Eklind Is Closing Its IL Plant

[RoninB4]

Has this company essentially been run down by the management, or just didn't have the scale to afford investment?

-There's several reasons why, just like any other business failure. I probably have more inside knowledge of the business than anybody here and my knowledge is 30 years old. I have my own speculations but those are personal opinions not facts, which will probably never be known. Those responsible for business failures seldom like to admit that they failed the business. Accountability is in short supply lately.

Looking at the product range and website, I don't get the impression they planned to be here tomorrow.

-The appearance of the website for decades should have left you with the impression that the website developer was on a tight budget from Howard Eklind. He was like that about many things while I was there. Eklind has been producing hex keys since 1948 so they probably planned on being here the next day....just not today.

They're well known and readily available here in Europe too, unlike Eklind.

-There's likely a few reasons that Eklind didn't widely advertise in Europe which should be a bit obvious if you're a Euro tool user. I will say that I met a few Ferrari mechanics using Eklind hex keys while in Germany.

 

[zendriver]

I just bought 2 new sets from Menards on sale a few months ago. They're hardly any more expensive than HF, and way better.

Well, there's two sets sold, likely at a price cut down to compete with foreign competition.

Maybe I'm out of touch with reality.

This is a 100 year old company, that help supplied tools when America - during wartime, built 2700 Liberty cargo ships in 4 years. that was just cargo ships. Post war, there was an US manufacturing base unprecedented in the history of the world. Schwinn was selling a million bicycles a year. while we were regularly arming the Vietnam war and supplying a huge US consumer economy. Manufacturing was literally everywhere, which of course we all know requires hex tools. All done with thousands of manual machining, tooling, fixtures, drilling jigs etc, all seem to use hex fasteners somewhere.

Now I watch historic videos of IN cities like Muncie, Anderson and Fort Wayne, that had huge manufacturing bases, that are now empty fields (or housing subdivisions) My Indiana county had over fifty factories. up through the 70's, now maybe a half dozen left. MI towns like Flint and Detroit the same. How many US factories have closed to consolidation and massive offshoring, in the last 40 years?

"blame management" seem to be a common theme and they might very well be idiots, but it seems there is other relevant factors in play, with a dose of denial as well.


There was a thread a while back trashing Starrett in a similar light. "Why can't they just get their **** together and be profitable", ignoring the fact that they too have had 50 years of cost increases, lower domestic demand, severe competition from the Japanese and then the Chinese manufacturers, with no end in sight. never mind consumers always glomming for the lowest prices.

Assuming their products at least used to be good, would not be surprising if Eklind tried what other legacy US companies have that use to "build products that lasted years". Realizing that model does not work in a non-growth market, started making products that do not last as long, hoping for "repeat customers" Another post here claimed that Bondhus products "ain't what the used to be" as well.

Again, I have to ask. How does Eklind making a product that one would think rely on quantity selling, even make a profit, at $4 set? Seems doubtful Menards are selling huge numbers of hex wrenches, but maybe they are.

 

[dchawk81]

Let's not forget hex wrenches have become basically a filler piece count tool in mega sets. To the point they'll give you 2 sets of SAE and 2 sets of Metric and count each hex wrench to get that number as high as possible.

They're not exactly a revered tool to the average person.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

There's a research paper an acquaintance of mine was involved with - "Making the right things in the right places".

I haven't read it, but I think "only basic hex keys" and "any expensive country with regulations" are not the right answer anymore.

 

[NostraThpmas]

I'm curious all you hex key users, what do you grab first?

An L, fold out set of keys , regular screwdriver shape, T shape, or bits?

In my toolbag I have fold out bits of several varities. If I need one unexpectedly, at least I have something with me.
In my shop I have T handles for greater torque.
For my 3D printer and printed part assembly, I have screwdriver type (Bondhus).
For electrical I have socket type that I can run in with my drill and finish up with a torque wrench.
I also have L and bit types. They don't get much use.

 

[Farmall450]

There's a research paper an acquaintance of mine was involved with - "Making the right things in the right places".

