Snap On has in large part, simply turned it into another division of the company, with production facilities scattered over Europe.
As far as sockets and ratchets and wrenches, they are quite well made, but I have no idea where..........
Charles
http://www.bahco.com/asp/pubs/index.asp?lngLevel=0&lngStructureID=1219&lngMenuID=26146
http://www.bahco.com/asp/pubs/index.asp?lngMenuID=1255&lngID=1987
Bahco professional hand tools are designed and manufactured by SNA Europe , a newly founded enterprise, yet with over 150 years of heritage; strong expertise in innovating and manufacturing the most advanced tools and building long-term partnerships with distributors.
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Bahco Milestones
1914
- Enköpings Mekaniska Verkstad changes the name B A H jorth & Co.
1922
- Acquisition of Lidköpings Sågbladsfabrik in Lidköping, Sweden (today Bahco Metal Saws) and renamed to AB Lidköpings Vikingsåger. The factory, which is founded in 1914, produces hand hacksaw blades and power hacksaw blades in carbon steel and high-speed steel, and with the acquisition we could now offer saw blades for metal cutting, in addition to the existing wood cutting saws.
1953
- Introducing a global innovation - the hard pointed bow saw blade.
1954
- B A Hjorth & Co. changes the name to AB Bahco and it becomes a joint stock company.
1959
- The company acquires E A Bergs Fabriks AB in Eskilstuna, Sweden. E A Berg, which was founded in 1892, manufactured pliers, bolt cutters, knives, scissors and wood chisels, adding to the wide range of tools we could offer the mechanical industry.
1963
- Introduction of another world first - the hard pointed handsaw.
- Production facilities in Argentina are established for mechanic's tools.
1969
- Introduction of the bi-metal hacksaw blade Sandflex®, an epoch-making innovation, which means that we today are second to none as a producer of bi-metal products for metal cutting.
1973
- The company introduces the first handsaw with ground teeth.
1974
- Acquisition of F E Lindström AB in Eskilstuna Sweden, founded in 1856 and producer of precision pliers for the electronic industry.
1975
- The company acquires C O Öberg in Eskilstuna, Sweden (today Bahco Files) producing engineering files, sharpening files and chain saw files. C O Öberg was founded in 1850 and as such is the company with the longest history in the Bahco Group.
1982
- We present the world's first ergonomic screwdriver, which is the beginning of a wide range of ergonomic tools, developed in close co-operation with professional users on a scientifically approved base.
1985
- Acquisition of 30% of the shares in French company Devillé. Since 1890 they have produced pruning tools for the horticultural industry. From 1948 all products have been sold exclusively under our Fish & Hook brand.
1986
- The handsaw with the Fish & Hook brand celebrates 100 years.
1988
- Acquisition of the German tool manufacturer Belzer-Dowidat in Wuppertal. Robert Belzer founded his tools factory in 1884 and was the first to start to produce tools made of Chrome-Vanadium in 1925. The products today carry the Bahco brand.
1990
- The company acquires the Finnish file factory Viiala and incorporates it into Oberg. Since establishment in 1901 Viiala gained a strong position first of all as a producer of chain saw files and sharpening files.
1991
- Acquisition of Milford Products Corporation, Branford, Connecticut USA. Milford was established in 1876 and belongs to the world's leading producers of bandsaw blades. Bahco Bandsaws offers a wide range of bandsaw blades for the professional industry with base in the epoch-making Sandflex concept as well as a range of carbide tipped high performance blades.
1992
- The remaining part of the file production in the centre of Eskilstuna, Sweden is moved to Portugal where the factory from 1970 is extended to be the biggest and most modern file factory in Europe.
- The Bahco adjustable wrench celebrates 100 years.
- New Distribution Concept - NDC -, which means better delivery performance and availability, is introduced after an investment of SEK 100 million.
1996
- We introduce and take the patent for Superior handsaws, a new and revolutionary tooth geometry - Xt - that saws faster than other handsaws, and has a coating of the blade that reduces friction considerably.
- All production units, distribution units and sales units are ISO 9000 certified.
- The Bahco Ergo concept is presented and scientifically approved as a way of preventing industrial strain injuries at the PREMUS 96 conference in Montreal Canada.
1998
- Adjustable wrench number 100.000.000 leaves the factory in Enköping.
1999
- Bahco Group AB is acquired by Snap-on Inc. Kenosha, Wisconsin USA. Snap-on is among the biggest tool companies in the world, founded in 1920 with the same visions as Bahco - to develop tools making the job easier, faster and safer for professionals.
2000
- Production of bandsaw blades is moved to Rotherham, United Kingdom, to a purpose built, ultramodern production facility.
2001
- The next generation of the Sandflex hacksaw blade is introduced. A comprehensive investment programme in a new grinding technology makes it possible to offer a hacksaw blade cutting 20% faster and lasting 20% longer than other hacksaw blades.
2002
- The Bahco Ergo programme, which now includes more than 400 tools receives the German "Reddot design award", the Dutch "Erkenningen Goed Industrieel Ontwerp" as well as the "Japanese Good Design Award".
2003
- Expansion continues by establishing own sales offices in Turkey, China, Brazil and Greece.
2004
- The head quarter moves from Sandviken to Enköping in the region of Stockholm, where all central functions are now located.
2005
- Bahco AB and Herramientas Eurotools S.A. merge and SNA Europe is founded.
Head quarter is located in Paris, France.
2007
- Bahco brand celebrates 120 years of professional tools and a serie of special edition tools is launched especially for this celebration.
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