Criterion Machine Works was established in 1935 as a job shop in Beverly Hills, California, initially producing parts for multiple industries as well as the movie industry. Over the decades, it grew into a supplier of precision tooling, specializing in modular boring systems, boring heads, bars, and tools designed to improve machining productivity.
Headquartered for many years in Costa Mesa, California, the company surrived for more than 75-year. In June 2013, Allied Machine & Engineering acquired Criterion Machine Works and subsequently transitioned its manufacturing operations to Dover, Ohio, integrating Criterion's product line into its broader offerings for hole-finishing and precision machining.