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New Craftsman Plant!!!

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bimmer630

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I found a Sears Hardware yesterday and went inside with my 10 year old broken 17mm impact. The woman was very nice and helpful, but they didnt have loose impact sockets in stock. She ordered one and it will be sent to my house.

She also said that A LOT of tools have been on backorder.
I asked if that had anything to do with a possible changeover to USA production... And she said "we can only hope"
 
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BK13

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Man, I'd love to be in on the surveying of the new plant! Not enough to move to Fort Worth, though...
 
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JAYoung

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Maybe we're seeing the ebb and flow of tool manufacturing bringing production back to the USA.
After World War II, the U.S. took the forefront because all the competition was bombed to rubble. Today the Asian plants are aging, inefficient and manpower intensive. Starting afresh, U.S. companies can exploit digital design, production and quality control technologies in more energy- and resource-efficient plants, which keeps costs down and quality up.
 
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Real_PhillBert

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Most of my wrenches and sockets are older US produced Craftsman. But when they moved production overseas and let the quality slide, I migrated my new purchases to Snap-On and Proto.

I'm very happy to see Craftsman bringing production back to the states, and I really hope they bring the quality of the older tools back as well.
 
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bimmer630

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Andres26tnt said:
Huh, I think you missed the news. This tread was started because CF just announced a new plant in tx, they specifically said they will build mechanics tools in the plant. It's also all over they're Instagram.

I know I'm not the target, hence why I asked how much will the tools cost. New buyer will most likely look at prices over COO.
Click to expand...
Who is CF anyway?
 
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denis4x4

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Craftsman returning to US manufacturing

According to the WSJ, Stanley Black & Decker is opening a $90 million dollar plant in Ft Worth to manufacture Craftsman brand tools. CEO says that they want to manufacture where they sell!
 
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Doohickey

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For those that don't shop at Lowe's, you can already buy some Craftsman products that are made in USA.

Yes, they are made "with global materials", but SBD is careful to mention that part in statements about their plans for the Craftsman brand.


"New CRAFTSMAN power tools, hand tools, lawn and garden equipment, and other gear is being made with pride in the USA with global materials–and it’s here to stay. We're bringing job opportunities and pride in craftsmanship back to America."
Click to expand...
 
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FigureItOut

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I was sure hoping they'd reopen one of the shuttered Apex plants. There's one very nearby to me that has just been sitting empty for a couple of years. There are probably still many of the old employees around who would be very glad to get back into a stable manufacturing job. I'm guessing many of them went to one of the many poultry facilities, which is nasty work from what I understand.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
 
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toolmutt

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As others have said, to many tool buyers, COO doesn't matter at all. But here's an off-the-wall future prediction regarding SBD and the more discerning, COO matters tool buyer:
SBD "rescues" the revered Craftsman brand name (=Brownie points). SBD brings production back to good ole USA (=Brownie points). SBD builds new, automated factory [in the backyard of their Proto plant] for better quality control (=Brownie points). As Handyandy said, there'll be a buggy period to work out with the automation. Let the Craftsman name absorb the hit because that level buyer may not notice. When QC is up to snuff, SBD switches production to Proto with the added marketing benefit of "even better quality" for that brand name (=Brownie points).

Then again, I didn't have my Monster energy drink this morning and may be delusional. :lol_hitti
 
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Andres26tnt

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Mechanical Noise said:
Wouldn't surprise me if some of the tools end up at the Sears outlet stores. About 75% of the tool stuff now there is Stanley or Black & Decker. There's hardly any Sears Craftsman there now, at least at my local store.
Click to expand...

SBD will not help sears out, the majority of SBD tools there is more then likely old stock.
 
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Andres26tnt

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toolmutt said:
As others have said, to many tool buyers, COO doesn't matter at all. But here's an off-the-wall future prediction regarding SBD and the more discerning, COO matters tool buyer:
SBD "rescues" the revered Craftsman brand name (=Brownie points). SBD brings production back to good ole USA (=Brownie points). SBD builds new, automated factory [in the backyard of their Proto plant] for better quality control (=Brownie points). As Handyandy said, there'll be a buggy period to work out with the automation. Let the Craftsman name absorb the hit because that level buyer may not notice. When QC is up to snuff, SBD switches production to Proto with the added marketing benefit of "even better quality" for that brand name (=Brownie points).

Then again, I didn't have my Monster energy drink this morning and may be delusional. :lol_hitti
Click to expand...

they are defiantly going to get points for bringing tools back to the US, but at what price? Nostalgia can only go so far if the price is not competitive.
 
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PBCampbell

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Keep an eye out for other factories getting closed down, once this new one is up and running. I'm sure there are no massive subsidies and/or tax credits involved and I'm sure these new workers will be compensated just as well if not better than the ones soon to be out of jobs. I mean, Stanley has been an exemplary and patriotic corporate citizen over the past 2 or 3 decades, just like all the largest U.S. corporations. They only have our best interests at heart.
 
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Jazz1

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Its a novel idea but I don't think average person willing to pay a premium for tools.
When I bought my tool set there was little competition overseas available here in the way of a quality set which is why I bought my Craftsman set way back.
Craftsman wrenches are so much easier to handle when working on very oily greasy **** and your hands are covered in oil and grease... makes the smoothly polished wrenches a PIA.
 
