SK Tools Manufacturing Might Be Staying in the USA

[uncwstudent]

Hey guys, I was alerted to a post on the SK Tool Fans and Collectors group on Facebook that may be of interest to some of you. Apparently, if this image is correct, SK may be leaving Illinois and moving to Williamsport, PA (I assume to link up with Shop Vac's facilities there, since they are now both owned by Great Star). If so, I believe that this would be a good thing. SK's biggest selling point is American made products with American steel and I'm sure that Ideal wants to keep its new SK Tools factory for its own purposes.

***All of this is based on a post in a Facebook group so take it with a grain of salt. But it does look to be a message from the official SK Tools Facebook.*** The caption is below.

 

[belvedere]

Thanks for the update. I wonder if “US presence” means that SOME manufacturing will stay here vs all...time will tell, I guess.

 

[JradM]

I hope SK expands and starts being sold as a Lowe-exclusive pro mechanics tool line.

Great Star could infuse some capital to increase production. Non-USA products might be added to the line - Great Star is shopping for a Tool Box manufacture. Great Star Also already has Lowes connections. Lowes lacks a pro brand. All of this makes sense in my head.

Is everyone still angry at Great Star and SK if SK comes out of this making as many or more USA tools than they did before, but some good quality import stuff is added to the product catalogue?

 

[RickyPetite]

I would assume that the Shop-Vac factory is currently unable to produce hand tools. Seems like there will either be an SK branded Shop-Vac and tools from China or a large expansion of the Shop-Vac factory.

 

[Finance Guy]

Great Star is shopping for a Tool Box manufacture

Great Star is buying Geelong, which owns International.

 

[sk farmer]

Is everyone still angry at Great Star and SK if SK comes out of this making as many or more USA tools than they did before, but some good quality import stuff is added to the product catalogue?

yes, because the sk haters will be sk haters. it will never be enough to make them happy.

 

[P Miller]

I hope this is true! Maybe they will have a factory outlet store!!! The best part is it's in my home state.

 

[Wrench97]

I thought the Shop vac factory shut down production?

Shop-Vac is closing down, blames pandemic - Hardlines

WILLIAMSPORT, Penn. & BURLINGTON, Ont. — Shop-Vac is going out of business. The maker of the famous wet-dry vacuum that bears its name has facilities in Williamsport, Penn.; Binghamton, N.Y.; and Shenzhen, China. Hardlines has confirmed so far that the three Williamsport facilities, including...

hardlines.ca

 

[Skin]

Shop-Vac did announce they were closing citing lagging sales and mounting debt that seemed to stem from poor management. Everything was put up for sale. GreatStar purchased the brand and all assets in December and announced they would reopen the Williamsport factory.

I'm guessing GreatStar did purchase the machinery in SKs current facility so it's just a matter of moving everything and possibly building an expansion in PA. Not sure Ideal would of hung on to any of the manufacturing equipment since the closure of WF and sale of SK strongly indicates they want out of hand tool manufacturing.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I hope they stay in the USA. I busted a 14mm on a Subaru drain plug today. I need a replacement and want the same USA tool. Cracked it all down the side and to the inside at the bottom too.

 

[M635_Guy]

I hope they stay in the USA. I busted a 14mm on a Subaru drain plug today. I need a replacement and want the same USA tool. Cracked it all down the side and to the inside at the bottom too.

You think they've switched over that fast?? Just get your replacement.


I apologize for being rude, but y'all seem like a bunch of nervous old women on topics like this. Let them announce whatever they're doing and make your decisions accordingly. As the owner of a set of Xframes and a couple sets of sockets, I'm not worried. If they screw it all up, I still have some nice tools, and I'll replace them with something else - there are lots of good tools in the world these days.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

You think they've switched over that fast?? Just get your replacement.


I apologize for being rude, but y'all seem like a bunch of nervous old women on topics like this. Let them announce whatever they're doing and make your decisions accordingly. As the owner of a set of Xframes and a couple sets of sockets, I'm not worried. If they screw it all up, I still have some nice tools, and I'll replace them with something else - there are lots of good tools in the world these days.

I doubt they will announce it. Probably be like Sears and just let it come out on you. Thing is I emailed about some warranty a month ago and haven’t even gotten a response. I’ve got stuff that needs replaced and have had to get others because of their lack of response.

 

[uncwstudent]

I doubt they will announce it. Probably be like Sears and just let it come out on you. Thing is I emailed about some warranty a month ago and haven’t even gotten a response. I’ve got stuff that needs replaced and have had to get others because of their lack of response.

