Tool Group Monoply

[Penny88]

I'm starting to believe that Danaher and Stanley are nothing but corporate raiders. They buyout American tool icons, send production overseas, deteriorate quality, and then sit-back and watch the competition disappear. What really pisses me off is they do this from top to bottom, from the tool trucks down to the local hardware store. And my tool rep has the nerve to get upset when I call in and ask about COO idiot I'm trying to keep you employed! you're lucky they haven't outsoured you!

 

[plumber84]

I make a point of NOT buying Stanley or Irwin tools as previously stated they guilty of ****** high quality companys of their tool heritage, Irwin in particular because of their handling of vise-grip and record. Im doing my part to buck the trend buy not investing my money in these companys but the general public need to change their desire for cheap and nasty far eastern products which i fear is an uphill challenge sadly.

 

[geologist]

It basically is a monopoly of sorts. In fact, it's a business of giants:


Stanley Black & Decker owns Blackhawk, Bostitch, Facom, Mac Tools, Proto, Sidchrome, Black & Decker, and Stanley Hand Tools.

Ideal Industries owns Pratt-Read, SK Hand Tools, and Western Forge.

Textron owns Greenlee, Klauke, and Paladin Tools.

Snap-on owns Bahco, CDI Torque Products, and J.H. Williams Tool Group.


But then there are the real giants:


Danaher Corporation owns Allen, Armstrong Tools, Easco Hand Tools, GearWrench, K-D Tools, and Matco Tools.


...which merged with:


Cooper Hand Tools which owns Crescent, Lufkin, and Xcelite.


...the merger of which lead to the creation of:


Apex Tool Group (a joint venture of Cooper Industries and Danaher.) It was formed by the merger of Cooper Tools (Cooper Hand Tools and Cooper Power Tools, which manufacture hand tools and power tools respectively) and Danaher's Tools and Components segment. Apex Tool Group owns:

Allen - Hex keys
Armstrong Tools - Industrial hand tools
Atkins - Hacksaws
Belzer - Mechanic's hand tools
Campbell—Manufactures chains and clamps.
Caulkmaster—Pneumatic dispensing guns.
Collins - Machetes, shovels, and axes
Crescent—Produces general hand tools and tool sets.
Delta Consolidated Industries - tool boxes
Diamond — Horseshoes and farrier tools.
Erem — Precision pliers.
GearWrench - Ratcheting wrenches and hand tools
H.K. Porter — Bolt and cable cutters.
Iseli - Precision matched parts
Jacobs Chuck - drill chucks
Jobox - tool boxes
K-D Tools - mechanic's hand and specialty tools
K&F - files and rasps
Kahnetics—Dispensing systems.
Lufkin — Calipers, gauges, micrometers, and measuring tapes.
Mayle - Mechanic's hand tools
Nicholson — Produces files, rasps, and saws.
Plumb — Striking tools, such as hammers, axes, and chisels.
Sata - Mechanic's hand tools.
Spline Gauges - gauges
Weller — Soldering tools. Acquired by Cooper in 1970.
Wire-wrap — Electrical connection equipment.
Wiss — Scissors and snips. Acquired by Cooper in 1976.
Xcelite — Electronics tools such as general and specialized screwdrivers and pliers.
Airetool - tube cleaners and expanders
Apex - fastening tubes and universal joints
Buckeye - material removal tools, fixtured drills
Cleco - assembly tools
Cooper Automation - automated fastening systems
DGD - automated systems
Doler - advanced drilling equipment
Dotco - material removal tools
Gardner Denver
Geta
Master Power - industrial air tools
Metronix - Servos, drivers, and speed controls
Quackenbush - advanced drilling equipment
Recoules - drilling tools
Rotor - assembly equipment
Utica - torque measurement and control tools

 

[american lockpicker]

I make a point of NOT buying Stanley or Irwin tools as previously stated they guilty of ****** high quality companys of their tool heritage, Irwin in particular because of their handling of vise-grip and record. Im doing my part to buck the trend buy not investing my money in these companys but the general public need to change their desire for cheap and nasty far eastern products which i fear is an uphill challenge sadly.

I will still buy from them if they make a quality product in a western country or its new old stock.

