I see there are some gear wrench trucks popping up, and someone said its because danaher sold off all the apex tool brands which includes gear wrench, so danaher and matco are on their own and not affiliated with gearwrench... What's the deal with this and what does it mean for the future of gearwrench tools?
matco-danaher-apex-gearwrench-kd split?
- Thread starter bimmer630
- Start date
1950mercury
Well-known member
Lors of china gearwrench now thats about it
stonesfan68
Well-known member
Danaher and Cooper Tools formed a joint venture called Apex Tool Group. ATG was subsequently sold to Bain Capital. It appears that Danaher still retained the Matco and Fluke brands. I'm not sure if Danaher actually makes tools or simply contracts out the production. There are surely a lot of similarities between Gearwrench and Matco- several of the ratchet mechanisms are interchangeable. Gearwrench is a very well known brand and I can't see Apex/Bain Capital messing with it too much, other then to reduce cost, of course.
SMKS
Well-known member
As noted, Danaher spun off all their hand tool brands except Matco into Apex Tools.
So, Danaher still owns Matco. It's even noted at the bottom of the Matco homepage:
I suspect that Apex makes many of the tools for Matco under contract, because it isn't clear that Danaher kept any hand tool factories along with the Matco name.
So, Danaher still owns Matco. It's even noted at the bottom of the Matco homepage:
I suspect that Apex makes many of the tools for Matco under contract, because it isn't clear that Danaher kept any hand tool factories along with the Matco name.
bobbycos
Well-known member
where do you see gearwrench trucks at ???
shockwave
Well-known member
They still have contract with matco as there standard ratcheting wrenches arose rebranded gearwrench where there splines are kabo look for the brass screw for easy identification and all the sockets and standard wrenches are Armstrong and I do not see Armstrong breaking there contracts anytime soon
The split/sale of Apex to Bain happened two years ago. Apex is still making almost all Matco, anyway.
Gearwrench trucks that actually visit and sell at shops, if that's really going to be a thing, is just going to be Apex trying to cut out the middle man.
If these Gearwrench trucks carry Armstrong, you can count on Matco going out of business. Danaher should have seen this coming. It's always safer to own the factories that make your product.
Gearwrench trucks that actually visit and sell at shops, if that's really going to be a thing, is just going to be Apex trying to cut out the middle man.
If these Gearwrench trucks carry Armstrong, you can count on Matco going out of business. Danaher should have seen this coming. It's always safer to own the factories that make your product.
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oldldh
Well-known member
I ordered a new "GearWrench" catalog...
I received an "Apex Tool Group" catalog, that is 1,448 pages long, and weighs about 10 pounds...
Includes the following brands...
Allen
Armstrong
Campbell
Crescent
GearWrench
HKP
Jacobs
Lufkin
Nicholson
Plumb
Wiss
Interesting, and it was free!!!
I received an "Apex Tool Group" catalog, that is 1,448 pages long, and weighs about 10 pounds...
Includes the following brands...
Allen
Armstrong
Campbell
Crescent
GearWrench
HKP
Jacobs
Lufkin
Nicholson
Plumb
Wiss
Interesting, and it was free!!!
Do you have a link to order? I can find the catalogs online, but not a way to order a printed copy. Thanks!
Oh, you can bet that Gearwrench will be charging Matco prices if they're going to be delivering to us.
Askme42
Well-known member
Yep. It's an awesome catalog. I ordered one for armstrong tools. That's really all I was interested in. The 1500 pages makes it hard to sift through.
oldldh
Well-known member
No links...
I just used the "Contact Us" button...
And sent them an email...
Simple...
metaldad
Well-known member
Apex also owns the names to Diamond Tool, Utica, Xcelite, among others.
Farmall450
Well-known member
It's well organized though.