would someone explain "made in usa with global components"

[t100]

ok, went to Lowe's today looking for a hole saw kit and step drill. found Lenox and Irwin brands and al.......most bought them, only when i read the find print regarding the COO, both of them showing "made in USA with global components"

what does that mean?

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IMHO, it says "i'm not really made in USA"

 

[Fedwrench]

It's assembled or made in the US using raw materials or finished components from around the world.

 

[wrenchr]

Like the new mac ratchets with the comfort grip, the only out sourced part is the rubber grip handle so it is "made in USA with global components" and it is shady the way they mark them to!! With a sticker!!

 

[Fedwrench]

That's just it, if the tool doesn't have the three little letters USA on it, it's not made here regardless of what the dealer tries to tell you. More brands are leaving the country of origin off of their tools. It may be on the packaging in super small letters but, those boxes and tags have a knack for disappearing from tool truck display racks.

 

[A_Pmech]

Yup...

"Assembled in USA"

What really gets me is the stuff like the pipe union I bought recently that said:

"Made in USA, assembled in Mexico"

 

[t100]

i understand the term "assembled in USA", but the unibit is just one solid piece, what did they assemble?

 

[krusty the clown]

i understand the term "assembled in USA", but the unibit is just one solid piece, what did they assemble?

generic term. the bit was made here but the raw materials were foriegn

 

[J.A.F.E.]

IC chips used to come in tubes marked something to the effect "Made in one or more of the following countries..." with often lengthy lists of countries. Even more interesting it was illegal to export those same components to many of the same countries

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

Made in the USA with cheap chinese steel. The commies won.

 

[HandyManny]

ok, went to Lowe's today looking for a hole saw kit and step drill. found Lenox and Irwin brands and al.......most bought them, only when i read the find print regarding the COO, both of them showing "made in USA with global components"

what does that mean?

.
.
.
.

IMHO, it says "i'm not really made in USA"

You really don't know?? Sure you do com'on. It means what it says. Made in the USA with global components. It's the new politically correct way of describing what a whole lot of other USA made products have been for a very long time. Longer than most people would care to admit.


Not really made in USA you say??? Look at this example - Were you born here? Lets just assume you were, okay. Unless you are full blooded Native American Indian, you are likely made in the USA with global components, if your ansestory is from somewhere else. Get what I'm saying.

For many years products that were marked "Made in USA" were likely made here from some or all raw materials that were imported. Example: The steel used to make a wrench or socket may have come from Canada, Japan, Sweden, Germany, but the steel was melted into billets, forged into a wrench blank or some other tool blank, milled/machined, heat treated, tempered, and plated here in the USA. Or maybe the steel is American made steel, but the plating is from some other country.

Some say it comes down to jobs. Well.......To play devils advocate: What about a product that is made entirely with the US boarders, at a US owned facility, out of materials that are all USA in origin, but the final product is made by foreign hands on imported machinery and imported tooling??????????? I know of a few manufacurers exactly like this. Who's job is being saved when we support and buy these company's products??????????

 

[HandyManny]

Made in the USA with cheap chinese steel. The commies won.

Somehow I think this is exactly the type of comments and reaction the posters question was baiting. Looks like he got ya.

 

[rsanter]

i understand the term "assembled in USA", but the unibit is just one solid piece, what did they assemble?

assembled into the packaging

bob

 

[rsanter]

ok, went to Lowe's today looking for a hole saw kit and step drill. found Lenox and Irwin brands and al.......most bought them, only when i read the find print regarding the COO, both of them showing "made in USA with global components"

what does that mean?

.
.
.
.

IMHO, it says "i'm not really made in USA"

componets made other places
assembled here

bob

 

[HandyManny]

i understand the term "assembled in USA", but the unibit is just one solid piece, what did they assemble?

Raw materials were imported. Final product was made here, but maybe the plating too was imported. A screw bit, wrench, socket, etc, doesn't automaically form itself out of a piece of steel on it's own. Raw materials are made somewhere and the final product made from those raw materials was done here. Seriously you guys!! You really don't understand this??

 

[benjamming]

New Balance uses the term when the raw materials make up less than 70% (or is it 75%) and > 50% (I believe). Made in USA is for shoes that have > 70% (or is it 75%) domestic raw material.

I like the labeling as it gives me more information that HandyManny was referring to earlier. However, companies aren't consistent, & you have to ask questions. Then again, it matters to me enough to keep me from being lazy.