Their email responses have definitely been slow. I've sent some emails and they've never responded while others have been responded to one or two weeks later. The best thing to do is to call them. Almost every time I call their customer service line, someone picks up and they are always very helpful. Messaging them on Facebook is the second best option. Emailing, at this point, is not a good option.

Also, for everyone complaining about the people working at SK, I've had nothing but good interactions with them. Yes, the shipping times have been miserably slow and emails have been pointless. But between Covid (I imagine that there were supply issues and also possibly people not showing up for work), the ridiculously good Steal and Deals that exploded on Slickdeals, and the impending sale to Great Star, they have done a pretty good job holding things together. Companies who have typically had stellar customer service (like SK) don't usually fall this far in their level of service unless there are major issues going on behind the scenes that usually have nothing to do with the individual employees themselves.

 

[M635_Guy]

I doubt they will announce it. Probably be like Sears and just let it come out on you. Thing is I emailed about some warranty a month ago and haven’t even gotten a response. I’ve got stuff that needs replaced and have had to get others because of their lack of response.

Sometimes I wonder if we should all start faxing them.

For some reason Instagram seems to work, but I'd probably call.

 

[Xcursion88]

Sometimes I wonder if we should all start faxing them.

For some reason Instagram seems to work, but I'd probably call.

Quit emailing.

Seriously....I've had stuff replaced in minutes by letting my fingers do the walking and getting a live body...

You might remember it as a telephone call. Works amazing

Just sayin

 

[Xcursion88]

Their email responses have definitely been slow. I've sent some emails and they've never responded while others have been responded to one or two weeks later. The best thing to do is to call them. Almost every time I call their customer service line, someone picks up and they are always very helpful. Messaging them on Facebook is the second best option. Emailing, at this point, is not a good option.

Also, for everyone complaining about the people working at SK, I've had nothing but good interactions with them. Yes, the shipping times have been miserably slow and emails have been pointless. But between Covid (I imagine that there were supply issues and also possibly people not showing up for work), the ridiculously good Steal and Deals that exploded on Slickdeals, and the impending sale to Great Star, they have done a pretty good job holding things together. Companies who have typically had stellar customer service (like SK) don't usually fall this far in their level of service unless there are major issues going on behind the scenes that usually have nothing to do with the individual employees themselves.

See above...


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[Xcursion88]

I hope they stay in the USA. I busted a 14mm on a Subaru drain plug today. I need a replacement and want the same USA tool. Cracked it all down the side and to the inside at the bottom too.

Quit with the adapters and 3/4" guns

 

[Xcursion88]

Hey guys, I was alerted to a post on the SK Tool Fans and Collectors group on Facebook that may be of interest to some of you. Apparently, if this image is correct, SK may be leaving Illinois and moving to Williamsport, PA (I assume to link up with Shop Vac's facilities there, since they are now both owned by Great Star). If so, I believe that this would be a good thing. SK's biggest selling point is American made products with American steel and I'm sure that Ideal wants to keep its new SK Tools factory for its own purposes.

***All of this is based on a post in a Facebook group so take it with a grain of salt. But it does look to be a message from the official SK Tools Facebook.*** The caption is below.

That's good

Williamsport is 110 miles from me

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Quit with the adapters and 3/4" guns

Haha. Surprisingly about a 18 inch or maybe 15 inch 3/8 breaker bar broke this one. I’d never use a chrome on impact. Lol. Not the first socket I’ve cracked. This one is older so it lived a good life.

 

[dnschmidt]

Ideal did nothing with S-K. If the Chinese can do more with it so much the better. Domestic manufacturing would be great. Forward thinking and spending money to improve the line would be even better.

 

[Bubba Fett]

We'll see. I've noticed True Value Master Mechanic screwdrivers are now made in China by Hangzhou Great Star, and I've heard that Menards Masterforce drivers are going this way as well. Seems that Ideal included those in the deal. Ideal Electrical screwdrivers appear to still be made in the USA, for now at least. This gels with rumors I've heard that Ideal is getting out of contract manufacturing altogether, and just focusing on the Ideal brand (for the time being, anyway).

 

[Xcursion88]

Haha. Surprisingly about a 18 inch or maybe 15 inch 3/8 breaker bar broke this one. I’d never use a chrome on impact. Lol. Not the first socket I’ve cracked. This one is older so it lived a good life.

Of domestic items...
I've broken one SO 1/2" breaker bar
One SK 18mm 3/8dr shallow chrome socket

That's it.

I use my tools properly for the right application (not saying you don't) and it's trouble free.