 

[Penny88]

****** high quality companys of their tool heritage

That's exactly what needs to stop. I can't imagine a world without American tools. And you know what else really pisses me off these imported companies naming themselves and including the words USA, US, America,American. Some take it a step further and name themselves after a State or City. If I lived in Pittsburgh I would be at the city council meetings every month until someone filed an injunction against this BS. You can sell you're imported tools but don't trick consumers into thinking there American made. Put you're own name on that that garbage and call it TFF: Taiwan Forge & Foundry. I know some people would think twice about before buying it.

I'm ranting but I'm pist I'm about to write my congressman. These are deceptive business practices and I'm fed up with it.

 

[american lockpicker]

That's exactly what needs to stop. I can't imagine a world without American tools. And you know what else really pisses me off these imported companies naming themselves and including the words USA, US, America,American. Some take it a step further and name themselves after a State or City. If I lived in Pittsburgh I would be at the city council meetings every month until someone filed an injunction against this BS. You can sell you're imported tools but don't trick consumers into thinking there American made. Put you're own name on that that garbage and call it TFF: Taiwan Forge & Foundry. I know some people would think twice about before buying it.

I'm ranting but I'm pist I'm about to write my congressman. These are deceptive business practices and I'm fed up with it.

I agree. You might try complaining to the FTC.

 

[Penny88]

I will still buy from them if they make a quality product in a western country or its new old stock.

You know what my Grandma gave me some of my tools and looking back at my childhood the black and yellow "thrifty" USA screwdriver's somehow survived. But they are proof that a decent/budget tool can be made in America and still be priced competitively. I think it's funny when tools like these are outsourced and the price stays the same. What a joke

 

[thooks]

What all of you are worrying about with the off-shoring of USA made hand tools (mechanics tools) is useless.

This went on with woodworking tools 10 years ago and no amount of innerweb discussions made any difference.

Used to be Delta and Powermatic were looked at as the best WWing tools....Made in USA. Good quality.

Now even these brands are made in Asia and Delta really doesn't even exist any more.

I say if you want US made tools, buy what you don't have now and learn not to tear them up. Go to HF and buy cheap tools that you are always somehow warrantying.

Then when everything is imported, you have a decent feel for the layout of your HF store and be able to get in and out quicker.

 

[acer66]

Was not Stanley one of the companies who moved their headquarters to one of the so called tax havens?

I think thooks has some very good points, I started babying my tools way more than I used to and even some of the tools made in the US are not what they used to be.

 

[Monte]

nowadays only the brand name is important

 

[acer66]

nowadays only the brand name is important

Not to me, I would not buy a Wiha, Bessey etc. made in China as long as I have an alternative even if that means used.

 

[plumber84]

In Germany they have a different approach to running buisneses, companies such as Knipex, Gedore, Stahlwille and NWS are still family owned buisneses that get tax incentives to manufacture products domesticly, i think other European countries and the USA could learn valuable lessons from the German way of doing things. Germanys attitude towards manufacturing has made it the second biggest exporter in the world and the only member of the Euro zone not crippled by debt.

 

[american lockpicker]

Not to me, I would not buy a Wiha, Bessey etc. made in China as long as I have an alternative even if that means used.

Same here, brand name can be a cool thing if they have a good history but at the end of the day if it doesn't have an acceptable COO its no good to me.

 

[Monte]

Not to me, I would not buy a Wiha, Bessey etc. made in China as long as I have an alternative even if that means used.

1% of the population might think like that.

The proof that my statement is true:

Milwaukee, Dewalt, Black + Decker, Stanley, Irwin, Bahco, Jacobs, vice grip, Apple, Nokia, Nike, Adidas, Puma, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hot Wheels, barbie etc. etc. etc.

the list is endless...

 

[Monte]

companies such as Knipex, Gedore, Stahlwille and NWS are still family owned buisneses that get tax incentives to manufacture products domesticly,

these companies are too small for government help, mostly it´s because of selling quality products and engineering innovative products, (and not borrowing too much money from the bank or go to the stock exchange) and the label "Made in Germany" helps of course too

 

[ncfh]

We've no one to blame but ourselves. Investors demand favorable returns while executive salaries are tied directly to earnings.

No one wants their pension fund or retirement account to under perform, and corporate exec's want their bonuses.

And of course the banks want everyone to buy, buy, buy on credit of course.

What do you expect from a country full of greedy people with no financial sense, zero personal responsibility, and their heads jammed so far up their video games and Harley Davidsons that they can't see the writing on the wall.

