I had the pleasure of visiting the newly opened Milwaukee Tool manufacturing facility, in West Bend, Wisconsin.
It is my firm belief that, based on what I saw there, Milwaukee Tool is going to hugely disrupt the entire made-in-USA hand tool market.
Some might consider this to be hyperbole, but its not. This new Milwaukee Tool factory changes everything.
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The new Milwaukee factory is already producing 3 types of pliers in several sizes, and also a line of screwdrivers.
Milwaukee launched their first screwdrivers 12 years ago. How vast is their hand tool business today? What do you think their USA-made hand tool business will look like in just a few years from now?
All of the pliers I handled felt like they were well-broken in, but without wear and slop. It was amazing.
Milwaukee did not reinvent pliers, but they did reinvent how quality pliers should be made.
The new screwdrivers have everything I could want in a quality screwdriver – precision non-slip tips, comfortable handles, and clear markings on the handle and end cap. I was impressed and if I’m being honest, surprised by this.
All of these tools are backed by a lifetime guarantee. And, please take note of the Made in USA badge. There’s no fine print, asterisk, or qualifications.
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These tools are made in the USA from start to finish. They’re made in the USA using USA-made raw materials. US-made steel! No global materials here!
I missed the machine, but was later told even the screwdriver handle grips are made on-site.
I have talked to different tool brands over the years, about why certain tools are made overseas. Most of the time, it comes down to costs, and how much investment is required to establish new factories.
At the least, you need land, equipment, the right people, and know-how, which in my opinion is perhaps most important.
The know-how makes all the difference between a passable tool and a great one.
During the factory tour, led by Steve Lallensack, Milwaukee Tool VP of Operations for Hand Tools and Empire, we heard about the competitive benefits of Milwaukee’s production methods.
With every new station, we learned the ”what,” ”why,” and ”how.”
The buzzword “Industry 4.0,” which encompasses “smart automation” and similar technologies, was mentioned just once, and it seemed perfectly appropriate.
Let’s take a moment to talk about spell checkers. A few years ago, one might have typed something up in a word processor and then run a spellchecker. This was fine for shorter documents, but longer ones required much more time to fix.
With modern spell checkers and autocorrect, errors are often highlighted in realtime, giving you the opportunity to fix things along the way. Isn’t this more streamlined and better? That’s kind of what Milwaukee’s hand tool factory is like, where they can monitor and respond to everything in realtime.
There are automated measurements, checks, and controls for every process.
And, even with a high level of digitally-connected automation, the factory is home to more than 150 employees – operators, technicians, specialists, and engineers.
Yes, there are robots and automated processes, but human involvement was shown to be crucial.
I was talking to a Milwaukee Tool engineer, and referenced the ”aerospace-level tolerances” that we learned about during the tour. He told me that no, they’re actually exceeding aerospace tolerances.
Sure, the new pliers have perfect symmetry, perfectly formed grooves, comfortable handles, laser case-hardened grooves and cutting edges that don’t compromise the underling material, and the most perfect broken-in-feeling pivots I’ve ever experienced.
It is even more impressive how fast Milwaukee got here. They announced the new factory back in 2020, and now, a little more than two years after work was originally scheduled to begin, Milwaukee has new made-in-USA tools they say are superior to competing products while still being competitively priced.
After handling all of the new tools, I think they’re right.
Where did this production know-how come from so quickly? Granted, they announced from the start some of the types of tools that would be made at this facility, but it’s hard to optimize manufacturing processes without production cells in place.
With passion, commitment, and vision, they pulled this off. Milwaukee Tool’s capital surely helped accelerate the process, with the new company investing $55 million investment in the new facility.
And now, Milwaukee Tool joins a very small group of hand tool companies still capable of producing pliers and screwdrivers in the USA.
They’re also just getting started. The factory was designed and built with easy expandability and scaling in mind. Milwaukee Tool also owns the adjacent land and has right of refusal for an even larger plot in the surrounding area.
Now, I don’t know what other tool factories’ quality and materials labs look like, but I was surprised and happy to see the state-of-the-art equipment at this facility. From what I saw, I’d say that the same equipment and techniques that can be used for quality checks can also be used for manufacturing process developments and advancements.
Beyond the competitively-priced USA-made hand tools, I saw a glimpse into the future.
Milwaukee’s determination and drive is going to cause serious headaches for other hand tool makers, and I think competing brands are going to have to improve their game.
It is very clear to me that Milwaukee Tool raised the bar. The question is no longer can they do it?, but what will they do next?
This is great news for everyone.
After the successful launch and rapid growth of Milwaukee’s Packout tool storage system, many other tool brands poured new or renewed effort into their own tool storage products. If you ask me, the same is bound to happen here.
Milwaukee is pouring much energy into USA hand tool production. At the least, users gain access to a new generation of premium Milwaukee hand tools. But more than that, competing brands will have no choice but to meet the new challenge head-on.
I was given the distinct impression that Milwaukee is only getting started, and I cannot wait to see where the company goes from here.
Stacey Jones
I’ve noticed for some time, Milwaukee is clearly better than Dewalt, Craftsman, and the other “USA” brands.
Travis
Now why can’t an American owned company do this?
Jim Felt
It always takes one single person to start this chain of events.
Maybe it’s a bit of luck combined with a profound lack of complacency?
The German fellow that started the predecessor of Milwaukee in British Hong Kong decades ago was that one person that led to this present outcome.
Sears and Roebuck were two guys. Jeff Bezos and Henry Ford were each one guy.
Sure. It’s takes an army and tons of luck later but that’s basically the answer.
No?
fred
Horst and family still own about 20% of the TTI stock. My share (via Vanguard) is quite a bit smaller.
Any way they seem to know where their bread is buttered as I see that something like 77% of their revenues in 2021 cane from the North American market. That compares to the 60% that SBD attributes to NA sales.
Sincere
Will someone PLEASE tell milwaukee to make a tile wet saw
WAW
An M18 table top tile saw !!
Robm
American companies don’t have the disposable income that Chinese owned companies do. And let’s face it American companies don’t try anymore.
Jack Smith
Klein has been making top quality American hand tools nonstop since the 1800s. I haven’t seen anything Milwaukee made in America for years until now. At least not since Milwaukee became a Chinese company.
Adam
Corded Sawzalls I believe are US made. Also a lot of their consumables like Sawzall blades and hole saws. Stuart did a factory tour a few years ago.
Chris
Right on Klein tools of some of the best hand tools I’ve used them for over 30 years
Nahxprpht
Oh because the only thing they care about is money not America
Dan
Absolutely true imo.
I was a Dewalt guy for years until I tried out a set of M12 drivers and drills.
I gave my Dewalt tools to my youngest daughter (who is 40) and went red.
I’ll never buy anything except Milwaukee tools now and I’m very appreciative that their products are made in the USA.
John
Very short sighted since no single company on the planet makes every kind of tool.
MM
And even if they do, that doesn’t mean they do it well or economically. Certain tools are simply better on different platforms.
For example, I prefer my M12 cordless mechanic’s tools like ratchets and impacts to most other brands because of the location of the battery up inside the handle. Being able to avoid that brick hanging off the end is fantastic when reaching into tight spaces. But for ordinary tools that I’m not trying to jam into tight corners, like a circ saw, drill/driver? Now that factor doesn’t matter anymore, and other brands have more ergonomic handles. I regret buying my M12 5 3/8″ trim saw. It’s well made, it works well, but a co-worker’s Dewalt is both more powerful and has a much better handle.
