Greenfield Tap & Die modern history

A question arose about the Greenfield Tap & Die company in a another post about who actually owns it (Kennametal is the owner). I thought because it actually involves many other companies that are brought up on this forum (Vermont Tap & Die, Chicago-Latrobe, Cleveland Twist drill, Bassett, among others), it actually deserved its own thread and not be lost in a basically unrelated thread.

Greenfield Industries (including Cleveland, Chicago-Latrobe, Cle-Line, Cle-Force, Bassett, Vermont Tap & Die, Putnam Tools and Greenfield T&D) was bought out by Kennametal in 1997: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kennametal-inc-to-acquire-greenfield-industries-inc-in-transaction-valued-at-approximately-1-billion-77523502.html

Another tool group, Widia, was bought out by Kennametal in 2002: http://www.kennametal.com/en/about-us/history.html

In 2009/2010 Greenfield Tap & Die became part of the Widia product group: http://www.widia.com/en/featured/widia-90-years.html While at the same time, the rest of Greenfield Industries went to TDC tool group (basically, Kennametal kept what they wanted, GTD; and sold off the rest [Greenfield Industries])


The sale of Greenfield Industries to TDC included names/companies such as Cleveland, Chicago-Latrobe, Cle-Line, Cle-Force, Bassett, Vermont Tap & Die, and Putnam Tools http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_625899.html

Now with regards to TDC, they are a Chinese owned company/tool group, but still operate plants in the US (as well as mexico and canada):http://qz.com/506651/working-for-a-c...o-china-video/ and this interesting article: http://archive.fortune.com/2010/05/06/news/international/china_america_full.fortune/index.htm

TDC business profile and companies owned (click on 2014 TDC Cutting Tools link for a business flier explaining their companies): http://tdc-tools.com/en/datatool.asp?tid=1&id=46


It also seems that Kennametal in increasing their footprint in Greenfield, MA again. This is an an expansion plan from 2014 for GTD in Massachusetts: http://gctv.org/news/2014/july/thursday/its-official-kennametal-expand-greenfield

Very interesting thank you, I could never keep up with the coo of all the tap & die makers, maybe now I can.

Thanks for posting this info.

Excellent! Thank you for posting this.

Sent from my SM-G925T using Tapatalk

I always enjoy accounts of corporate musical chairs. This one is a real beaut. If I have this straight, GTD is still made in USA under the GTD name and owned by Kennametal? Thanks for your research.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

6PTsocket said:

I always enjoy accounts of corporate musical chairs. This one is a real beaut. If I have this straight, GTD is still made in USA under the GTD name and owned by Kennametal? Thanks for your research.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Yes, GTD is still under Kennametal and probably/more than likely US made.

That being said, the other companies now under the TDC tool group (Cleveland Twist, Cle-Line, Chicago-Latrobe, etc) still have plants the in US, Canada and Mexico...so, don't rule them out as being junk either. If you question an item and where it's made, e-mail or call the company (Greenfield Industries/TDC).

bob15 said:

Yes, GTD is still under Kennametal and probably/more than likely US made.

That being said, the other companies now under the TDC tool group (Cleveland Twist, Cle-Line, Chicago-Latrobe, etc) still have plants the in US, Canada and Mexico...so, don't rule them out as being junk either. If you question an item and where it's made, e-mail or call the company (Greenfield Industries/TDC).

Click to expand...

So there are two greenfield brands. Greenfield Industries lists all their brands on their website and one of the brand is Greenfield. Who put the Greenfield brand on their tap and die. Greenfield Industries or Kennametal.

Widia GTD is still very high quality (GTD=old greenfield tap and die)

"Greenfield" (current production) is now essentially a new brand, of uncertain provenance.

Do I have that correct/?

Thaks for the informative post OP.

oldtools said:

So there are two greenfield brands. Greenfield Industries lists all their brands on their website and one of the brand is Greenfield. Who put the Greenfield brand on their tap and die. Greenfield Industries or Kennametal.

Click to expand...

Lets try the Cliffnotes version:

Once upon a time their was a "tool group" called Greenfield Industries which included GTD, C-L, VTD, Clev, etc. This "tool group" was bought out by Kennametal. A number of years later, Kennametal sold almost all of those same companies to TDC. Kennametal kept GTD and put them in the Widia tool group (a division of Kennametal).

