Who makes what
- Thread starter mopar4u
- Start date
Mytoolsupply
Well-known member
A lot of research, do you have anything specific your wondering about?
engineer2
Well-known member
Some info here
www.garagejournal.com
and here
www.garagejournal.com
The ?BEST? Cordless Tools
Although there's no doubt that there's more than enough cordless tool discussion to go around, I'd like to get into why alternative brands my (or may not) be a better choice to the big three: Milwaukee, Makita and Dewalt. I don't get a lot of computer time these days, but, based on my...
www.garagejournal.com
List of Manufacturers and Brands of Mechanics Hand Tools
List of Manufacturers and Brands of Mechanics Hand Tools * For the most up-to-date version of this list, Please click HERE revised four.cycle Sun Jan 19 12:54:34 2025 PST U.S. Manufacturers and Brands are listed first. Brands and Manufacturers outside the U.S. are listed below alphabetically...
www.garagejournal.com
No, just wondering
engineer2
Well-known member
Most tool manufacturers are owned by larger companies or investment groups. A few (like Makita for example) are family-run companies. Small specialty tool manufacturers are often independent. When they become successful and grow, corporations and investors become interested. There have been lots of mergers and acquisitions over the years and it's always changing.
Some items like sockets and ratchets have lots of makers, but other tool items are almost single maker monopolies at this point. For instance, as a result of Western Forge closing, it seems like almost all the higher quality adjustable wrenches are now made by Irega in Spain. Almost all the higher end locking pliers are now painted instead of chromed and are made by Grip-on. Some of the chromed ones are Grip-on as well. Pretty much every US made wire stripper out there that has a stamped steel frame is actually made by Stride/Imperial.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
This probably needs to be updated but it's a good starting point. Companies not listed are independently owned.
RoninB4
Well-known member
Just to muddy the water a bit. I once worked at a stamping/molding company in Chicago where the boss asked me to change a stamp in one of the injection molds. No big deal. I pulled out the "Made In America" stamp and installed the "Hecho En Mexico" per the boss. I asked why and he said "If the customers knew it was made here they'd want a price break". Stamps are easily changed even if locations aren't. Don't believe everything you read either.
American Locomotive
Well-known member
The manufacturing world is very interesting. There are so many layers to suppliers, it's amazing. I worked for a contract manufacturer over here on the East Coast that makes parts for the auto industry. Except they sold the parts to a company, who put them in an assembly, who then sold those assemblies to another supplier, who then finally put them in a completed chunk to sell to the OEM. That same contract manufacturer made major components of precision tools (in some cases, nearly the entire tool) for a U.S.-based precision tool manufacturer.
You see the same thing in the tool world. Brands like Tekton and Astro Pneumatic rely almost exclusively on contract manufacturers. Sometimes those manufacturers make tools for other brands as well. I will say there is a difference between using a contract manufacturer and having them make you a customized/bespoke tool vs. just purchasing and rebranding a tool.
Many brands simply flip through the pages of Alibaba and order 10,000 of a certain tool and stamp their logo on it. No customization at all.
The straight rebrands are usually pretty easy to figure out, but the customized tools are a bit harder. Sometimes the secondary company is forthcoming about the OEM, other times people figure it out through shared design components with other tools, or look at shipping manifests and so on.
You see the same thing in the tool world. Brands like Tekton and Astro Pneumatic rely almost exclusively on contract manufacturers. Sometimes those manufacturers make tools for other brands as well. I will say there is a difference between using a contract manufacturer and having them make you a customized/bespoke tool vs. just purchasing and rebranding a tool.
Many brands simply flip through the pages of Alibaba and order 10,000 of a certain tool and stamp their logo on it. No customization at all.
The straight rebrands are usually pretty easy to figure out, but the customized tools are a bit harder. Sometimes the secondary company is forthcoming about the OEM, other times people figure it out through shared design components with other tools, or look at shipping manifests and so on.
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
I think to know who makes what you'd need to be in the industry and in Taiwan among other places.
Ton ton
Well-known member
I agree.
Uncle murph
Well-known member
I know what you mean,my son is a jr but I’m starting to think he’s actually the meter readers kid.