Both above examples were my fault.
I couldn't get seized lug nuts off rims from a boneyard Dana 60..
I was jumping on the breaker bar....(I was a dumb kid then)
That was fine...but i was jumping the wrong direction.

The 18mm sk was laziness...
In a rush...i couldn't locate any 18mm's of proper size...
so I couldn't remove rear silverado caliper bolts (I think it was) and I used a beaker bar....plus 2ft pipe

I never do **** like that but there's two examples I did. One being a dumb kid and the other in a rush and being lazy.

A great example of why I swear by domestic tools.
If used right they last forever.
I absolutely can not say the same of the Asian made stuff. I've witnessed those break under normal working applications with no undue extra stress.

 

[Xcursion88]

We'll see. I've noticed True Value Master Mechanic screwdrivers are now made in China by Hangzhou Great Star, and I've heard that Menards Masterforce drivers are going this way as well. Seems that Ideal included those in the deal. Ideal Electrical screwdrivers appear to still be made in the USA, for now at least. This gels with rumors I've heard that Ideal is getting out of contract manufacturing altogether, and just focusing on the Ideal brand (for the time being, anyway).

We will.
SK is a brand that hangs it's hat on being USA with USA materials.
USA 101%
Without that they're nothing more than a slew of other tool makers out there.

SK doesn't get into a huge catalog of goods. No soldering irons...mini torch...flash lights...rad pressure testers....electric/air guns/ratchets...

They do ******** hardgoods only.
Drivers, wrenches, sockets, ratchets, extentions....
They don't have hardware or box stores to sell product ......

They have to stay the course or there'll be no future.

 

[Bubba Fett]

We will.
SK is a brand that hangs it's hat on being USA with USA materials.
USA 101%
Without that they're nothing more than a slew of other tool makers out there.

SK doesn't get into a huge catalog of goods. No soldering irons...mini torch...flash lights...rad pressure testers....electric/air guns/ratchets...

They do ******** hardgoods only.
Drivers, wrenches, sockets, ratchets, extentions....
They don't have hardware or box stores to sell product ......

They have to stay the course or there'll be no future.

SK is now owned by a Chinese company. Great Star makes the decisions now, not SK. I hope they do stay 100% USA-made, but my skeptic-o-meter is reading in the high 9's.

 

[jsackin]

 

[zendriver]

See above...


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Verbal contact with another human is scary!

 

[JradM]

They have to stay the course or there'll be no future.

That doesn't make sense. If doing the same thing they do right now was working, I expect they wouldn't be in this pickle.

I expect for things to turn around, SK needs a new market (Lowes?) or new product (add imports to expand the catalogue). Or both. We tool fans might like SK for their USA/USA focus, but that obviously isn't translating into skyrocketing success.

What makes me hopeful that it's not just a brand name to be slapped on cheap Chinese tools is also based on what SK is - I.e I don't know that there's a whole lot making SK special if you take away the premium and USA focus. It's not Craftsman. Craftsman is so well renowned that the brand has is own cachet regardless of where its made. I don't think most people know SK at all.

 

[Kscardsfan]

That doesn't make sense. If doing the same thing they do right now was working, I expect they wouldn't be in this pickle.

I expect for things to turn around, SK needs a new market (Lowes?) or new product (add imports to expand the catalogue). Or both. We tool fans might like SK for their USA/USA focus, but that obviously isn't translating into skyrocketing success.

What makes me hopeful that it's not just a brand name to be slapped on cheap Chinese tools is also based on what SK is - I.e I don't know that there's a whole lot making SK special if you take away the premium and USA focus. It's not Craftsman. Craftsman is so well renowned that the brand has is own cachet regardless of where its made. I don't think most people know SK at all.

Only ******** tool junkies seem to know who they are in my area. They need better advertising and they need to adjust their pricing some. They want some pretty high dollar amounts for their tools according to MSRP/MAP sheets. I’d think that market share would be a better focus right now.

 

[reader2580]

The letter states that will continue to manufacture product categories in the USA. This doesn't mean they will continue to have the same made in the USA selection as today. For me, there would be zero reason to buy anything from SK if it isn't made in the USA.

It seems crazy to abandon a manufacturing facility that is a dozen years old or so. Equipment to make hand tools is big and heavy. It costs a lot of money to hire rigging companies to move that equipment, or it costs even more money to buy new equipment. A move also means their tools could be out of production for months unless the move is carefully staged.

I wonder how they are going to hire all new employees in today's hiring environment? I doubt many of the manufacturing workers will move with the company.