So Kennametal owns Greenfield Tap & Die, not Greenfield Industries

Where do you see Greenfield in the TDC group as a brand? It doesn't show Greenfield as a brand, only the tool group name. The companies on the outside of the center logo are tool brands.

T45 said:

Widia GTD is still very high quality (GTD=old greenfield tap and die)

"Greenfield" (current production) is now essentially a new brand, of uncertain provenance.

Do I have that correct/?

Thaks for the informative post OP.

Click to expand...

Yes, with regards to GTD.

The tools being made by Greenfield Industries are the same companies as when they were owned by Kennametal. Those companies, now under the new ownership of TDC, are the same as before; well respected tool making companies that have been in business for many, many decades. They are well proven and respected tool makers.

In fact, it seems (when looking for dates for the original post) they are growing in the US, manufacturing-wise and the Chinese owners aren't sending the work overseas. As for the Canada and Mexico plants, they were there when Kennametal owned them.

bob15 said:

Lets try the Cliffnotes version:

Once upon a time their was a "tool group" called Greenfield Industries which included GTD, C-L, VTD, Clev, etc. This "tool group" was bought out by Kennametal. A number of years later, Kennametal sold almost all of those same companies to TDC. Kennametal kept GTD and put them in the Widia tool group (a division of Kennametal).

So Kennametal owns Greenfield Tap & Die, not Greenfield Industries

Where do you see Greenfield in the TDC group as a brand? It doesn't show Greenfield as a brand, only the tool group name. The companies on the outside of the center logo are tool brands.

Click to expand...

On the top right corner next to Putnum is Greenfield threading.

www.gfii.com

New-stock Greenfield ("GREENFIELD THREADING") is on sale at Zoro.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GREENFIELD-TAP-36352-Pipe-Tap-Taper-1-8-Inx27-Bright-/222283810979

This seems to be distinct from Widia GTD.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WIDIA-GTD-11541-Hand-Tap-Plug-8x32-Uncoated-/331995458451

Im not sure what, if any, tools are actually made in Greenfield. Vast majority of the taps and dies come out of the Widia North Carolina plant. Makes it kind of moot since they basically exist only in name and are far from the tooling giant they once were. Even the old building in Greenfield says "Kennametal".

oldtools said:

On the top right corner next to Putnum is Greenfield threading.

www.gfii.com

Click to expand...

Greenfield Industries/threading from their website:

Vermont Tap & Die was founded in 1920 by Allen Harrison in Newport, Vermont. The operation was moved to Lyndonville, Vermont in 1929 and then to its current location in 1974. VTD employs over 300 people. All taps are thread relief ground #6 and up. Vermont Tap & Die uses M7 steel on all taps up to .397” diameter. Vermont Tap & Die has an exclusive form tap design that no one else offers. CNC length pipe taps are also exclusive to the Vermont Tap & Die offering. Vermont Tap & Die is the innovator of the Vermont™ coating. They have the broadest offering of TiN coated taps in the industry. They also offer fast programs for taps and reamers with 24 hour shipment. Greenfield Industries ® is a leading manufacturer of expendable cutting tools and related products. The company sells thousands of products under the brand names Cleveland, Chicago-Latrobe, Cle-Line, Greenfield Threading, Vermont Tap & Die, Bassett, and Putnam Tools. The product lines include drills, end mills, taps, dies, reamers, countersinks, counterbores, tool bits, and more. These tools are used in a variety of applications—If it’s being drilled, cut, bored, dug, shaped, milled, stamped, formed, drawn, or threaded, Greenfield Industries products are hard at work. In 2009, Greenfield Industries became part of the Top-Eastern Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of twist drills. The blending of these two powerhouse companies allows both the global capacity necessary to engage in the world’s cutting tool markets. By combining the benefits of world-class manufacturing facilities, experienced sales and technical support, and well-known and respected brand names, Greenfield Industries delivers a winning combination to the market. As our family of customers, distributors, employees, products and services continues to grow, we maintain our commitment to excellence. We’re Greenfield Industries…working together for you everyday. http://www.factorylink.com/VTD.html

GTD is owned by a completely different company (Kennametal). Just because they use Greenfield doesn't mean they are the same as GTD. And if you want to add to this story with Greenfield's, there was also a Greenfield Steel Stamp Works....also located in Greenfield, Mass