In short, we ****.

What's gone is gone. It will never come back. It's easy to offshore production and go from paying your workers $15/hr to $1/hr, not so in reverse.

BTW, pointing fingers at anyone other than ourselves just reinforces the above points.

But, but the horrible Chicoms! Surely it wouldn't be so bad if they weren't playing games with the global economy.

Well guess what, we manipulate the global economy for our own benefit more than every other nation combined. Pot meet kettle.

 

[acer66]

1% of the population might think like that.

The proof that my statement is true:

Milwaukee, Dewalt, Black + Decker, Stanley, Irwin, Bahco, Jacobs, vice grip, Apple, Nokia, Nike, Adidas, Puma, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hot Wheels, barbie etc. etc. etc.

the list is endless...

No need to proof your point, but again I am one of those people who go out of their way to avoid made in china as much as possible.
Does that mean, I not have anything made in China?
No, I have stuff made in China, but If I go shopping I look where the stuff is made before I buy it to minimize it as much as I can.
Heck I do not even buy garlic made or more grown in China.

 

[Wastedwagesracing]

Danaher Corporation is just a huge holding company. Their business plan is to buy, put in lean manufacturing methodology and 80/20 the product line. Meaning 80 of the profit comes from 20% of the products. Guess what happens to the products in the 80% group....They just got done screwing up a local company.. West bend.

 

[Penny88]

Well guys I've cooled off from my rant. But a trip to Sears and later finding out a Matco half-moon wrench set I've been saving was imported sent me over the edge yesterday. Also that thread introducing me to "the Chinese Craftsman professional stubbys" just added 0xgen to the acetylene But I've concluded that as more quality brands outsourcce tool buyers will just look towards Germany and other european countries to fill our needs.

And I'm still writing my congressman.

 

[american lockpicker]

But I've concluded that as more quality brands outsourcce tool buyers will just look towards Germany and other european countries to fill our needs.

Its what I did, I got better quality and the latest designs.

 

[DekeT]

We've no one to blame but ourselves. Investors demand favorable returns while executive salaries are tied directly to earnings.

No one wants their pension fund or retirement account to under perform, and corporate exec's want their bonuses.

And of course the banks want everyone to buy, buy, buy on credit of course.

What do you expect from a country full of greedy people with no financial sense, zero personal responsibility, and their heads jammed so far up their video games and Harley Davidsons that they can't see the writing on the wall.

In short, we ****.

What's gone is gone. It will never come back. It's easy to offshore production and go from paying your workers $15/hr to $1/hr, not so in reverse.

BTW, pointing fingers at anyone other than ourselves just reinforces the above points.

But, but the horrible Chicoms! Surely it wouldn't be so bad if they weren't playing games with the global economy.

Well guess what, we manipulate the global economy for our own benefit more than every other nation combined. Pot meet kettle.

Good points.

 

[Aberdale]

We're not going to change the ways of commerce. Companies need to maximize profits for their shareholders. It's what they are chartered to do. If that means moving production from expensive labor sources to cheap labor sources, that's what they will do whether we like it or not.

We just need to make the most of the situation for our individual needs. I own 95% USA tools, but I don't really care about COO. What I do care about is quality tools at a good value. I'm just old enough that when I bought most of my tools they were made here.

At one time, maybe 70 years ago, quality tools were made in England. Cheap labor and pride of craftsmanship in the USA migrated the quality tool business to America. Asia is doing the same thing to the USA now.

My experience with Japanese and Taiwanese tools has been pretty good. 20-30 years ago, that might not have been the case. My current experience with Chinese tools has been mixed, but I believe the quality of Chinese tools will improve just as it did in Japan and Taiwan. It's just a matter of continuous manufacturing improvement and consumer demand for better quality.


My current strategy is to buy quality regardless of where it's made. Just because a tool is made in USA doesn't guarantee quality. Cman RP ratchets, sockets, robogrips, and 10-in-1 tools come to mind. These products, and others, have been cheapened and cost engineered to keep their price point low. They are now at a point where quality is poor and profit margin is all but gone because of ever increasing labor, energy, and material costs. They're choices are to increase prices (which we refuse to pay because we can get a Chicom equivalent at a lower price), or reduce input costs by moving production overseas. Actually they have no choice. If production stays here at the current labor rate, they will be out of business.