As for Milwaukee power tools COO, all of my M12s were made in China. As far as I know Milwaukee doesn’t make any of their cordless tools in the USA, though I know they used to make corded tools here–my old corded Super Sawzall was USA made, but that was 20+ years ago.
My Dewalt cordless tools are a mix of USA, Mexico, and China.
Artor
So do you tool up with multiple brands, just so you have access to every tool available, or do you pick a brand and stick with it?
TonyT
Depends on your needs and likes. I have 4 systems (Ryobi, Bosch 12V, M18 (for the drain auger), and Makita (for the track saw). I’ve added two systems for specific tools in those systems.
Coworker has 3 (Makita, DeWalt, Ryobi), although in the future I suspect he’ll mostly be adding DeWalt.
Rob
Love Milwaukee 💥👊🏻
Jack Smith
Milwaukee isn’t a USA brand, it’s a Chinese company. There have been actual American companies that have been doing this all along. Klein has been doing this nonstop since the late 1800s, and there are others as well. Milwaukee is actually pretty late in the game, haven’t seen an American made Milwaukee tool in years until now.
Spirit of 76
I’m also pretty certain that TTI knows exactly what they’re doing with this…. they’ve done their research and recognize the premium price Americans will pay, especially American Milwaukee buyers…. For a hand tool made here. Twice as much as their overseas counterpart? It’s great that a few American factory workers will have factory jobs at factory wages and I fully support that but how much of the profit from being made in the USA actually goes back into the made in the USA economy? Not enough for me to see this in the same light as everyone else.
Stuart
Milwaukee corded Sawzall reciprocating saws, all Sawzall reciprocating saw blades, Hole Dozer hole saws, and step drill bits are made in the USA. I believe the Packout vacuum is built here as well.
Frank
Will Home Depot, Lowe’s, Graingers & other retailers feature & highlight Milwaukee’s home grown hand tool offerings?
NoahG
What Stanley could be doing, Milwaukee IS doing.
Stuart
I didn’t want to be the one to say that, but yes.
Dewalt is going to feel pressure, but they’re not alone – I can definitely see Milwaukee competing with Proto and Mac, Stanley Black & Decker’s industrial, aerospace, and automotive maintenance brands.
Jared
Competing at that level with these tools? That would be exciting.
I assumed this was Milwaukee doing what Craftsman promised – e.g. “good” made-in-the-USA tools at moderate prices. If they’re approaching Mac and Proto quality, I am way more likely to buy.
My impression is that many people seem to want SBD’s USA Craftsman to produce high quality USA made tools at affordable pricepoints – but I don’t think that is going to happen. It will either be mid-grade tools (like Gearwrench) at “competitive” pricing (maybe a little premium to reflect the USA production), or pro-grade stuff that puts it closer to Proto pricing.
Undercutting themselves by selling pro-grade USA tools at department store prices… that’s a dream.
Assuming Milwaukee’s offerings will be premium tools with appropriate pricing – count me in.
Jim Felt
I think the American based tool brands are “too corporate” for our own good. And ultimately theirs too.
Duane
I believe you are correct. Cut your overhead,lose all of the corporate BS here in America and we’ll be in a Much better situation than we are now!
Alejandro Garibay
Watch out here comes Milwaukee tools! Here to stay .
Jeremiah McKenna
SBD is making a lot of their power tools in the US. Yes, they have some globally sourced parts and pieces in there, but Milwaukee doesn’t even do that.
As much as I love, and use Milwaukee power tools, I’d love to see them actually built in the US again.
Jim Felt
I’m not sure Milwaukee doesn’t still make some line voltage much heavier tools here still. Are you?
Eric
I’ve never seen anything that actually says how much work is done in the US other than final assembly. Seems like they do just enough to be able to put a big USA sticker on some of their tools. If they making a lot of the components in the USA I would think they would be a lot more open about it.
Kevin
There’s a difference between products that say “made in USA” and “assembled in USA (with global materials).” The former is heavily regulated with surprisingly strict parameters. The latter is completely unregulated. “Assembled in the USA with global materials” is a phrase that was purely designed for marketing purposes; reason being it had no criteria built into it. So the short answer is there’s no way of knowing how much is being assembled domestically, but realistically speaking it’s going to be bare minimum final assembly. All the parts are made overseas (motors, molded parts, gearboxes, and things of the like) and they just put them together here.
Stuart
Not quite.
When I was at Dewalt’s factory, I inquired as to where the parts were sourced from.
At the time – I don’t know if it has changed – a lot of the parts were sourced domestically from SBD factories and facilities, with some such as the electronics package being imported.
They also had a line of machines building motors for a different tool.
I felt that “made in USA with domestic and global components” was a very honest representation.
While not entirely made in the USA, Dewalt was as close to what could realistically be expected from any mass-produced power tool. I wish they expanded their efforts beyond that one multi-use facility, but it could still be in the cards.
I would bet that Dewalt didn’t see appreciably higher sales for USA-made tools vs the same SKUs sold overseas, or they would have expanded upon their domestic component manufacturing and tool assembly efforts. What either brand would have to do is domestically produce all of a SKU sold here, such as what Milwaukee is doing with the newly designed premium hand tools.
TonyT
Remember that an accurate description of most “made in China” products is “made in China (with domestic and global materials)”.
Stuart
SBD builds *some* select power tools here, not a lot, from domestic and global components. So does Milwaukee, such as their Packout vac and corded Sawzall saws.
With the tools SBD makes here, they also have the same models built overseas, and so the same tool might be built here or imported depending on the retailer or combo kit configuration.
Visiting Dewalt’s factory was a fantastic experience, but I haven’t seen or heard of any expansion efforts since then. I have heard some complaints from readers and visitors being unable to find the USA-stickered versions.
I’d love to see Milwaukee power tools built here too, and more Dewalt tools as well. I have a feeling that it’s only a matter of time, although I don’t think we’ll ever see all or even a majority of power tools built here, due to the manufacturing scale required.
Kevin
In response you your previous reply, you have a compelling point, however end users typically have no way of obtaining that information directly from the factory. My main point is the Federal Trade Commission has relatively strict compliance guidelines for manufacturers when it comes to marking their products with “Made in USA.” Conversely, the “Assembled in the USA” (with it without the global materials bit) has none. It’s at the manufacturers discretion which gives them a lot of latitude. So in short the end user has no way of knowing the amount of work that was done domestically because there is no distinction. It could be 85%, it could be 15%.
On the subject, I’m not surprised at all that this facility Milwaukee has built is for hand tools. As someone who would be very skeptical of initial quality if it were power tools, I’m now very interested in trying these out. I could go on about the intricacies of power tool manufacturing but to be candid, doing it domestically to the point it could carry the “Made in USA” label is highly, highly improbable. Can it technically be done? Sure! But matching the quality will only be possible if they’re willing to charge end users through the nose, and it will be a long time before that standard quality can be matched.
Earl Bare
I can’t agree more. I’d love to see more made in America. But The reality is I don’t care where it’s made as long as it’s made of good quality material and preforms up to my standard. Which 85-90% of all my milwaukee stuff does. I will refuse to use my hard earned money to buy an inferior product just because it is America made.
Wayne
Well Stanley tools which now has the craftmans name ….is doing it….