 

[HandyManny]

I think the FTC guidlines and most lablings from US manufacurers are much more honest than many European countires with regard to country of origin. The Swiss get praise from everyone, but if you ask me they get more credit than they really deserve. How many of the vast majority of Swiss watches are even greater than 50% Swiss in origin. Very few, and it's been that way for a long time. Yet the Swiss, for all the credit they get, are not as up-front or truthful about this stuff as you may think. Even though their Victorinox factory makes all the knives in Ibach, that steel comes from Germany and Sweden, God only knows where the rest of the components come from.

What about "Made in Germany"??? I have a Sig Sauer P220 pistol that is stamped with this very marking. I knew when I bought it that the pistol itself really wasn't made in Germany. For starters there were no German proof marks anythere on the pistol. All western european firearms have at least 3 different proofmarks on them on slide/barrel/frame. The only proof mark on mine was on the bottom lug of the barrel, a P inside a circle, that's an American proof mark (I know that for fact)!! Turnes out that my pistol was one of those from a brief transitional time period when SIG in the USA was no longer importing fully built German made P220's nor were they tooled-up yet to fully manufacture that pistol here in the USA yet. During that transition SIG made the parts in Germany and sent the parts over to SIG in Exeter New Hampshire to be assembeled into the final product and Proofed here. Made in Germany my ***!! Built in the USA from parts made in Germany, maybe!!! Nitro Proofed here for sure as indicated by the stamped P inside a circle. How honest is SIG?

How about Benelli, Beretta, or Franchi ?? Made in Italy? Not exactly. There's a whole lot of Turkish made parts on many of those shotguns and those parts come from the Stoeger plant in Turkey. Freakin liers!!! At least FN and Browning are honest enought to tell me when a gun is assembeled in Portugal from parts made in Belgium, and they make a damn good firearm too...

 

[HandyManny]

One more thing.
I don't worry when I see "Global Components" on a product. In a lot of situation some of those components come from places that specialize in that type of part. Take optics for example. Nobody in the USA is capable anymore of producing quality optical glass lenses or blanks like we once were. Sure one or two manufacturers make the final product here, but that glass lense now has to come from countries that now specialize in producing it, mainly Germany and Japan. That's an example.

The USA and it's products used to be the best in the world at one time, and were the envy of the rest of the world. In everything, sporting goods, glass, tools, steel, optics, precision instruments, heavy machinery, automobiles, firearms, etc. No longer. Hell, we are far from it these days.

 

[benjamming]

I do wish they would tell me the countries where they source the parts. That would help a lot & factors into my decision. As you say Handy, an optical lens from Japan is no problem with me but would be if from China.

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

Somehow I think this is exactly the type of comments and reaction the posters question was baiting. Looks like he got ya.

I don't need anyone to "bait me" in regards to this subject. By using the phrase "made in the USA with global components", these companies are just tryting to soften the blow so to speak on the fact that it's imported, low quality materials being pressed, forged, cast, machined or whatever in the USA. These companies are still trying to retain their integrity, when in reality they're just as bad as the "made in china" companies.

 

[daveblank]

Not really made in USA you say??? Look at this example - Were you born here? Lets just assume you were, okay. Unless you are full blooded Native American Indian, you are likely made in the USA with global components, if your ansestory is from somewhere else. Get what I'm saying.

your line of thought is an ongoing joke with me. I was conceived in Japan But born at Homestead AFB, Florida. When someone ask where I'm from I tell them "I was made in Japan". I get the funniest expressions when I say that.

 

[benjamming]

These companies are still trying to retain their integrity, when in reality they're just as bad as the "made in china" companies.

No they aren't. As one example above said, you ain't gonna find optical lenses made in the US. I would rather buy something that at least someone in the US had a hand in producing rather than none at all. I agree it's not the best case scenario but it is reality sometimes.

Can you find a TV made in USA?

I was trying to find people puppets last week, to no avail. All were imported to some extent.

 

[toolnut]

Ok they (the robots) glued the package together that held the tool that was made in China with glue that was globally made. Simple as that!! WTF! It's the new way - get with it man!!!!!I do love that Chinese takeout!!!

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

No they aren't. As one example above said, you ain't gonna find optical lenses made in the US. I would rather buy something that at least someone in the US had a hand in producing rather than none at all. I agree it's not the best case scenario but it is reality sometimes.

Can you find a TV made in USA?

