Gedore - Made in Austria?

[Biomed]

Been buying a few Gedore tools lately. I noticed that the Gedore pliers and cutters are stamped made in Austria. At first I was disappointed as much of Gedore literature and the distributor (KCTools) information extols the fine German manufacturing. Doing a little Goggle-fu and reading the Gedore Web site I learned that Gedore has manufacturing and production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom and South Africa among others. I also learned that the entire Gedore plier and cutter production is done in Austria.

I'm curious, especially from GJ members in Europe, how does Austrian manufacturing compare to Germany and other countries in the region?

I am satisfied with my made in Austria Gedore tools, just interested in feedback from members, especially in the region.

Wiha is doing the same thing. Talking up the German manufacturing while quietly making more and more in Vietnam, the Czech Republic or even Italy.

 

[T45]

These are huge companies with large product lines. Not everything is OEM by gedore, and not every gedore OEM is in the EU. The COO india stuff is low quality and discontinued. The South Africa stuff is local market/Non-export if memory is correct. The EU COO tools are as good as the designs, be it Germany or Austria. For the high end companies COO does not realy matter very much to be honest. They ensure that the raw materials and quality spec is being met. Any quality degradation is done by the suits trying to make another nicket or $0.02.

 

[sqaurelizard]

Have quite a few Austrian made gedore pliers and very happy with them so far

 

[Jure]

austria or germany...its all the same speaking of quality,they both make some awesome tools.

 

[MWEric]

I have 4 pairs of the Austrian pliers, I think they are as good as any you can find. Fit and finish is great.

 

[alfazer]

I think you'd be splitting hairs between Austria and Germany. They are neighbours, they both speak German and are pretty similar in terms of culture and work ethic.

Austria make KTM motorcycles and Rotax engines.
And there's plenty of light aircraft with Rotax engines.

 

[Olafur]

Don't have many, but a pair or two. Very nice pliers.

 

[straightcut]

I have an Austrian made Glock that has always run flawlessly. Glock's Smyna, TN production quality is top notch also. I agree with the other posters; it's splitting hairs German Vs. Austrian quality. I am of German and Austrian heritage. I don't get too conflicted with quality of genetics from the two countries.

 

[Dave455]

I think Gedore pliers have been made in Austria for some time!

A firm I worked for 15 plus years back used Gedore stuff as standard, and as far as I can recall the pliers were Austrian made then. Decent tools as I recall.

Austrian manufacturing is generally top end, and Austrian consumers are fairly discerning, though there will always be a few products that are the exception. U.S. readers who don't see much Austrian stuff should have a look at a Steyr rifle with it's beautiful hammer forged (on Austrian machinery) barrel or a pair of Swarovski binoculars!

The Glock is probably a bad example. Gaston Glock initially made his name making products that used a mixture of plastic and metal parts in place of exclusively metal. This was always a cost saving feature. His pistol was no different, and in the early days sold in europe on the basis of it's action, despite it's plastic frame, rather than because of!

Latterly they have sold / been adopted largely on the basis of price. Consider them the Bic biro of the pistol world. Very cheap, reasonably reliable, but won't be around in 50 years! There are probably discerning Austrians who would be horrified if they were thought to typify Austrian engineering!

 

[FSUwelder1212]

I have an Austrian made Glock that has always run flawlessly. Glock's Smyna, TN production quality is top notch also. I agree with the other posters; it's splitting hairs German Vs. Austrian quality. I am of German and Austrian heritage. I don't get too conflicted with quality of genetics from the two countries.

FYI, Glocks facility is in Smyrna, GA not Smyna, TN

 

[maxcarp709]

I think Gedore pliers have been made in Austria for some time!

A firm I worked for 15 plus years back used Gedore stuff as standard, and as far as I can recall the pliers were Austrian made then. Decent tools as I recall.

Austrian manufacturing is generally top end, and Austrian consumers are fairly discerning, though there will always be a few products that are the exception. U.S. readers who don't see much Austrian stuff should have a look at a Steyr rifle with it's beautiful hammer forged (on Austrian machinery) barrel or a pair of Swarovski binoculars!

The Glock is probably a bad example. Gaston Glock initially made his name making products that used a mixture of plastic and metal parts in place of exclusively metal. This was always a cost saving feature. His pistol was no different, and in the early days sold in europe on the basis of it's action, despite it's plastic frame, rather than because of!

Latterly they have sold / been adopted largely on the basis of price. Consider them the Bic biro of the pistol world. Very cheap, reasonably reliable, but won't be around in 50 years! There are probably discerning Austrians who would be horrified if they were thought to typify Austrian engineering!

I beg to differ from you about Glock pistols.I think most of the Glocks around now will probably be going strong 50 yrs from now.Other than the springs, which are normal maintenance items wear is not an issue other than cosmetics. There are several of the 1st Generation pistols that have fired hundreds of thousands of rounds and are still going strong.Glocks have been subjected to torture tests and passed with flying colors, while more expensive pistols from other makers have failed on the 1st or 2nd round of testing. The polymer frame does have some minor drawbacks such as not holding up when being chewed on by a Pit Bull. I have had mine for over 20 yrs and expect it to be around and working like new long after I am gone.

 

[Monte]

How Gedore pliers are made:

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