Is Milwaukee US owned?
Don’t think so….check it out…people…
fred
TTI is a publicly traded company – so is SBD.
The largest shareholder in TTI is Horst Pudwill and family – with Artisan Partners and JP Morgan next in line.
The largest shareholder in SBD is Vanguard.
I sort of own bits of both – via my Vanguard holdings
Stuart
It has been more than five years since Stanley Black & Decker pledged to bring production back to the USA, and I have yet to see or hold any new Craftsman tools made in the USA, entirely or with global materials.
Milwaukee announced this factory a little more than two years ago. This week I held the first entirely made-in-USA tools in my hands.
At the end of 2017, Milwaukee Tool employed over 3500 people on the USA. Today, that number is more than 10,000.
Milwaukee has invested heavily in USA jobs and growth.
Frankly, that’s what matters.
And, with SBD and TTi both being publicly traded companies, anyone anywhere can own a share of the companies.
Jake
I have all kinds of made in America craftsman tools??? They’ve got an American flag emblem with made with global materials underneath
Stuart
They simply took Stanley knives and tape measures and slapped on Craftsman branding.
Screwdrivers? Pliers? Wrenches? Wire strippers? Punches? Chisels? Hammers? Sheet metal cutters?
Producing Craftsman tools at Stanley factories, because Lowe’s now sells Craftsman instead of Stanley doesn’t count. There’s no net gain there.
SBD promised more USA production, and we have yet to see this.
Jack Smith
Milwaukee is a Chinese company. I think it’s called TTI and headquartered in Hong Kong.
Andrew Wagner
Whether it’s US-owned or not, but as somebody who is born and raised *in* Milwaukee, I can see first-hand the level of investment the company has made in this community not just in terms of physical real estate (and let me tell you, there is no shortage of that), but employment. What Milwaukee (the company) is doing in and around Milwaukee (the city) is leaps and bounds beyond what many locally-owned companies are doing right now.
Rog
While Milwaukee isn’t my favorite tool brand (mostly due to them being a status brand), I applaud them for putting their money where their mouth is.
Jeremiah McKenna
Thry didn’t get that status for producing crap tools.
Srl
Their hand tools aren’t anything special. Their power tools are where they made their name.
John
Their hand tools up until now have been mediocre.
Stuart
Some are exceptional (e.g. Fastback, scissors), and others decent but as you say, mediocre. I used the term unremarkable. I bought and use quite a few anyway, and they’ve been convenient, reliable, and adequate, but not best in an overall sense. I buy and use them, but few have become my favorites.
These new tools, however, are a very different story. The new lineman’s pliers, diagonal cutters, long nose pliers, and screwdrivers seem to have impeccable designs, with the on-site samples providing an excellent user experience snapshot.
These are a few SKUs now, but brands who could rest on their laurels before will not be able to do so for much longer.
These new tools are going to force other brands to be better, which is great for end users and the entire industry, although I’m sure competing brands aren’t going to see things that way.
Jack Smith
Klein has been American all along and and they have made linesman pliers in America since the late 1800s. I’m not going to reward a Chinese company by buying their linesman pliers when Klein never sold out. I did buy an 11 in one screwdriver that came with a mini precision screwdriver that was Chinese. But the big screwdriver was American made.
The linesman pliers and other full size tools are USA made. I think the Klein family may still be running it. If I ever switched to a foreign company it would be Knipex.
AJ
This is great! They are now on my list of tools to get. Now we need a company that will make adjustable wrenches in the USA. We lost that capability when Western Forge was shut down back in 2018. Now everyone buys their wrenches from Irega in Spain, that used to buy from Western Forge. Just look for the measurement markings on the side of the wrench head.
LazyB
I’m curious now. The Proto adjustable spud I just bought says “made in USA”. Is it still made here or is it the assembled here but foreign made?
Russell
It’s old stock that’s still being sold. Proto adjustables are now being made in Taiwan since Western Forge shut down in 2020. Klein does still make adjustable spud wrenches here still.
Joe H
Are Ridgid adjustable wrenches still made in USA? I bought a Ridgid USA adjustable maybe almost a decade ago and the slop was is the worst of any adjustable I own. Crescent might still make USA made versions on some of their wrenches but they were flip flopping a little while ago. I bought a USA made Crescent maybe 4 years ago in store. There might be other USA made adjustables still in production.
Jared
Guess I wasn’t paying attention, I didn’t know this was coming. Very surprising!
When can we expect to see these tools in the wild? Competitively-priced made-in-USA tools seems like SBD’s plan for USA Craftsman. They’re even red. Did Milwaukee manage to raise the bar before Craftsman even hit the market?
I hope a few tools followed you home Stuart so we can read some reviews!
Stuart
I believe early 2023.
These will be competitively-priced in the context of like-quality professional tool brands; Milwaukee is going after leaders in the space.
I wish some of the tools could have followed me home! Unfortunately, we couldn’t take any souvenirs, but tools were coming hot off the product line – literally – and so I’m hoping for early review samples.
Jared
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. 😄 Tell your contacts your readers need more information – SOON!
IronWood
Sounds like very good news! I have to hope this will raise the bar for the industry and start to get rid of the lazy excuses for why we “can’t” get USA made quality any more. Good job, Milwaukee! Now long-term they need to keep living up to the standard they’re setting. I also really hope this leads to more non-China power tools a la DeWalt.
Stuart
To be fair, just because Milwaukee Tool can do this, that doesn’t mean other companies – especially smaller ones – could follow suit. But yes, brands are not going to be able to rest on their laurels.
Tom D
Most importantly it shows it CAN be done – so others may try. Netflix “solved” streaming and now everyone and their dog has a streaming service.
JoeH
Is there any word yet on where these will be available?
Will they target the Home Improvement stores, HD in this case, or will they keep their import pliers there to be at a lower retail?
Stuart
I believe early 2023.
I asked and were told that the tools will be available at typical Milwaukee dealers.
If I had to guess, I would say there’s a very strong chance we’ll see them at Home Depot. I also think these will be sold alongside, or rather above, Milwaukee’s existing offerings.
Jeremiah McKenna
Last month, the HD near me had a management change, and the VP of Milwaukee Tool Co was there with his entourage. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to pick his brain, but I was able to speak with his assistant for quite a long time, at least 30 minutes or more. Anyway I told her that while I do buy hand tools made outside of the US, I know most of them are priced accordingly. However, I would prefer to buy US made hand tools(and power tools/storage). She told me that there will be a huge selection of US Made hand tools available through HD in a relatively short amount of time. She assured me that they are working on having pretty much every tool manufactured here, with less and less global sourcing as time permits.
William Adams
All I want is a purchase link for a good quality set of Made in the U.S.A. Philips head screwdrivers, #1, #2, #3 in reasonable lengths, w/ hard handles which I can buy w/o paying shipping, and which cost less than the Nepros set from Japan I’m currently planning on buying.
Jared
https://www.amazon.com/Williams-100P-8MD-8-Piece-Premium-Screwdriver/dp/B002NHM77W/
Jared
Sold out at the moment, but SK is another option:
https://sktools.com/products/6-piece-suregrip-automotive-screwdriver-set
Tekton, if you want something more affordable:
https://www.tekton.com/hard-handle-screwdriver-set-drv42024
Proto Classic too:
https://www.zoro.com/proto-proto-classic-8-piece-combination-screwdriver-set-j9600dc/i/G603965017/
Steven L
that link to Amazon says Made in China…..
