The first commercial product Haas Automation released was the HBI-5C indexer, a programmable and inexpensive machine tool component that successfully launched the company in 1983. Gene Haas, born in Youngstown in 1952, shifted his career from accounting and finance into the engineering sector, eventually building the largest machine tool manufacturer in the United States.
From Machining to Manufacturing
After graduating from California State University, Northridge in 1975 with a degree in accounting and finance, Haas pursued work as a machinist. By 1978, he established Pro-turn Engineering. He transitioned into mass production in 1983 after displaying his self-developed indexer at the WESTEC expo. Following a patent for the device in 1986, he introduced an affordable, fully enclosed CNC machine in 1988. The company expanded significantly, relocating to a 420,000-square-foot facility in Oxnard, California, in 1997, which had grown to 1,000,000 square feet by 2005. Worldwide sales surpassed $1 billion by 2014.
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Haas entered professional racing in 2002 by forming Haas CNC Racing, later acquiring a facility in Concord, North Carolina. The team achieved its first Busch Series win in 2004 with driver Jason Leffler. In 2008, Haas partnered with Tony Stewart, who took a 50% stake in the organization, rebranding it Stewart-Haas Racing. The team secured multiple race victories and championships, including a title with Kevin Harvick in 2014. In 2014, Haas also attained a victory in the Truck Series, marking his success across all three national touring series. He launched the Haas Factory Team in 2025.
Formula One and Advanced Technology
In 2014, Haas received an FIA license to establish the Haas F1 Team, which officially began competition in 2016. The venture involved purchasing assets from the bankrupt Marussia F1 team. Concurrent with his racing interests, Haas built a commercial wind tunnel facility called Wind Shear. Completed in 2008, the facility utilizes an advanced rolling road system that simulates track conditions at speeds up to 180 miles per hour, serving various high-level professional racing organizations.
Educational Philanthropy
The Gene Haas Foundation, established in 1999, supports various charitable organizations and educational initiatives. Haas has equipped numerous CNC labs at institutions including California Polytechnic State University, California State University, Channel Islands, and De Anza College. In 2015, he provided a $1 million grant to Danville Community College in Virginia to support an Integrated Machining Technology program housed within the newly named Gene Haas Center for Integrated Machining.
Fast facts
- Born: 1952, Youngstown, United States
- Education: California State University, Northridge
- Company: Haas Automation
- Wind Tunnel: Wind Shear (opened 2008)
- NASCAR Team Entry: 2002
- F1 Team Entry: 2016
- Foundation Established: 1999
Questions readers ask
What is the primary product of Haas Automation?
The company specializes in CNC machine tools, beginning with the HBI-5C programmable indexer.
Did Gene Haas own other racing teams besides Haas F1?
Yes, he founded Haas CNC Racing, co-owned Stewart-Haas Racing, and established the Haas Factory Team.
Achievements
- Educated at California State University, Northridge
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