I haven't read it, but I think "only basic hex keys" and "any expensive country with regulations" are not the right answer anymore.

So Snap-on should offshore everything?

A lot easier to chrome plate without the EPA or other US/EU regulations, let alone forge without OSHA, etc.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

So Snap-on should offshore everything?

I didn't say anything to suggest that.

Apologies if I didn't explain it too well - the "and" in my quote is doing some heavy lifting. You can do the thing on the left or the one on the right, but it's probably going to be a struggle to do both.

"only basic hex keys" and "any expensive country with regulations" are not the right answer anymore.

Snap-on is not this. They do a wide range of premium products, innovate, and have the whole distribution and finance business model.

 

[dchawk81]

So Snap-on should offshore everything?

A lot easier to chrome plate without the EPA or other US/EU regulations, let alone forge without OSHA, etc.

Snap on has margins. They're not trying to make simple small cheap things at high volume.

That's what 6 year olds in China are for.

 

[neophyte]

huh..... the guys that made the most basic *** hex keys with zero innovation for the last 3 decades went out of business????

Whaaaaaa?

Manufacturers can be killed by not innovating, or by innovating, and some times it’s luck if the draw with the way the market turns that determines survival.
Stanley Tools has screwed up in the past, but management is decent on their toes, and they have kept market share, and pivot when things aren’t going well.

 

[neophyte]

Has this company essentially been run down by the management, or just didn't have the scale to afford investment?

Looking at the product range and website, I don't get the impression they planned to be here tomorrow.

Contrast with Bondhus who have a much wider range (e.g. bit sockets) and many innovations (e.g. holding function, various finishes). There's stuff here for all kinds of buyers. They're well known and readily available here in Europe too, unlike Eklind.

Plenty of manufacturers have **** websites.
Back when I first got on the internet in the 1990s, Stanley Tools had a website that seemed to be complete ****, especially for one of the World’s larger tool manufacturers.
The website has since become much better.
Sears up until they died had a website ghat routinely didn’t function, or function well, when using an Apple computer, or maybe the website was just ****.
Amazon still has no clue how to make proper product pages for industrial tools, and Amazon literally purchased a Tool retailer, and a separate Industrial Supply company.
Eklind’s website may look simple, but it doesn’t seem to be any worse than the Bondhus website, and it’s arguably easier to navigate than Snap-On’s website, which doesn’t even seem to have certain products indexed thru Google.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

There was a thread a while back trashing Starrett in a similar light. "Why can't they just get their **** together and be profitable", ignoring the fact that they too have had 50 years of cost increases, lower domestic demand, severe competition from the Japanese and then the Chinese manufacturers, with no end in sight. never mind consumers always glomming for the lowest prices.

A lot of people, including a lot of people I had assumed were very intelligent, severely underestimated how much costs would increase over the last year and a half. Global geopolitics directly impacts manufacturing whether we like it or not. Our costs at my shop have skyrocketed. I wouldn’t be surprised if Eklind couldn’t keep up with the costs. The industrial park I’m in has already lost a 1/4 of all the shops since the tariffs kicked in. You’d be surprised at how little raw materials the US produces. Sure we make great final products but the raw stuff has just been exploding in costs and it’s not slowing down. Reports have said that US manufacturing is getting its teeth kicked in on policies that are supposed to help it grow.

 

[redwrench60]

We will likely never know all the details of the closure. I just hate to lose another good option for a type of tool that is difficult to find good options on.

You can’t truly appreciate a good Allen wrench until you’ve had a simple task turn into a cluster **** by one made from drop forged horse manure.

 

[Farmall450]

We will likely never know all the details of the closure. I just hate to lose another good option for a type of tool that is difficult to find good options on.

You can’t truly appreciate a good Allen wrench until you’ve had a simple task turn into a cluster **** by one made from drop forged horse manure.

Yup. At the end of the day, this is a sad note for any tool forum or user.

 

[Farmall450]

RIP Eklind.

 

[JeepYJ]

Eklind’s website may look simple, but it doesn’t seem to be any worse than the Bondhus website, and it’s arguably easier to navigate than Snap-On’s website, which doesn’t even seem to have certain products indexed thru Google.