MM
That seems to be a bug with how the Amazon listing works. The black-handled Williams screwdrivers are made in the USA. However, the 19-pc “mixed set” which you can choose from that Amazon page contains some Williams (made in USA) and some Bahco (made elsewhere).
If you look at that Williams part number from other dealers it’s consistently marked Made in USA. For example:
https://protoolwarehouse.com/williams-phillips-screwdriver-set-6-pcs-100p-6pd/
BMak
Amazon shows the country of origin as China.
Jared
Amazon is wrong.
PW
One mid price option is Tekton. I really like their handle design, feels good to me. Unfortunately their tips are a little soft, but they do have a no hassle warranty.
https://www.tekton.com/screwdrivers/hard-handle-screwdrivers
Channel lock sells acetate handled USA screwdrivers. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PB3AKNS/
MT_Noob
I’d look at the tekton ones. I love the handles on them. You can even build your own set of which ones you want.
https://www.tekton.com/screwdrivers/build-your-own-screwdriver-set?handle-type=hard-handle
I think the free shipping has a 50$ minimum. So that might not meet all your criteria.
IronWood
Sign up for a free account at Tekton.com and you get free shipping plus 10% reward credit. I’ve been happy ordering from them direct and their screwdrivers are pretty decent.
Jack Smith
Here you go real American made from an American company that has been in business for well over 100 years.
https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/screwdriver-sets/screwdriver-set-slotted-and-phillips-6-piece
Jared
Good screwdrivers, but not hard handles.
Matt
Can’t wait to see pricing. I doubt they will be any more than I’ve been paying HJE for SK and Williams stuff, in which case these will become my go-to if they are easy to find.
Was in Lowes and HD just two days ago to pick up some larger sockets and box end wrenches. I only ended up buying the couple I absolutely needed because the price vs quality and COO was terrible.
Jeremiah McKenna
According to the Milwaukee tool rep I talked to, she told me the pricing will still be the same, if not more competitive.
Dominic S
Right on, will consider Milwaukee USA hand tools for the future!
MFC
“With modern spell checkers and autocorrect, errors are often highlighted in realtime, giving you the opportunity to fixe things along the way.”
I thought “fixe” was the perfect irony to that sentence. Not sure if you meant to put that in there as a tongue-in-cheek joke, but you should probably keep it.
Interested to see the quality and pricing on these tools.
Stuart
It was a genuine typo, but after catching it I was conflicted about whether to keep it in or not. I found the irony amusing, and I figured I’d keep it in place for a few hours and then correct it should a kind reader point it out. =)
Adam Merkel
This is fantastic news. I have always been a huge fan of Milwaukee tools. I am a general contractor and when Milwaukee started making more tools targeted at my trade I was very enthusiastic. I am a veteran and being made in America means a lot to me. Every time I think another brand has a tool that other companies can’t match Milwaukee proves me wrong. I hope they keep proving me wrong in the future. When I buy tools it’s Milwaukee or nothing…..
Jack Smith
You know Milwaukee is a Chinese owned company right? TTI is the parent company.
Robert
Stuart, where they said they exceeded “aerospace level tolerances”, the truth is there is a range of “aerospace level tolerances”, depends on the criticality of the application. Along with that, did they talk about their formal quality system? Their assertion would imply they conform to AS9100 instead of the weaker ISO9000 quality system. Or are they hitching their management attention to the Capability Maturity Model (CMM)? If so, what CMM a level have they been certified for? This may sound arcane, but long term it will, along with company devoted resources, determine the quality of the tools you and I can buy from this plant.
Stuart
I declined to ask further about this, mostly because I lack the background to be able to put more technical information into proper context, but also because of the proprietary and strictly-protected nature of the setups. There’s always room for follow-up questions.
They discussed tolerances more in qualitative than quantitative terms, such as about how closely matched left and right pliers jaws are.
There were unique production steps unlike what I’ve seen other brands do, such as pliers being spread and measured during automated pivot point riveting. If I recall correctly, the machine took 15 measurements as plier handles are opened and closed during the riveting process.
The result was just unbelievably smooth-opening pliers.
I heard one influencer later remarking on a social media video that the machine was breaking in the pivot, but it’s more appropriate – as I understand it – to say that high tolerances and adaptive automation makes break-in wear completely unnecessary and a thing of the past.
Ditch Doctor
These I suspect will be expensive, to say the least. I will never pay Snap-on prices for tools. Might as well flush money down the toilet.
Eric
I would guess probably more in Klein and Knipex range.
Lawrence Bouray
👍 been my tool brand for about 55 years salute
PW
Look at this. In two years, Milwaukee has gone from announcement to a state of the art facility producing hand tools. Meanwhile in Texas, in twice that time, SBD has produced nothing but excuses. Where are the Craftsman hand tools promised a years and years ago?
I have always viewed Milwaukee hand tools as an overpriced branding exercise. This makes me reassess.
Robert
Just noticed the set of 3 screwdrivers in the lower right corner of the second photo. I got a set of 6 for 20% off during the Children’s charity bucket sate at my local Ace Hardware about 2 years ago. At the time they were the best in the Milwaukee line up. With the slot in the handle and the chrome hex collar, you could put a lot of torque, but they didn’t have the non-skip laser tips. That would make them perfect. Darn. Now I have to find a way to justify upgrading.
MM
Great news indeed! I think I’m well covered for most hand tools at this point so I don’t know how many of these I will end up buying but it’s fantastic to hear about new tools that are both USA-made quality tools.
Davethetool
Great news and I will definitely be looking at Milwaukee for any future hand tool purchases from now forward.
Jake powell
Cool, but dewalt has power tools that are made in America. And believe me my work van is floor to ceiling full of milwaukee. But throwing together some over rated screw drivers isn’t nearly as impressive as assembling an impact gun made by real americans.
Stuart
Dewalt has tools that are assembled in America with domestic and global components, and only certain ones.
Tom D
Which brings up that “assembled in America” is such a wide area of coverage, which could mean anything from it’s built entirely in the USA from components shipped from overseas (motors, etc), to it is shipped in two halves and someone in the USA screws it together and puts it in a box.
Nathan
a few things I noted here.
As far as I know nobody has to tell you they made something with “globally sourced materials” if the final assembly is in the US. coupled with – where is their plastic made in the US.
and I will state this but not to make this political – made in the USA by a Chinese owned company. Yes that would apply to some others. I agree it is shameful that I can’t buy a USA made hand tool from a USA owned company right now. Short of Snap on and MAC if I recall and I’m not sure their new stock is USA made.
SO while I like that milwaukee is doing this there is also some marketing hyperbole.
I hate when Aerospace______etc is used in any form of description of a thing. As an Aero Engineer I can point you to any number of aerospace tolerances that are as wide as inches. Bolts that are labeled as “hand tight 20-40 ft lbs” . An item that has crazy tight tolerance and quality of finish requirements – submarine transmissions. Tell you you built a plier to submarine transmission quality and I’d be impressed – I still wouldn’t buy it though because it would be crazy expensive and completely unnecessary.
yes that rankled my brain, sorry for the rant. Outside of that I am glad this is happening and I hope other take note and do likewise. BUT I have to ask would the milwaukee plier there better than the Klein counterpart? Will it cost the same? Their screw drivers – similar question.