I was trying to find people puppets last week, to no avail. All were imported to some extent.

If you're content with it fine, but it doesnt sit right with me. Sorry. It's reality, but that doesnt mean you have to like it or accept it, and I for one don't.

 

[t100]

maybe i'm in the minorities, i just feel somewhat cheated when i saw "made in the USA with global components", i'd rather buy "assembled in USA". if you are selling something not "really" made in the USA, at least tell me straight.

there's a big difference between "made in the USA with global components" and "assembled in USA", so as "made of iron ore from Brazil", and "made of alloy steel from china".

if Irwin needs to add some weird ingredients found only in Africain in their alloy to make a special Unibit, it's still qualified as "made in USA", right? but, "made in the USA with global components" sure sounds like: "this product is made of chinese steel but i'm so embarrassed to say so, plus made in USA just looks prettier on the box". WTF!!!

i've been using $9 HF 3-pc step drill sets for years, they arn't half bad for my application, an Irwin unibit is 5 times as expensive as the chinese, is it 5 times better with the same material different cut? i don't know.

 

[toolnut]

i've been using $9 HF 3-pc step drill sets for years, they arn't half bad for my application, an Irwin unibit is 5 times as expensive as the chinese, is it 5 times better with the same material different cut? i don't know.

I have to agree. I use the HF step bits and I abuse the **** out of them and than throw them out. The Irwin ones really don't hold up and I don't feel like spending that kind of $$$$. Plus the HF ones have the bit size and fit an extension easier.

 

[HandyManny]

I don't need anyone to "bait me" in regards to this subject. By using the phrase "made in the USA with global components", these companies are just tryting to soften the blow so to speak on the fact that it's imported, low quality materials being pressed, forged, cast, machined or whatever in the USA. These companies are still trying to retain their integrity, when in reality they're just as bad as the "made in china" companies.

This is the same type of practice that a great many US manufacurers have been doing for decades. Did you think that our 200 year old seaports were just there for export goods? We've been importing many raw materials all along, and not just for tools. I am happy that the FTC has put in place measure for statements of integrity by these companies today. But even in the good old days when this country was a dominant manufacturer of goods in the world, this practice was taking place on a scale larger than we'd like to admit. Like it or not. This country has never been able to survive with us doing each others laundry.

What makes you think that all those old vintage Proto, Wright, Snap-On, MAC tools that were stamped "Mfd in USA" were actually made with American steel or plated with American Chrome?? Sure the final product was forged and made here, but of what raw materials? I mean with the US steel industry in the shits for the last 45 years or so and only now recently on their way up again, you think those good tools made since the 60's weren't made with imported steel??? If the practice is happening now, it was sure happening back then.

 

[HandyManny]

your line of thought is an ongoing joke with me. I was conceived in Japan But born at Homestead AFB, Florida. When someone ask where I'm from I tell them "I was made in Japan". I get the funniest expressions when I say that.

But you're not telling a lie

 

[HandyManny]

Ok they (the robots) glued the package together that held the tool that was made in China with glue that was globally made. Simple as that!! WTF! It's the new way - get with it man!!!!!I do love that Chinese takeout!!!

It's not just about China or Chinese made. Take a look at all high-end products, not just tools that you buy at Lowes or HD. Look at products beyond that. You'll see that many high-end products have specialised components from many different companies and countries. Just take any high-end automobile for example, any automobile made within the last 20 years. Components from all over the world.

In the mid 70's I worked for a brief time in a garage door manufacturing facility. I mostly built garage door sections for custom orders, but did various jobs there including cutting springs to size and unloading shipments from trailer trucks when we got stock, everyone helped with that unloading task. I recall seeing some shipments of our raw materials that were from Canada, Mexico, Brazil, even China and Taiwan. Alot of our materials were domestic, but many were from somewhere else. The final garage doors were built in our facility by Americans, and one Vietnamese refugee, with mostly American made tools. Even my specialized pnuematic work table had been specially made by one of our plan engineers. That was over 30 years ago. We were even then using global components. Anyone else here ever work or currently work in a manufacturing facility?

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

This is the same type of practice that a great many US manufacurers have been doing for decades. Did you think that our 200 year old seaports were just there for export goods? We've been importing many raw materials all along, and not just for tools. I am happy that the FTC has put in place measure for statements of integrity by these companies today. But even in the good old days when this country was a dominant manufacturer of goods in the world, this practice was taking place on a scale larger than we'd like to admit. Like it or not. This country has never been able to survive with us doing each others laundry.

