Cornwell tools aquired Kennedy MFG

[zcbauer89]

http://www.thevwindependent.com/news/2016/10/cornwell-quality-tools-acquires-kennedy-manufacturing/

Just read online that Cornwell bought Kennedy. Kennedy has been made in my town for a long time and I've always loved their boxes. Really surprised that Cornwell was the company to acquire them though. The article made it sound like they're going to move some production to the Van Wert plant. Thought you guys would find it interesting.

 

[jakemac]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing this story.

 

[wrenchr]

Sounds good, usually when a company is bought out people lose jobs. I hope they stick to that and hire more people and not cut the existing employees!!

 

[ken w.]

In my area Cornwell now has a tool truck. I haven't seen one in 15 + years.

 

[Buckgnarly]

So does this mean Kennedy stuff will be impossible to find/buy?....

 

[Skin]

Sounds good, usually when a company is bought out people lose jobs. I hope they stick to that and hire more people and not cut the existing employees!!

Cornwell is a very small employee owned company. Doubt anyone will lose a job as long as a profit can be made. I would of preferred to see them re-invest in some new equipment though, such as an updated socket broaching machine, new wrench dies, and domestic fine tooth ratchets.

Wonder if Waterloo is going to go completely to China, otherwise securing a tool box manufacturer seems kind of low priority to me.

 

[Brownsfan]

Looks like Waterloo won't be making their tool boxes anymore.

 

[Fedwrench]

Wonder if Waterloo is going to go completely to China, otherwise securing a tool box manufacturer seems kind of low priority to me.

Cornwell has a long history bouncing from remline to Kennedy to Waterloo for their boxes over the years.

Most of waterloos production moved to Mexico years ago.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Looks like Waterloo won't be making their tool boxes anymore.

This was my thought as well. Kennedy will most likely be making Cornwell boxes.
Out of Snap On, Matco,my Cornwell dealer is the friendliest and does the most business at our 48 bay bus facility.

 

[Holzarbeiter]

I think this will be good for Cornwell, this means that future tool storage will be in house.
We have two Cornwell dealers in my area, both are very reliable, I will have to ask them about this.

 

[woody 73]

Very interesting news thank you for sharing it.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Interesting, I thought Kennedy was owned by Homak.

TheGrooveking

 

[jeep450]

Cornwell has a long history bouncing from remline to Kennedy to Waterloo for their boxes over the years.

Most of waterloos production moved to Mexico years ago.

They actually moved Cornwell production to Missouri about a year ago.

 

[Wamsutta]

Very surprising; I didn't know Cornwell had the spare change to buy Kennedy.

 

[Duster346]

Interesting, I thought Kennedy was owned by Homak.

TheGrooveking

I also thought I read something similar a few year's back... like Homak had bought kennedy or vice versa.

Kennedy made cornwells tool boxes for quite a while in the 90's and 2000's. Nice boxes, in my opinion. I had a 42" black top and bottom cornwell box made by kennedy... wish I wouldn't have traded it in.

 

[LB-1911]

Interesting, I thought Kennedy was owned by Homak.

I also thought I read something similar a few year's back... like Homak had bought kennedy or vice versa.

JVA Partners acquired Homak in 2005 & Kennedy in 2007.

June 6, 2007
JVA Partners Buys Kennedy Manufacturing
http://www.mdm.com/articles/4144-JVA-Partners-Buys-Kennedy Manufacturing


Founded in 1998, Metro Chicago-based JVA Partners is an operationally-focused private investment firm

http://jvapartners.com/

 

[bobcatdan]

To me this is a good thing, could have been a lot worse, Irwin could have bought them.

 

[Adam.C]

I bought a used Kennedy 315XB roll cab that's been nothing but trouble. So done with cheap tool boxes. Except this one wasn't cheap. Recently needed new drawer slides. Any idea what Kennedy wanted for a set? I needed 6 pairs. Finally found them through ZORO and they arrived in Grainger packaging. Ditto, bought a rattle can of Kennedy touch up paint. a) it wasn't a perfect match, b) it didn't produce the texture you get from the factory, but c) I think I paid close to $30 for the can! (who is stupid here)

I wish Kennedy made great stuff. I'd like to own more brown tool boxes for my mini machine shop. But its just not that great and service and parts are just not good enough in my opinion.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Cornwell has management issues. They need to bring their core products up to 1980's standards before they dump any more money into their tool boxes.

 

[Wamsutta]

^ They're modernized their tools quite a bit over the years. In 2000, I warrantied a combination wrench on the truck. It was a 1/2 inch extra long. The replacement wrench was the same length, but the machining accuracy was super precise compared to the wrench I turned in. The new one looked like the open end was cut with a laser. The box end was super thin and had straight up and down box walls instead of donut shaped like the wrench I turned in.

 

[Jaysreal]

Did Cornwell get Homak as well?

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[FergusonTO35]

This is good news. Cornwell and Kennedy are both old school rust belt manufacturers and if they do it right this will strengthen both of them. I have a circa 2002 Cornwell 42" top and bottom that was made by Kennedy and it is an excellent box. Mine is Land Rover green with gold trim, an overrun of boxes made for a chain of Land Rover dealers. Will post pics when I get a chance.

 

[LB-1911]

Did Cornwell get Homak as well?

No

JVA Partners sold off KMC Holdings LLC (formerly known as Kennedy Manufacturing Company changed to KMC Holdings LLC in May 2007.) They retained Homak.


Founded in 1998, Metro Chicago-based JVA Partners is an operationally-focused private investment firm

http://jvapartners.com/