I looked at their website for the first time ever yesterday. It looked like it was made in 1998.
They had a note on there about being essential during the COVID lockdown. And they’re hiring!

 

[Gmonkee]

Part of the problem with Eklind folders I have found is nobody ever wore one out that I have seen.

Things that last forever aren't big repeat sales. The item goes obsolete before examples are junked. I had boxes full of durable, barely useful tools years ago. Took forever to resell a lot of it.

Ronin, I certainly would not be offended my Chesco were Eklind made. Other than small differences in details both are very durable.
I sold off all the small chassis Eklind hex long ago but only for not being ball end.

 

[RoninB4]

I looked at their website for the first time ever yesterday. It looked like it was made in 1998.
They had a note on there about being essential during the COVID lockdown. And they’re hiring!

-I had a brief look at the employee list and only found two names I recognized. I would imagine most of the people I worked with moved on during 30 years but two prime decision makers names were familiar. One was a recent hire in 1995 to replace Howard Eklind when he stepped down. Earl (now president) hired his brother Douglas to be VP (also bought in as a stakeholder) at some point. This doesn't mean that the Dynamic Duo is responsible for the closure either but I've watched a few companies go under and they usually have the faint aroma about them in decline that's varied but familiar.

 

[American Locomotive]

There was a thread a while back trashing Starrett in a similar light. "Why can't they just get their **** together and be profitable", ignoring the fact that they too have had 50 years of cost increases, lower domestic demand, severe competition from the Japanese and then the Chinese manufacturers, with no end in sight. never mind consumers always glomming for the lowest prices.

Eklind has (had?) two big issues that I can see.

1) Trying too hard to compete at the low end of the price scale. This is a losing game. You can't compete with Taiwan or China at this game. The higher-end is more profitable, and you're more likely to court repeat (loyal) customers, who aren't as price sensitive.

2) A lack of innovation and a very small product catalog that is old and outdated. They literally just have hex keys, t-handles, drivers and folders. No bit sets, hex-bit sockets, no bolt-retaining hex bits/keys, no torque-limiting drivers, no torx plus tooling, no individually colored wrench sets and so on. The world will only buy so many standard hex wrenches. So you need to constantly innovate and come out with new products

Starrett, also has a similar problem. There are items in their catalog pushing 100+ years old. They probably sell like 5 of them a year. They completely missed out on the electronics revolution, so their digital calipers/mics/other metrology tools are using electronics and mechanisms sourced from other companies. They're just not as nice or as well integrated as tools like Mitutoyo.

 

[zendriver]

Eklind has (had?) two big issues that I can see.

1) Trying too hard to compete at the low end of the price scale. This is a losing game. You can't compete with Taiwan or China at this game. The higher-end is more profitable, and you're more likely to court repeat (loyal) customers, who aren't as price sensitive.

Where is the high end market?

2) A lack of innovation and a very small product catalog that is old and outdated. They literally just have hex keys, t-handles, drivers and folders. No bit sets, hex-bit sockets, no bolt-retaining hex bits/keys, no torque-limiting drivers, no torx plus tooling, no individually colored wrench sets and so on. The world will only buy so many standard hex wrenches. So you need to constantly innovate and come out with new products

Do we really think adding more also highly competitive products, would have been their saving grace?

Starrett, also has a similar problem. There are items in their catalog pushing 100+ years old. They probably sell like 5 of them a year. They completely missed out on the electronics revolution, so their digital calipers/mics/other metrology tools are using electronics and mechanisms sourced from other companies. They're just not as nice or as well integrated as tools like Mitutoyo.

Surely they considered this. Again, is there a large profitable market out there somewhere, for measuring tools? One can buy pretty decent digital calipers for $15 bucks. The higher end stuff is $100-150.
Not really products users buy every other year.

 

[RoninB4]

-The above post from @zendriver has replies I didn't want to post.

 

[tarbellb]

Starrett not going digital is the same as
Kodak not going digital

Guess what question the 20yr kid on this forum is asking

"whats Kodak"

 

[neophyte]

Eklind has (had?) two big issues that I can see.

