HURC

Hurco Companies, Inc.

A maker of CNC (computer numerical control) machine tools and software, Hurco helps small metal shops program and cut precision parts right at the machine instead of typing complex code by hand. Founded in 1968 in Indianapolis by Gerald Roch and Edward Humston, its name is an acronym of the founders' surnames—Humston, Roch—and "Company." In 1976 Roch patented "conversational programming," a method where machinists answer simple on-screen prompts to create programs, an idea that still powers the company's WinMax control software today.