It does upset me that the dewalt impact wrench I want to buy and the new compact drill are both made in china – when they made such a big deal about their new drill and other factory in North Carolina. To the point where I’d consider switching.
Stuart
The last I checked, “global materials” qualifications are to avoid miscommunication, which has led to huge fines in the past. Misleading is misleading, intentional or not, and so “with global materials” helps avoid such situations.
If it’s made here from US-sourced materials, fine print isn’t necessary.
Jeremiah McKenna
As stated, thry use American Steel and plastic sourced from here as well, more than likely, Texas.
Jack Smith
Unless something has very recently changed Klein tools are still an American company and I believe the Klein family is still involved. They started in the late 1800s. They specialize in electrician tools but they have a variety of pliers and screwdrivers. The majority of their tools are still USA made.
Jd
Klein did have a stint about 20 years ago where they made everything in Japan Most of the tradesmen that was Lineman and electricians Complained And they moved everything back to the USA
Rog
I don’t know tho, guys… Upon further inspection that second photo clearly shows that these are tools for ANTS!
andres solis castillo
Love how other companies are making it happen and steeling market share from SB&D. Not only that they are doing it faster and 100% usa made.
Craftsman is about to release theirs, and get ready for disappointment. Made in USA with global material’s, the ratchet bodies are made in the USA, the internals(gear/pawl) China or Taiwan. They choose to keep the worst ratchet possible(72t) with the super fat head.
Joe E.
Please tell me that isn’t true. That ratchet is terrible.
All of those years of waiting for the same crap. Why am I not surprised?
andres solis castillo
The bear has a vid on it on YouTube. I don’t really watch him, but he’s got some good info on it. Fortunately most of the tools should be 100% made in TX(wrenches/pliers/screwdrivers) well at least the metal parts. I think the handles will be Taiwan or China.
Joe E.
Just watched the video and my only take away is that they took the lazy way out.
I probably won’t be buying any of the new “USA” tools. I had such high hopes.
PW
If true, that’s baffling to me. The handles ought to be the part that’s easiest to source domestically! See Tekton, where some of their tools have USA handles around imported metal.
This really sounds like the naysayers are right – SBD can’t actually *make* stuff well in the USA unless it’s executive bonuses for outsourcing.
Pathetic that a Chinese owned company is beating them.
Jim Felt
Anyone can buy Milwaukee Tool shares. Yep you and me too. ;-)~
Phillip a tool guy
Let’s not forget there are some significant American brands like Channellock, Klein, Wright, Martin (soon to produce USA adjustable wrenches ) and others. Milwaukee is owned by TTI a Chinese company that moved most of the power tool production to China. It is nice that some of our dollars might stay here.
Stuart
While true, Milwaukee invested $450 Million over the past few years on domestic expansion.
TTi is a publicly traded company, but they seem to have full autonomy regarding how they operate and grow in the USA.
I was in the USA headquarters, and the new USA factory. That’s what matters to me.
NoahG
Tell me more about these Martin adjustables.
Joe E.
It’s interesting that Milwaukee will be making screwdrivers and pliers in the USA and Stanley Black & Decker can’t even do that with Craftsman, specifically the iconic clear handle Craftsman screwdrivers.
This right here makes Stanley Black & Decker look lazy, dishonest and full of b.s. They are the largest tool manufacturer in the world and yet Milwaukee beat them to the punch.
Laughable. LOL
JoeM
I’m a little underwhelmed by all this. First off… I genuinely don’t care about country of origin. The USA comes in last place in so many other, far more important, factors, that USA-Made is just… meaningless to me.
I love you guys, I do. But the fact that it’s made there, doesn’t automatically mean it’s a win.
What Most Certainly Is A Win, Is This! Milwaukee did what Milwaukee does, and this is yet another reason why I hold them and DeWALT in such high regard in the tool industry. I put tool companies on a kind of ladder… Each Rung of that ladder is a kind of… power level, if you will… Overall capability for the things those companies manufacture to be of quality, long-lasting, industry-leading tools. And I have DeWALT and Milwaukee on their own Rung, together. Yes, there are companies above them, as well as below. But the rung that has these two companies as industry leaders means they do certain things very predictably.
Milwaukee’s new Factory is to be expected, as I really don’t think TTi can afford to manufacture Milwaukee’s designs along side their other brands overseas anymore. They invested in a building to increase the production rate of a sorely lacking element of their tool lineup. Supply and Demand wise, Pliers, Wrenches, Sockets, and Screwdrivers from Milwaukee are sorely lacking on the supply side of things. Milwaukee users want more Milwaukee, and the factory was built to fill in that supply, as is what Milwaukee does.
Is it better than what DeWALT does? I’m a DeWALT guy that says “Most Definitely, Yes!” but it doesn’t mean I don’t find DeWALT tools to have their advantages over Milwaukee at times. They are companies that work really well together in the real world. They fit together rather well on a construction site, in a workshop, or anywhere else. Once you’re at the level of using one of these brands, chances are good you won’t have very many tools from lower rungs on my mental ladder of companies. If certain tools are preferred, it’s because Milwaukee and DeWALT don’t make that tool from lower down. If the job requires a bigger tool, it’s likely from a more industrialized company… Campbell Hausfeld (or that compressor company I can never remember.), CAT/Caterpillar, Flir/Fluke, King Inudstrial, etc.
Ultimately… The new factory was expected… If it didn’t have such an impressive level of quality control in the manufacturing process, I’d think you went to the wrong address for the tour. It wouldn’t be Milwaukee if it was sub-standard. Would I like to see DeWALT do the same? No… Honestly I want DeWALT to come North of the border, just to snub those “USA #1” fanatics. Because honestly, in this bizarre battle over “Country of Origin”, USA is really unkind to its greatest Neighbour up here. Good for Milwaukee for expanding their capacity for supply in our neck of the woods… Doesn’t make me swoon much though.
Jared
I sort of share your sentiment. USA production doesn’t itself mean something special to me – except that, the way the market works, usually companies can’t afford to make junk in the USA.
It’s too expensive to produce tools in the USA unless you can charge a bit of a premium – you can only charge a premium if they are higher-grade tools. Hence it has become a shortcut for evaluating quality.
I can get excited for NEW USA production specifically because this factor is most at play when a company is making that type of investment. They’ve got to make that investment make sense – which I expect means new premium tools.
Stuart
Respectfully, you’re way off base on a lot of this.
This factory has nothing to do with boosting supplies to meet demands. TTi factories can’t afford to make sufficient quantities of Milwaukee tools anymore? What are you talking about?!
This factory is, at face value, a place to produce high quality premium-grade hand tools.
Beyond that, it could become the cornerstone of future production efforts, with huge potential for what Milwaukee can do next.
You can try to convince yourself otherwise, but the facts don’t support it.
Tom D
I suspect this is part of a larger strategic move by Milwaukee – they’re going to *eat* the Home Depot shelves next year; it’s going to be seas of red.
Milwaukee is in a favorable position (they’re not tied to HD alone) and they’re looking to expand that, and it seems to be working pretty well. The amount of Milwaukee hand-tools already available at HD is pretty large, and this will help it grow even more (Milwaukee gets to market the Made in USA and *so does* HD, after all).
Stuart
It’s too early to tell about Home Depot, due to my expectations on the pricing, but I really believe Milwaukee is going to completely disrupt the more premium tool industry status quo.