1) Trying too hard to compete at the low end of the price scale. This is a losing game. You can't compete with Taiwan or China at this game. The higher-end is more profitable, and you're more likely to court repeat (loyal) customers, who aren't as price sensitive.

2) A lack of innovation and a very small product catalog that is old and outdated. They literally just have hex keys, t-handles, drivers and folders. No bit sets, hex-bit sockets, no bolt-retaining hex bits/keys, no torque-limiting drivers, no torx plus tooling, no individually colored wrench sets and so on. The world will only buy so many standard hex wrenches. So you need to constantly innovate and come out with new products

Starrett, also has a similar problem. There are items in their catalog pushing 100+ years old. They probably sell like 5 of them a year. They completely missed out on the electronics revolution, so their digital calipers/mics/other metrology tools are using electronics and mechanisms sourced from other companies. They're just not as nice or as well integrated as tools like Mitutoyo.

One of Starrett’s most well known product lines would be their Combination Squares.
At this point, that is almost a 150 year old design.
Sometimes, if you have a product that works, you survive by continuing to manufacture that product as “The original”.
Herman Miller still sells the Eames chair designs, and I suspect they still make a crapload of money from the designs, since Herman Miller was able yo buy one of their main USA competitors for “Designer” furniture, Knoll International. (For $1.8 billion).
The issue with simply investing in new technologies, is that sometimes large amounts of money get wasted on dead end engineering that quickly gets obsolescent.

 

[American Locomotive]

Where is the high end market?

Wera, Wiha, PB Swiss a few others. They charge premium prices for their hex wrenches and other hex tools, but they're in every high end shop I've seen.

A bit down market, but still premium is Bondhus. They basically have the industrial market on lock.

Do we really think adding more also highly competitive products, would have been their saving grace?

Yes. There is a market for everything I just said. Put a spin on it, make yours unique. Not having Torx-Plus, for example, is a hugggggee miss. There's been a big shift to torx-plus over the past decade or so, especially in tooling for metal cutting machines.

Surely they considered this. Again, is there a large profitable market out there somewhere, for measuring tools? One can buy pretty decent digital calipers for $15 bucks. The higher end stuff is $100-150.

Not really products users buy every other year.

Yes, manufacturing. Every plant I've been to has tools from Mitutoyo or other high-end brands. They also upgrade to newer versions that have new features. E.g., "coolant proof", "solar", ability to interface with a computer, and more.

One of Starrett’s most well known product lines would be their Combination Squares.
At this point, that is almost a 150 year old design.
....
The issue with simply investing in new technologies, is that sometimes large amounts of money get wasted on dead end engineering that quickly gets obsolescent.

How many combination squares are in the world today? How many people are really buying new Starrett combination squares?

Yes, there is always a risk that investing in something new might end in failure. However the alternative of doing nothing will end in failure.

When you make "last a lifetime tools" you will inevitably run out of customers. You must keep innovating and creating new tools to sell them.

 

[neophyte]

Wera, Wiha, PB Swiss a few others. They charge premium prices for their hex wrenches and other hex tools, but they're in every high end shop I've seen.

A bit down market, but still premium is Bondhus. They basically have the industrial market on lock.

Yes. There is a market for everything I just said. Put a spin on it, make yours unique. Not having Torx-Plus, for example, is a hugggggee miss. There's been a big shift to torx-plus over the past decade or so, especially in tooling for metal cutting machines.

Yes, manufacturing. Every plant I've been to has tools from Mitutoyo or other high-end brands. They also upgrade to newer versions that have new features. E.g., "coolant proof", "solar", ability to interface with a computer, and more.

How many combination squares are in the world today? How many people are really buying new Starrett combination squares?

Yes, there is always a risk that investing in something new might end in failure. However the alternative of doing nothing will end in failure.

When you make "last a lifetime tools" you will inevitably run out of customers. You must keep innovating and creating new tools to sell them.