What makes you think that all those old vintage Proto, Wright, Snap-On, MAC tools that were stamped "Mfd in USA" were actually made with American steel or plated with American Chrome?? Sure the final product was forged and made here, but of what raw materials? I mean with the US steel industry in the shits for the last 45 years or so and only now recently on their way up again, you think those good tools made since the 60's weren't made with imported steel??? If the practice is happening now, it was sure happening back then.

Honestly, I'm no expert on what our trade was with china in the 50's and 60's, but I would have to guess, those decades being some of peak times of the cold war, that we werent' doing that much importing with a huge communist country. I could be wrong, who knows? If any has any real info and facts on this, it is an interesting subject.

 

[krusty the clown]

there was no trade with china until 1972 IIRC

 

[Mike83]

Maybe this is slightly off topic, but to my dismay I sometimes find that the Chinese made tools (I'm thinking garden tools right now) are made better and more comfortable than the US made ones. Look at Fiskars garden tools and how the ergonomic grip items are made in China and the US ones don't have the same feel.

 

[HandyManny]

Honestly, I'm no expert on what our trade was with china in the 50's and 60's, but I would have to guess, those decades being some of peak times of the cold war, that we werent' doing that much importing with a huge communist country. I could be wrong, who knows? If any has any real info and facts on this, it is an interesting subject.

I doubt we had much if any trade with China then in the 50's. But your are focusing too much on China. My comment on imported goods from the old days wasn't in regards to just China, but many other countries we traded with at the time. It goes beyond China, even today, though it seems like the vast majority of stuff is made there.

I recall in the early 80's, during the cold war seeing wool coats at a departments store that were made in Russia Yeah I know, who would have thought?

 

[benjamming]

Mike,

Look at Bulley Tools and Council Tools - made in USA.

KraftwerkMk1Jetta,

Oh, I don't like it one bit either. However, as Handy pointed out, I do like more information to make a decision. I would be more apt to buy something made in USA than merely assembled in USA or assembled in USA with global components (both say the same thing). I'm also more likely to buy something assembled in USA with global components than made in China.

You are correct IMHO in your premise that it is a cop-out by the corp. to get that "in USA" part on the label.

 

[nelstomlinson]

The FTC website has a layman's definition of ``Made in U.S.A.,'' and a guidelines to help businesses comply.

Raw materials from abroad would not necessarily require a qualified claim of U.S. origin. The businesses are to look at the cost of all the components. At $1000 per ton (a ridiculously high figure), the cost of the steel in a 2 ounce socket is likely to be negligible. If rough forgings are being imported, or if the sockets are being sent to Mexico for polishing and plating, that would probably tip the scale to non-negligible.

I think that ``Made in U.S.A. from global components'' beats ``Made in China'' by a country mile. I think it's still a pretty weak effort.

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

It's just depressing to think of the past America, where we were more industrially self sufficient, is a thing of the past. Just seems like there is no more pride for craftsmanship and hardwork and it makes me sad and angry.

 

[krusty the clown]

It's just depressing to think of the past America, where we were more industrially self sufficient, is a thing of the past .

yes and it will bite us in the a$$ someday.

Just seems like there is no more pride for craftsmanship and hardwork and it makes me sad and angry.

i think there is craftsmanship and hard work here you just have to look for it. but the issue at hand is a managment issue, the hard work and craftsmanship is behind the scenes.

 

[Tool Pants]

Here is the solution.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23699&highlight=century&showall=1

 

[winlinmac]

I didn't want to create another thread on a topic like this. I recently had to replace my Stanley Powerlock II 25' Foot Tape Measure. My old one accidentally broke by me. I went ahead and purchased another Powerlock II (but this time, made in the USA with Global Materials) and the paint finish is horrible. It's like someone took a paint brush to paint to coat the tape measure in yellow. Has anyone else encountered this?

 

[larry_g]

Simply put, get a bit of **** from there, a bit of **** from some where else, maybe a small bit of **** from Europe, bring it to America and jam it all together. You now have one big turd assembled in America.

lg
no neat sigline

 

[reader2580]

Do you guys who only buy 100% made in the USA buy all your wrenches, sockets, etc from Wright Tool or SK? They are are the only companies I know that say they make their tools 100% in the USA using only USA made steel.

I don't having an issue personally with Made in the USA with foreign components, or Assembled in the USA. Better than Made in China.