From Hydroplane Engines to Mission-Critical Machining
The Legacy: A Family Shop Built on Precision
Truco Machine has been part of Western New York manufacturing since 1969. The company was founded by James O’Connor, a developer at Dunlop Tire and a passionate hydroplane racer. His love for engines and precision machining led him to buy out a retiring machinist with help from his father-in-law, and he left his corporate job to open a modest shop in Cheektowaga.
In those early years, Truco rebuilt engines for racers, farmers, truck fleets, and manufacturers across the region. By the 1980s the business had incorporated, expanded into larger facilities, and grown to more than a dozen employees. At one point the shop held contracts with the U.S. Post Office and major trucking fleets, earning a reputation as a go-to name for dependable engine rebuilding.
As the industry evolved, demand for traditional engine work declined. Advancements in fuel injection and CNC technology extended engine lifespans and changed the market. During this transition, James’ son, Andy O’Connor, stepped in to carry the family business forward. His determination and vision guided Truco into CNC machining, reverse engineering, and the mission-critical parts work that defines the company today.
A New Chapter: From Survival to Growth
Andy grew up in the shop, working summers as a teenager and even painting the building at 14 to earn his first RC car. After graduating college with a business degree, he joined the company full-time, determined to turn it around.
He spent years digging out from under the debt, cutting costs, and finding new ways to keep the lights on. “I saw what it was like to be near bankruptcy,” Andy says. “I figured out how to get out of it — and I’m never going back.”
In 2017, Andy saw a CNC machine at a trade show and recognized a way forward. He purchased Truco’s first CNC mill and recruited Mike, a talented machinist, to help take on a new kind of work. Their first CNC jobs came from a pharmaceutical plant maintenance manager — rebuilding trays, fabricating capping machine jaws, and eventually rebuilding mixers and machining critical replacement parts.
That first batch of jobs grew into a specialty: low-volume, high-precision parts for food, pharmaceutical, and industrial customers who needed a solution fast, even without a drawing.
What Makes Truco Different
A rebuilder’s mindset: if it doesn’t fit, function, and last, it’s not done
Reverse engineering and 3D scanning of discontinued or undocumented parts
Small batch machining for short runs and PM schedules
Direct communication with mechanics to make sure it’s right before shipping
FDA-compliant finishes and documentation when required
A trusted network of local vendors for polishing, waterjetting, and specialty work
Understands your standards and the stakes
Delivers on time,
every time
Picks up the phone and asks the right questions
Solves problems no one else wants to touch
You shouldn’t have to fight your vendor to get the part you need. At Truco, we make it easy to keep your lines running.
Meet the Team
Andy grew up in the shop, working summers as a teenager and even painting the building at 14 to earn his first RC car. After graduating college with a business degree, he joined the company full-time, determined to carry the family business forward.
Over the years, Andy steered Truco through an industry in transition, shifting the focus from engines to high-precision machining. His vision for a more specialized, customer-focused operation came into focus in 2017, when he saw a CNC machine at a trade show and recognized the opportunity to serve new markets.
He invested in Truco’s first CNC mill and brought in Mike, a skilled machinist with deep expertise in programming, setup, and precision work. Together, they took on their first CNC jobs for a pharmaceutical plant maintenance manager — rebuilding trays, fabricating capping machine jaws, and eventually rebuilding mixers and machining critical replacement parts.
That early work grew into a specialty: low-volume, high-precision parts for food, pharmaceutical, and industrial customers who need a solution fast, with or without a drawing.
Looking Ahead
Truco continues to grow its capabilities, expand its customer base, and invest in new tools and processes — while staying true to the family values and mindset that started it all.
Because when the part is critical and the clock is ticking, Truco knows what it takes to make it right.
Truco Machine helps manufacturers keep lines running and products moving by delivering practical, precision machining and repair fast, honest, and right the first time.
