 business days. Address: Machine Tool Exchange, Lansing, MI. We buy nationwide.
Machine Tool Exchange, an affiliate of Superior Machine Tools. Buying used CNC machines and fabrication equipment from fabrication shops, job shops, and contract manufacturers across the United States.
Your machines cut steel and aluminum from sheet and plate, bent it to shape, and machined the parts that hold a weldment together. They deserve a buyer who understands the whole fab floor, not just the mills and lathes. That buyer is MTE.
Related industries: Manufacturing | Primary Metal Manufacturing | Automotive