About PACE
Metallographic Sample Preparation, Testing & Analysis
PACE Technologies is a family-owned manufacturer of metallographic equipment and consumables, based in Tucson, Arizona. Since 1997 we've been helping labs in over 50 countries get better, more consistent results from their sample preparation. We do that with good equipment, good consumables, and people who actually pick up the phone when you call.
Our Story
Dr. Donald Zipperian spent years at Buehler, one of the biggest names in metallographic preparation. He came away with deep technical knowledge, a strong foundation in sample preparation science, and a clear idea of what he wanted to build. In 1997, he and his wife Cathy started PACE Technologies with a focus on making metallographic preparation more accessible, especially for the smaller labs that don't always get the attention they deserve.
PACE started in their home. The office was in the basement, the warehouse was the garage. The early years were all word-of-mouth: labs would call with a problem, Don would help them solve it, and they'd tell other labs. The promise was simple. Better preparation methods, direct access to people who knew what they were talking about, and equipment built for the way real labs actually work.
That approach worked. The company grew steadily through the 2000s, first across North America and then internationally. By 2015, PACE was serving customers in over 50 countries and received the Presidential "E" Award, the highest recognition the U.S. government gives for contributions to American exports. Today we're still family-owned, still in Tucson, and still running things the same way: make good products, support them well, and treat people right.
Our Founders
Don's career in metallography goes back decades. At Buehler, he helped develop sample preparation techniques that labs still reference today. What set him apart was the combination of a Ph.D. in the science side and years of hands-on applications work. He understood the theory, but he also knew what it was like to stand at a grinder-polisher trying to get a clean edge on a difficult alloy.
Cathy helped shape the culture at PACE, making sure the right people were in the building and that everyone was aligned with the values the company was built on. That culture is a big part of why customers stick with us. You can talk directly to the people who design and build the products, and those people genuinely care about getting it right.
Our Facility
Our Tucson, Arizona headquarters is where engineering, quality control, and customer support all come together. The people who design our equipment work right alongside the team that supports it, so when a customer calls with a question or feedback, it gets to the right person fast.
If you're ever in the area, you're welcome to stop by. We're happy to show you equipment running on real samples and talk through whatever you're working on.
Get in Touch
What Sets Us Apart
What makes working with PACE different from working with anyone else.
Manufacturer-Direct Access
- You talk to the engineers who designed your equipment, not a call center
- Guidance specific to your application from experienced metallographers
- Custom preparation procedures developed for your exact materials
- Same-day responses from people who know your name and your lab
Complete Lab Solutions
- Full product line from sectioning through microscopy and hardness testing
- Equipment and consumables engineered to work together as a system
- One supplier, one relationship, one source of accountability
- Inventory stocked for fast shipping, no waiting on third-party distributors
Proven Performance, Fair Pricing
- Presidential E Award-winning products trusted across 50+ countries
- Equipment built for durability and daily production use
- No premium markup for comparable or superior specifications
- Free technical resources: preparation guides, material databases, and recommended procedures
Trusted by Industry Leaders
From aerospace and automotive to medical devices and semiconductors, these companies rely on PACE equipment and consumables for quality control, failure analysis, and materials research.
Ready to Work with PACE?
Need a quote on equipment, help picking the right consumables, or want to come see our facility? Give us a call or send us a note. You'll talk to a real person who knows metallographic preparation.