TonyT
I wonder how the pricing will compare to HF’s Icon tools.
If it’s similar, I know which I would buy…
JoeM
No Stuart, you read that wrong. I said TTi can’t afford to manufacture Everything Milwaukee makes Overseas anymore. Your own articles show that Milwaukee is expanding at an accelerated rate, in all the best ways.
As of right this second? They’re fine with the facilities they have. But as observed by a few others, they’re having growth spurts, and it looks like a massive one is coming. So, my statements aren’t off base at all. They’re predictive, not current.
In 3, 6, even 12 months’ time, this plant is going to be entirely necessary to cover the supply and demand for Milwaukee hand tools as we continue to navigate the supply chain issues we’re having now. This plant is a brilliant move to get ahead of a problem we know, without doubt, is going to arrive at our doors very soon as Milwaukee moves forward.
But, then again… Milwaukee tends to make some very bold moves like this. How many times can a company surprise the same person with the same, obvious, tactics, and that person still be surprised by that kind of action? It’s Milwaukee. Milwaukee will do what Milwaukee does… They’re an amazing company. This kind of foresight is precisely what I expect of them.
So, yeah… I’m not as “USA #1! WOOHOO!!!” happy, but I most certainly am “Well Done Milwaukee! Way to Anticipate the market demand!” happy.
Stuart
That’s where you’re wrong.
They *can* afford to make *everything* overseas.
This USA factory was borne not out of necessity, or any inability to meet supply needs, but by desire and choice.
These efforts are on top of everything Milwaukee is already doing.
These tools and everything that comes next are supplementary effort, as opposed to being complementary.
JoeM
And again, I assert my statements are Predictive not current. I consider the Supply Chain issues worldwide to get worse in coming years. Long-Term, their new factory will compensate for supply chain issues that are inevitable.
Right now, it’s entirely operating as a wonderful part of the whole, that is healthy and operating just fine on its current volume and path. But I don’t see that being maintained. As much as we don’t want to acknowledge it, there’s a global supply chain shortage in nearly every industry. Mostly due to the off-topic issues like the Pandemic and the new Monkey-Pox coming up behind it. But either way you look at it, our usual methods of getting supplies to where they are demanded, is experiencing trouble. My own analysis of this trend sees that getting worse over the next 5 years. Enter this new plant, which is very well timed for this supply chain issue. Maybe not right this second, but in the near future, this plant will become a magnificent boost for Milwaukee to make use of during the shortages. It’s quite a brilliant step, in this capitalist world that operates by the Quarterly analysis, this plant fits in on a longer-scale 5 year trend, and is set to become a major financial benefit to the company!
It’s a great move to think longer term, while happening to put something in quarterly that gives them a PR boost at the bare minimum, and an economic boost for the country they’ve put it in as well. As others have said, this is great for jobs and unemployment numbers to improve, and it is. Point blank, this is a brilliant move on behalf of Milwaukee. From my own perspective though, I am quite accustomed to Milwaukee making such long-term brilliant moves… so it’s underwhelming for me. It doesn’t mean I don’t agree with it, or that I think it’s bad. It’s… just me… Knowing this is like Milwaukee calling a press conference to say they will be maintaining their main company tool colours as Red and White… That’s good to know, that we can reliably expect them to maintain their recognizeable livery… but I’d still be the one in the room saying “You called us to a press conference for that? Don’t you have more for us?”
I have the same amount of… “Joy”… If it’s Joy at all… about the opening of this factory as I did when they announced the MX Fuel line. I could see the possibilities for the future, and thought it was brilliant… but, how many times can I feel that same rush of enthusiasm, before it just becomes “Okay, Milwaukee doing Milwaukee things. Cool. Carry On!”
Stuart
Respectfully, you’re still wrong.
Let me put it this way. Let’s say someone has a compact sedan for commuting, and then they buy a super-duty pickup truck. I see them using the truck for hauling materials, and say “they’re doing more than just commuting.” You then say “they bought it for commuting because the sedan cannot cut it anymore.”
You could be right, but everything I know, have seen, and foresee says otherwise.
Nathan
again not to be overly political but. For me it’s less about USA quality being better than anyone elses as much as it is the potential for getting more people off wellfare and social systems.
IE the more jobs there are in america for products we americans consume, the stronger our overall economy is and the fewer tax burdens we have to support.
it’s basic economics in my mind. Now couple that with the fact that many many products are designed here – and made elsewhere. and elsewhere that doesn’t agree to nor support international patent law – then you add a factor of gee we probably should stop exporting our technical expertise.
JoeM
More jobs? Yeah, I am 100% in sync with that.
I hate to inform you of this, but the reality is, Europe and India have significantly more advanced engineering strength than the USA these days. If anything, the engineering being done in the USA is imported from overseas… It’s approved/decided on by corporate headquarters in the USA, then sent overseas for production. I’m not saying the USA is unique in this, Canada does similar things. Globalization has resulted in a lot of… frankly stupid things happening. The only place USA engineering is being done is on major Tech Campuses like MIT, Military Labs, and of all places CERN in Switzerland. The USA does seem to dominate Theoretical Physics more than material sciences and engineering.
Just to clarify… much like the rest of the globe, most careers exist nearly everywhere… but the largest concentrations of successful projects and groups who specialize in them, exist in certain parts of the world. Engineering? India and Germany. Mimes? Paris. (A joke, obviously.) But not a joke? Theoretical Physics… The USA exports their most advanced Theoreticians all over the world. They helped find the Higgs Boson for crying out loud. So if there wasn’t an export of what USA does best to the ideal locations on the planet… The species as a whole, the world itself, would not be advancing at all. So, there are some advantages to not being so US-Dominant.
Josh H
I would like to ask where are you getting this information, because frankly it isn’t accurate at all.
Globalized companies will use engineering resources across the world (namely North America, Europe, and Asia) in order to have engineering work done for 24 hours each day instead of 8. This speeds up timelines significantly and helps with bringing technologies and products to market.
But if there was no engineering done in the US, why on earth do companies like Honda Performance Development base themselves out of California and hire predominately US engineers? Why on earth is Milwaukee Tool hiring hundreds of engineers to work in their facilities in Wisconsin? And finally, how would these “corporate headquarters” know to approve designs if they didn’t have expert engineers on hand to verify and validate the designs coming from elsewhere? It’s not a prudent business strategy to approve designs willy-nilly.
How do I know this? I am an engineer in the US. I have engineering colleagues, friends, and acquaintances across the US, from large tech companies and government research laboratories, all the way down to small manufacturing facilities and startups. Either all of them are lying about what they do, or your comment isn’t reflective of the current status of US based engineering.
Robert
“Country of origin” we bought some outstandingly sweet Canadian cherries in the produce department of our supermarket. Bag honestly had “Canadiancherries.com”. Printed on it.
JoeM
Glad you enjoyed the Cherries! They’re the same species as the ones from New York and New England. Difference being Ontario and Quebec have massive areas for Orchards and Vinyards, that grow much higher volumes of produce than the same types in the USA. I assure you, New York and New England Cherries are just as delicious. They just might be a little more scarce than the imported ones. We grow so many we can genuinely afford to export a lot of them!
So, Enjoy! I think this is… Cherry, Blueberry, Peach, Tomato, and Apple Season? If you find the Onatario Fresh logo… You know it came from the Province I am in. If you see a Flur De Lis? That’s from Quebec. But, please! Feel free to enjoy them! If you can get them at a good price, indulge yourself! It means we had a bumper crop this year!