 

[Raineman]

I wonder how they are going to hire all new employees in today's hiring environment?

The Mrs. and I have been seriously discussing an exodus from Maryland. I would absolutely consider working in the Williamsport, PA area, we love it up that way. Both of our current positions could/would likely translate to jobs they would likely be hiring for. We've been looking at W.Va., TN, and NC. Have to check out the tax situation in PA though. I know they have a weird property tax scheme and not sure about their retirement type taxes.

 

[ike]

Without knowing the terms of the sale, I would assume that Ideal did not sell them the facility.

 

[Wrench97]

Shop Vac's Williamsport building is not all that large, and I doubt there is a lot of crossover between vacuum manufacturing equipment and tool manufacturing equipment..........................................

 

[RickyPetite]

Shop Vac's Williamsport building is not all that large, and I doubt there is a lot of crossover between vacuum manufacturing equipment and tool manufacturing equipment..........................................

Exactly. They will produce "product categories", including I'm sure, SK vacuums.

 

[Mr_B]

it just hot air to keep the brand value to start with .
It pretty obvious majority of products will be china .
SK been a pretty shabby manufacturer over last decade and to be honest even taiwan managed better sockets wrenches and screwdrivers with more consistent quality/finish/durability .
Is a sad blow at a real bad time for employees and highlights some serious issues within usa and business practice that going lead to a very ugly finale .

 

[Xcursion88]

SK is now owned by a Chinese company. Great Star makes the decisions now, not SK. I hope they do stay 100% USA-made, but my skeptic-o-meter is reading in the high 9's.

#1 I haven't seen any of the fine print in that sale contract. Have you?

#2 glass half full brotha....

It's a ****** way to live always doubtfully worried and or participating gloom and doom.

 

[Xcursion88]

The Mrs. and I have been seriously discussing an exodus from Maryland. I would absolutely consider working in the Williamsport, PA area, we love it up that way. Both of our current positions could/would likely translate to jobs they would likely be hiring for. We've been looking at W.Va., TN, and NC. Have to check out the tax situation in PA though. I know they have a weird property tax scheme and not sure about their retirement type taxes.

It's not weird...it's just high as **** some places...like where I'm at.

Three years ago they decided to raise taxes. I called and bitched...lady said we haven't raised them in 20 plus years...
i said FINE BUT how do you raise it that much in one shot.
(Mine went up 150%)

Yes...150%..

2.5 times increase!!

That said I can tell you montour county which isn't that far from Williamsport is reasonable tax wise. (At least it was 8 years or so ago)

 

[Xcursion88]

That doesn't make sense. If doing the same thing they do right now was working, I expect they wouldn't be in this pickle.

I expect for things to turn around, SK needs a new market (Lowes?) or new product (add imports to expand the catalogue). Or both. We tool fans might like SK for their USA/USA focus, but that obviously isn't translating into skyrocketing success.

What makes me hopeful that it's not just a brand name to be slapped on cheap Chinese tools is also based on what SK is - I.e I don't know that there's a whole lot making SK special if you take away the premium and USA focus. It's not Craftsman. Craftsman is so well renowned that the brand has is own cachet regardless of where its made. I don't think most people know SK at all.

You couldn't fugure out I meant keep making and American product with American materials as the keep doing what they're doing.

The how you can debate for seven weeks but make no mistake if they go Asian made they're done.

 

[Xcursion88]

The letter states that will continue to manufacture product categories in the USA. This doesn't mean they will continue to have the same made in the USA selection as today. For me, there would be zero reason to buy anything from SK if it isn't made in the USA.

It seems crazy to abandon a manufacturing facility that is a dozen years old or so. Equipment to make hand tools is big and heavy. It costs a lot of money to hire rigging companies to move that equipment, or it costs even more money to buy new equipment. A move also means their tools could be out of production for months unless the move is carefully staged.

I wonder how they are going to hire all new employees in today's hiring environment? I doubt many of the manufacturing workers will move with the company.

In the day of CNC machining won't matter.
They'll run some ads for machinists, packers, warehouse people, material handlers....hire...
Start making product.

It's not a wheel reinvention they're doing here.

 

[Indexmill]

"will have a USA presence". Yea. Doomed.

 

[Mr_B]

In the day of CNC machining won't matter.
They'll run some ads for machinists, packers, warehouse people, material handlers....hire...
Start making product.

It's not a wheel reinvention they're doing here.

would be rather expensive sockets and wrenches if you cnc produced them lol .
real world manufacture is forging, broaching, tempering, finishing, plating, packing .