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John in OH

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Re: Craftsman returning to US manufacturing

I wish them the best, but it will take a long time for CM to build back the loyal user base they had 20 years ago. Many have moved on to other brands with more up-to-date designs and features.
 
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Tonyuk

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I'd rather have a well designed tool made in the east like a toptul spanner than one of those raised panel spanners any day, made in the US or not.

Hopefully they'll update the design.
 
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Toold_up

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Tonyuk said:
I'd rather have a well designed tool made in the east like a toptul spanner than one of those raised panel spanners any day, made in the US or not.

Hopefully they'll update the design.
Click to expand...

They do make different styles other than the raised panels. They have been offering long pattern full polished for well over 10 years now.
 
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Falcon67

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Re: Craftsman returning to US manufacturing

Yea for Fort Worth - my original hometown. I would imagine there will be a decent marketing campaign to match with the new USA based plant. I think in the tool area, people would be willing to come back.
 
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EOC_Jason

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I'm glad they are making a US plant, but I honestly don't expect the quality to increase any... If they did that then the cost would go up too, and your Lowe's clientele would then just buy a cheaper brand...

When I saw CMan wrenches at Lowe's that were literally already rusting on the shelf (and not just one, I sifted through the whole shelf), I haven't wasted my time taking a second look at them...

What they *might* do is create a limited line like a "Professional" or "Industrial" series that is better quality, but obviously at a greater cost...
 
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Don1357

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Re: Craftsman returning to US manufacturing

John in OH said:
I wish them the best, but it will take a long time for CM to build back the loyal user base they had 20 years ago. Many have moved on to other brands with more up-to-date designs and features.
Click to expand...

This right here. I used to be a loyal customer until they started weaseling out of their warranty. At first their policy was "rust is not a valid reason to exchange a tool under warranty" which makes sense; they have no control over the conditions users store their tools. Then a while back they switched to "if it has rust, it cannot be exchanged under warranty" even if the tool snapped in two.

Nowadays I'm a big fan of Lowe's Kobalt line of tools. Their micro ratchets are outstanding with updated meaningful features.
 
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Flyordie

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EOC_Jason said:
I'm glad they are making a US plant, but I honestly don't expect the quality to increase any... If they did that then the cost would go up too, and your Lowe's clientele would then just buy a cheaper brand...

When I saw CMan wrenches at Lowe's that were literally already rusting on the shelf (and not just one, I sifted through the whole shelf), I haven't wasted my time taking a second look at them...

What they *might* do is create a limited line like a "Professional" or "Industrial" series that is better quality, but obviously at a greater cost...
Click to expand...

That is what I would hope they do and use their Proto factory to make them. Bring the Craftsman Industrial line back to life.
 
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j.schaef

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Re: Craftsman returning to US manufacturing

I will consider buying them, so long as "made in the USA" doesn't include "using global materials".
 
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CraigStu

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Re: Craftsman returning to US manufacturing

Will be interesting to see if they can make it work. I have had a Sears card since 1972. We bought appliances, clothing, home goods, car batteries, and of course CM tools. The tools had a 'Professional' line of hand tools and those pliers were fantastic. 12-15 yrs ago they brought in a line of cheaper power and hand tools. I never bought any but remember thinking, why the h--l would they do this? Going to ruin their reputation. Guess I wasn't the only one. I see the massive display at Lowes here too but not sure why I would bother. Kobalt and Ridgid work just fine for me.
 
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Toold_up

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bimmer630 said:
Ive never seen that abbreviation for Craftsman... Is that how it would appear in the stock market or something?

Usually people just write Cman
Click to expand...

No, stock symbol for Sears is SHLD. Now stock symbol for Stanley Black and Decker is SWK.

I'm watching SWK closely... Not ready to invest quite yet, but I think next year it's going to be higher than it is today!
 
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PugetDude

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Re: Craftsman returning to US manufacturing

denis4x4 said:
According to the WSJ, Stanley Black & Decker is opening a $90 million dollar plant in Ft Worth to manufacture Craftsman brand tools. CEO says that they want to manufacture where they sell!
Click to expand...

Link?
$90 million isn't much of a plant. Land, Building and Machinery should be multiples of that.
 
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LOW1

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Re: Craftsman returning to US manufacturing

To me the quality of the product is far more important than where it was made.

I would like to see Craftsman market a consistently solid product. If Snap On (or whatever) is a "10" I would like Craftsman to be a "7" and would pay accordingly.

But somehow I don't think that Craftsman is going to be of that quality level. Hope I am wrong.
 
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LB-1911

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Re: Craftsman returning to US manufacturing

PugetDude said:
Link?
$90 million isn't much of a plant. Land, Building and Machinery should be multiples of that.
Click to expand...

Not very in depth -

Behind the deal: Why a $90M manufacturing plant is coming to Fort Worth


edit to add -

The new facility is expected to be completed in late 2020, with groundbreaking in fall 2019. The plant will manufacture a range of Craftsman mechanics tools including sockets, ratchets, wrenches and general sets.

It will incorporate the latest manufacturing technologies to optimize productivity and sustainability, including pre-flattening steel technologies to improve material yield by almost 25 percent, as well as water and energy management technologies to reduce resource consumption, according to the company.

The investment in the area is expected to be about $90 million.

Source & full text @
Manufacturing Mojo Stanley Black & Decker adding new Fort Worth plant, 500 area jobs


:beer:
 
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