Robert
JoeM, thanks for the insight. But with all due respect, I think Laura Secord would advise you against mentioning tempting lands in Ontario and Quebec to Americans.
JoeM
Don’t worry, Good Sir… Even we don’t want Quebec these days. They cause more trouble than they’re worth. And I say that with my Late Father being Born in Montreal!
All joking aside, I’m glad you enjoy the produce from up here. There are plenty of US companies doing the importing from us on that front, and we, as the two biggest countries on the continent, work very well to grow such delights. I’m personally fond of the Peaches, Nectarines, and Tomatoes. Are they South Carolina or Georgia Peaches? No… certainly not. But in most cases, trying to import and export Peaches to eachother from these known treasure states for Peaches? We’d end up with a lot of rotted peaches, and not the slightest bit of the enjoyment we’d get from fresh ones. It’s good to have similar crops on both sides of the border! Either way, the Consumer gets a quality product!
We are so far off topic now… You craving fruit as much as I am now? I guess I’m going to the store soon… I’ll have to enjoy the crop if at all possible…
Russell
Here’s how I plan to justify this, in case you want to copy my homework with the wife, 😉
Screw drivers are by their very nature a wear item. Over time they wear out, if they are used, all of them. So, while I may not need a set today… If we don’t support this move to bring manufacturing home, right now and as much as we can, then, when my current wears out, there won’t be an chance to support an American maker, due to lack of initial support.
If she says it’s either her, or Milwaukee… Well, I’m sure you will miss her, at least until 2023 when the tools arrive.
Ladies, that last part is a joke, more or less.
Good luck.
P.S. I’ve no way whatsoever to prove I need pliers of any kind. I own Klein tools I have been trying to wear out since the 80s, with no end in sight, in fact, barring losing our abusing these pliers, I’m going to have to will them to someone… But I will still buy one of each that Milwaukee chooses to make in the states for the same reason you support your local school teams: because if we don’t, they cease to exist. We’ve already done that once with manufacturing in this country, and look what has become of us. We’re losing our collective minds over this announcement because almost nothing is made here anymore. Can we support the home team this go around, please?
Jeremiah Ducate
I would really like it if Milwaukee tool had a factory service center located in their namesake city.
Maybe theyll incorporate that into their new office downtown, but im not gonna passout from holding my breath.
I had to warranty a power tool about a year ago and went to their current headquarters in wauwatosa/brookfield to do so. I was surprised the options were so limited. Theres even dewalt and hilti factory stores much closer.
Jim Felt
There’s no economic logic to building what should be a large tilt up in Milwaukee, WI itself. Not just a drop off site.
That’s why they didn’t and won’t ever.
OldDominionDIYer
With Craftsman completely defunct (prior to purchase by SB&D) I looked to other brands and landed on Milwaukee for my hand tools and couldn’t be happier. I love their cordless stuff, their Pack-Out mobile storage solutions and figured I had to give their hand tools a try and I am not disappointed, they make great stuff and now being made in America is just the icing on the cake for me! We had heard it was coming and now to hear it’s started is great news! My first Milwaukee hand tools were the screwdrivers (Cushion Grip 48-22-2886) and I immediately felt like these guys designing these screwdrivers had actually used them and it was clear to me they put useful features all over them, the knurled shaft, the hex head near the handle, they are clearly marked, have lanyard holes in the handles and have excellent fitting tips. I now own socket sets, combination wrench sets, pliers, wire strippers and so much more. Some of those new “made in the USA” screwdrivers are definitely going to be making their home in my tool box along with a few of the pliers as well!
Stuart
This is a core tenet for the brand, and I also sincerely believe they show it.
Thom
When all these companies moved production offshore I got out of the habit of buying American tools.and started buying Knipex, Hazet, KTC/Neperos and Koken. Now that they are doing some domestic production they want my business back… I think that train has left the station.
I do applaud them for doing this though.. Class move indeed! Now let’s see SBD step up their game.
Charles
I agree and wish I knew about those tools 40 years ago. I love American made but some of these companies just do it better. Japanese screwdrivers, german wrenches and plyers. On the same hand I would never buy German double box wrenches because I work on Japanese motorcycles so the Japanese do there’s on the even mm’s and Germany doesn’t so it doesn’t work for me but my stahlwille combination wrenches will touch everything else. My snap ons are going in my truck toolbag.
Charles
Ps. Nepros and koken are awesome too!😊
Jeff
I still like my Proto, but at least this may be another option for American made hand tools.
Stuart
Me too, but when’s the last time Proto came out with new core hand tools?
Jared
Good point. Proto can be frustratingly slow to innovate. Good stuff though – just wish I could afford more of it!
Jeremiah McKenna
While I applaud them in this major transfer of manufacturing, I still frown on their “limited lifetime warranty,” which is limited to the original purchaser’s lifetime.
Jeremiah McKenna
Last month, the Milwaukee Tool VP and his entourage were at my local HD, going over new upgrades to the displays amd sales approaches etc. I was able to talk to his assistant, because you know, I’m just a loyal client and he was too busy. Regardless of that, it was probably better that inwas able to waste a little more than half an hour with the assistant, because she let me know that Milwaukee Tool was going to be bringing in a lot more US made tools, not just hand tools, but eventually Power Tools as well. She also told me they will stay priced competitively and readily available for purchase at HD.
We all have to remember that it’s not always the manufacturer that goes off-shore, but many times the Government makes it harder to produce goods here. There is more and more red tape, higher taxes, and let’s not forget the EPA and their unrealistic and completely unnecessary rules and regulations that must be adhered to. Remember who was in Office when this plan began, and how he made it easier for companies to operate, expand, start up and hire people inside the US. Let’s hope that that stays in place, although we can already see the noose tightening.
PW
This is baseless, ignorant, and patently untrue political garbage. Domestic manufacturing contracted under to get last administration – if you think the former guy was good for domestic production you’re making like an ostrich with your behind.
Also don’t see how this is in keeping with the “no politics” rules here.
MM
I agree with you regarding Jeremiah’s comments about a particular administration. This has nothing to do with one administration vs. another.
However, I think he does have a valid point regarding “red tape”, taxes, EPA rules, liability costs, and so on. And another which he didn’t mention but that I will: unions. I’m not claiming that any of those things are necessarily a bad thing, but what is certainly true is that they increase the cost of doing business–sometimes to an absurd degree–and at a certain point if a business gets saddled with too much of that hassle they will go elsewhere to avoid it and regain their competitive edge. Or go out of business.
My father retired years ago, but he was a petroleum engineer specializing in catalyst used in oil refineries. He explained to me many years ago that all of the most advanced refineries in the world with the highest efficiency (and also the lowest pollution) were all outside the USA. It wasn’t that US refiners didn’t want to improve their older facilities–quite the opposite–rather it was that the environmental rules were so complex that it was essentially impossible to get regulatory approval for the upgrades, even though the new plant would have polluted significantly less, consumed less electricity, and had more modern safety standards. So the refiners didn’t bother building new plants here, they did that in foreign countries, and that’s where the jobs went too.
Bruce
I hope Milwaukee will use the new battery technology… It sounds amazing
Bruce
Milwaukee are you using the new battery technology??
Stuart
For hand tools?!
