Did you know that there are a number of USA-based brands and companies that are owned by foreign companies?
A lot of times, when brands or companies are purchased or change hands, tools and accessories that are made here are continued to be made here. Tools made overseas are continued to be made overseas. In some cases, there is greater investment in USA production or development efforts.
There are usually especially high emotions surrounding Milwaukee Tool, which has been owned by Hong Kong-based TTI for well over a decade now. All their M12 and M18 developments? They were made under current leadership, and under current ownership by TTI.
Please be civil with any comments. I see misconceptions and misinformation about Milwaukee Tool all the time.
I have been to Milwaukee Tool’s USA headquarters, a couple of times now, and they keep growing bigger. Although their publicly-traded parent company isn’t based in the USA, they for the most part seem to operate as if they were completely independent.
You might be aware of some or even all of these global affiliations. If not, try not to be too shocked.
And if you’re interested in things like this, you might also like:
Tool Brands: Who Owns What? A Guide to Corporate Affiliations
Milwaukee Tool, Empire Level, Hart, Stiletto
Milwaukee Tool is possibly the biggest example, at least in the tool industry. They were acquired by TTI back in 2004, along with AEG and another brand I’m not familiar with. (Press Release)
Milwaukee Tool acquired Stiletto Hammers in 2007 (source), and Empire Level in 2014 (ToolGuyd discussion).
TTI also has a licensing agreement with Ridgid, but doesn’t own the brand.
Skil, Skilsaw, EGO
Skil and SkilSaw was purchased by Chervon (based in China) from Bosch in 2016 (ToolGuyd Discussion).
Chervon has launched several new brands in the USA, most notably EGO. They also own Hammerhead, a very small consumer tool brand that came out with a few products a few years ago.
Dremel, Vermont American, RotoZip, CST/berger, Diablo?
These brands (among others) were acquired over the years by the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation (Germany).
Diablo was launched by Freud (Italy), but I can’t find much about their history. Was Diablo a USA or North American brand?
Cleveland, Chicago-Latrobe, Cle-Line, Cle-Force, Bassett, Vermont Tap & Die, Putnam Tools
Cleveland, Chicago-Latrobe, Cle-Line, Cle-Force, Bassett, Vermont Tap & Die, and Putnam Tools are owned by Greenfield Industries, which is owned by Top-Eastern Group (TDC). While TDC is based in China, Greenfield Industries has its headquarters here in the USA (source).
They maintain manufacturing here in the USA. I have had great experience with Cleveland and Chicago Latrobe tools (mainly taps and drill bits), and as far as I am aware, they’re still made here to the same quality.
Senco
Senco was purchased by Kyocera (Japan) in 2017.
Delta
Delta and Biesemeyer were sold by Stanley Black & Decker to a Taiwan-based company in 2011 (news post).
SawStop
SawStop was purchased by Festool in 2017.
Reader Updates
Did I miss any brands or make any mistakes?
Which other USA-based brands or companies are owned by foreign companies?
Norton, Colonial Abrasives, Merit Abrasives – Saint-Gobain Group
Snap Cut, Gilmour, Gingher, Nelson, Minnetonka Cutlery – Fiskars
Arrow Fastener, Goldblatt, Pony, Jorgensen, Board Boss – Hangzhou Great Star Tools
Felker, McCulloch, Poula, Melnor, Vigro – Husqvarna Group
Lincoln Industrial, Guardian, MityVac – SKF Group