As we previously reported, Craftsman has been establishing a new USA factory, in Forth Worth, Texas, for the production of select mechanics tools and tool sets.
Stanley Black & Decker, which owns the Craftsman brand, has been making progress on the new manufacturing facility, and provided an update on its status.
The new Craftsman facility is built and nearing completion. This facility will manufacture a wide range of Craftsman mechanics hand tools, including sockets, ratchets, wrenches, and general sets.
There are currently 230 employees at the Forth Worth facility, and Craftsman expects this number to grow to 330 employees by the end of 2022.
The facility is already home to 230 hard-working and highly skilled employees who are overseeing production and perfecting advanced manufacturing processes. By the end of 2022, we expect to have 330 employees.
The first USA-made Craftsman mechanics hand tools built at this facility are expected to launch by the end of 2022, and will include 59pc, 88pc, and 134pc tool sets.
We asked whether additional types of tools or “open stock” tools will be launching at a later time, and were told that Craftsman will be ramping up production and expanding their assortment in 2023.
Here is additional information you might find interesting:
CRAFTSMAN wrenches, sockets and ratchet bodies are proudly forged, machined, treated, plated, assembled and packaged in Fort Worth. In addition, we’ve partnered with US steel mills to supply the vast majority of our raw materials ensuring the utmost quality and reliability.
This plant leverages some of the most advanced manufacturing technologies available to optimize productivity and sustainability, including pre-flattening steel technologies to improve material yields by almost 25 percent, as well as water and energy management technologies to reduce resource consumption.
Nine seconds is the total amount of time it takes to polish, stamp, bend and broach each combination wrench, eliminating the need for physical product transfers and ensuring the safety of line operators.
CRAFTSMAN is a brand under Stanley Black & Decker, the number one tools and storage company in the world, with 35 manufacturing facilities and 19,000 workers across America.
It caught my attention that Craftsman has partnered with US steel mills to supply the vast majority of raw materials. This is great to hear.
I am also surprised by how it takes a total of just 9 seconds for a combination wrench to be stamped, bent, broached, and polished. Advanced manufacturing technologies, indeed.
I have been critical of Craftsman’s slow progress to launch USA-made hand tools, but it is evident they have been working hard to make this happen.
Although delayed due to the pandemic, a new generation of USA-made Craftsman tools are almost here.