But they ARE working on several new battery technologies!!
Tom D
I’ve often wished my hand screwdrivers had a little LED in them at times, so I could see it …
Stuart
I’ve tried screwdrivers with LED lights. No brand has done it right yet.
A W
This is really exciting news!
I have found that Milwaukee hand tools already exceed the quality of my old USA Craftsman tools, and I would definitely pay a premium for USA built Milwaukee tools.
EdA
Not start making the m18 and m12 tools and batteries here in the USA.
Trebled
It is great to see more tools hit the market that are made in the USA. The knurling on some of the screwdriver shafts seems an odd choice.
L T
Well I am happy to see products that are American made, I use to buy Craftsman. products but no more i will looking for Milwaukee tools made in the USA for sure
Nathan
They’re probably only doing this for GSA contracts and when the US democracy finally collapses will end up being a manufacturing hub again
Neighbor Joe
In fairness to SBD they have been producing some made in USA product for two years now. Granted, the Texas plant has been long a coming but I believe the Fort Worth facility is up and running.
Dennis
I work on large Heavy Equipment and all I own is red, like it or not they are the best
I put all my impacts and drill thru hard work outs and they never fail me.
Jori Sackin
This is great news Stuart. Gave Milwaukee a call after seeing this to see if we could do anything with them.
Jori
HJE
Dominick
I’ve been retired for 12 years now but continue to build my Milwaukee collection of M18 and M12 tools because I love your products..
I have found them quite helpful as I work on my “57 Chevy” and my “68 Charger R/T” or any of my wife’s “honey dew” list of odd jobs ..!
However, I lost the retainer screw for my multi tool and have not been able to replace it .
Rx9
Bravo, TTI/Milwaukee!
I will definitely buy some out of sheer principle. As for why doesn’t this sort of thing happen more often, look into BlackRock and Larry Fink, whom control 10 Trillion in assets.
Stuart
Money. It’s going to take a long time for the investment to pay off.
Crackerjacked
At this juncture I don’t think Sb&d is deserving of fairness. They’ve had the opportunity to make this happen for far too long and have yet to prove that they’re merely interested in bringing brands under their ownership back to the United States for full scale US production. They have had every resource at their disposal for years and they have yet to produce results that meet the expectations of consumers. But, those expectations are to be taken with a grain of salt. People want to buy tools that are made in the USA. However, they don’t want to pay the price. Everyone says that they’d buy tools made in the USA over tools made overseas. But would they? I beg to differ. In fact I’d go as far as to say that you wouldn’t. This isn’t like the way things used to be when every product in America was made in America and they were affordable. Those days have come to pass. I’m very confident that these Milwaukee tools are going to be fairly expensive. Likely double the price of their competitors. Or more. But there’s one thing that people need to fully understand and that is Milwaukee is not an American company. I’ll say it again. Milwaukee is not an American company. They used to be. But that was long ago. They still retain the same American name as they were founded, but they are not an American brand of tools. They are, like it or not, owned by the Chinese. They have production facilities here in the US that answer to their superiors in China which is where the headquarters are located. There’s no American subsidiary for Milwaukee tools. People keep thinking that Milwaukee is an American brand. They are not. In no way shape form or fashion. There is no American ownership to the Milwaukee brand. Stanley Black & Decker is an American corporation. They own several American brands. They have production facilities outside of the US. Those facilities answer to their superiors in Maryland which is where the Sb&d headquarters are located. Every dollar that people spend worldwide on Sb&d tools ultimately ends up in an American bank account. Every dollar that people spend worldwide on Milwaukee tools ultimately ends up in a Chinese bank account. This facility nor its means of production and output was decided by Americans. The showrunners in Hong Kong decided to do this. It was their decision to bring a full scale production facility to the US for their biggest brand of tools which happens to bear an American name. They invested the yen which transformed into the dollars that got it done. Now, does this completely embarrass Sb&d? Absolutely. They’ve rightfully earned to have mud all over their face. There is no possible excuse for why this feat has yet to be accomplished by Sb&d given the amount of time and resources that have been available for their disposal for years. Should we all be screaming F__K Sb&d for what they’ve done to the American manufacturing industry? YES. They were one of the first to abandon ship for overseas manufacturing. The flipside is that it made Sb&d products more affordable than their American made counterparts. Sb&d is currently the largest tool company on the planet. Do you really think they’d be where they are had their manufacturing remained in the US? Absolutely not. People’s wallets didn’t seem to object to it. Now, imagine if it were Milwaukee power tools that were being made at this new facility. I’m willing to bet that Milwaukee would be neck and neck with festool in terms of pricing. Would your patriotism compel you to pay those prices? I mean hey we all want to show our support for America, but not for the sake of exploitative pricing which is what Milwaukee would be doing considering that they aren’t even an American brand anymore. So while this seems like a resurgence of an American brand coming back home to do the right thing, the truth of the matter is that a Chinese brand that bears an American name is setting up shop for full scale American production in America. That’s all there is to it. That doesn’t change the fact that they are a Chinese brand owned by a Chinese company. Just as Sb&d set up shop overseas for full scale production for several of their American brands. They’re all still American brands owned by the same American company. This doesn’t make Milwaukee any more American than they already weren’t. Sorry to burst your bubble, but people are already starting with the misconception of this being done by an American brand for American pride. You couldn’t be more wrong if that’s what you’re thinking this is.
Stuart
No – Milwaukee is an American brand owned by a publicly traded company headquartered in China.
bill
Milwaukee is building a plant in Grenada, Mississippi that’s supposed to employ around 800 people.
Al Kuhseltsur
Thank you for letting me know this. I’ll look at Milwaukee products more seriously again, paying special attention to where they’re made. As much as I’d like American companies to do more of this, I’d still prefer to have manufacturing in the US for a company with overseas headquarters than to have an American headquarters with overseas manufacturing – IOW, I’d rather have Hondas and Acuras built in Marysville than Buicks built in China. I can only hope this is a trend.
Gary
Thank you for this update Stuart … very much appreciated!
I don’t suppose they gave you any idea as to what they may be eyeballing beyond screwdrivers and pliers?
Stuart
Nothing definitive, just a bunch of smiles and winks. =)
JXM
I already own several Milwaukee tools, saws, etc. So I e-mailed Milwaukee and ask them when and where would I be able to purchase the new screwdrivers shown in this article.
They can’t tell me. They don’t know.
Not the first time I’ve received that kind of response from the.
Real impressive.
Gary
Greatest ToolGuyd post ever!
Milwaukee says they’re “Coming Soon”, and Stuart narrowed it to “early 2023” … what exactly are you emailing them for, a date and time? LOL!
As for *where* you can buy Milwaukee tools … a Google search sure goes a long way, but the current screwdrivers can be purchased at Home Depot, Acme Tools, ToolUp, Zoro.com, SupplyHouse.com, Summit Racing Equipment, Tools Plus, Fastenal, and Ace Tool.
This may be a good place to start … though, admittedly, without the specific aisles and bin numbers that customers should expect 3-6 months before launch.
DC
Good job Milwaukee! I have Milwaukee M12, M18, DeWalt 20V Max and Makita MXT 18V tools. No one brand has it all hence the 4 platforms in my toolbox. My friend is a powerplant mechanic for Hawaiian Airlines and his younger brother a powerplant mechanic for United Airlines in Denver. Both swear by Snap-on for aerospace tools.