Probably half of the people making cabinetry, or doing manual metal work at least in the USA, still use combination squares, and most people would prefer to use Starrett or PEC squares.
PEC is likely the OEM for some other brands such as Mitutoyo, and Brien & Sharpe. (Or at least that was what I heard years ago).
There are cheap combination squares made by Fisher in the UK, or maybe for the UK market, and Empire, but those square are generally not something a discerning craftsman would want to use after seeing the difference between a Starrett or PEC example, and the cheap combination squares.
In the UK, high end buyers might gowith Moore and Wright.
Yes, it’s not a huge market, but it’s a reliable market, and quality product serves as advertising for other items, even cheaper ones.
Black & Decker gets **** for “cheap” appliances and power tools, but they’re also one of the world's largest tool manufacturers/brands, and they have outlasted many brands making higher end products, even though B&D does include some higher end product lines like Proto, and MAC, and Facom.
Far more people actually buy the item they can afford, rather than the item they have to save up years to buy.

 

[tankzilla]

Sad to see another usa made tool maker go away. I use to buy a set of ball end and flat ended sae and metric Eklind every 2 or 3 years either lost or twisted bent or out right broke. 10 yeas ago something happened they would last a year or less and i was back buying them again. Have a box of the mangled sets i will try and make a few ok sets. The rest will meet the steel scrap bucket. Tried Bondhus allen keys a few times similar thing. Between ball ends snap off or flat ends become rounded. I get it using cheaters but when my hand is the breaking device.

Yes these are used everyday sometimes exposed to water, falling on floor and riding in the tool bucket with the other tools. Was given a set of sae and metric allen keys, the rainbow color ones form harbor freight. I don't have great hopes.

 

[zendriver]

-The above post from @zendriver has replies I didn't want to post.

Why not?

 

[jeffmoss26]

Sad news, I use their stuff daily!

 

[RoninB4]

Why not?

...

 

[cody1325]

Starrett not going digital is the same as
Kodak not going digital

Guess what question the 20yr kid on this forum is asking

"whats Kodak"

Does Kodak even make cameras anymore? My old digital Kodak from 2006 was Kodak made, it's replacement, bought from Walmart earlier thsi year, was simply licensed by Kodak.

Also, most stuff has been USB-C for ages now, to the point I packed away most of my Micro USB cables. Even the cheap Vivitar "Pop Snap" (my "when I need to take something apart and document it" camera that has a almost unacceptable image quality and the price alone is the only reason I bought it--at $30, it's cheap to replace if dropped or ruined) uses USB-C, but the darn thing was micro USB.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Starrett not going digital is the same as
Kodak not going digital

Guess what question the 20yr kid on this forum is asking

"whats Kodak"

Don't be silly, everyone knows it's a moment

 

[winlinmac]

Looks like the US is becoming increasingly disposable.

 

[winlinmac]

German brands are outsourcing their manufacturing too, just so you all know.

 

[neophyte]

Looks like the US is becoming increasingly disposable.

A huge number of industries are becoming increasingly disposable, and it’s not just in the US.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I just bought 2 new sets from Menards on sale a few months ago. They're hardly any more expensive than HF, and way better.

Picked up a set Friday and probably going to double check what I have to fulfill those needs

 

[zendriver]

China outsources some manufacturing now

 

[INSP380]

I have a few Eklind… I hate seeing American manufacturing closing doors. No matter the reason.

Steve

 

[winlinmac]

I have a few Eklind… I hare seeing American manufacturing closing doors. No matter the reason.

Steve

I was never a fan of their hex key design, but I still purchased them anyway in the year's past to support US manufacturing.

 

[JeepYJ]

Does Kodak even make cameras anymore?

No they just license their name to other companies to make them now.

 

[KnurledNut]

I have a few Eklind… I hate seeing American manufacturing closing doors. No matter the reason.

Steve

I have a set of the same long loop handles in the metal stand but mine have the older label. The older harder steel they used has been incredibly tough!

 

[dchawk81]

Picked up a set Friday and probably going to double check what I have to fulfill those needs

The blister pack isn't doing their image any favors. If they had an image in the first place.