Ideal Industries purchased the bankrupt SK Hand Tools last month, but at the time it was uncertain where the tools would be manufactured. Construction on a new facility has since began at Sycamore, IL.
The new facility is on track with a 12-week build time by Krusinski Construction, and is scheduled to be completed in January 2011. A reliable source (but not an insider) has discovered that Ideal plans to begin production at the new SK plant in Sycamore by February. Until then, new products will be manufactured in an existing Ideal plant.
Advertisement
These details are credible but we have not yet confirmed them with absolute certainty.
Anthony
Well it looks like ill be an sk guy now…the fact that they had the balls to open shop in the u.s makes me like them a whole lot right now…they could have easily went offshore and people would have said” the tool manufacturers all do this now”, but they didnt!!! kudos to ideal
uthscsaedu
12 weeks is an optimistic goal.
Any ideas what, exactly, will be made in this facility?
I’m pretty sure it won’t be any ratcheting wrenches.
Stuart
I too am pretty pleased that Ideal is insistent on keeping production of its acquired brands’ tools in the USA.
I have no idea what they will be making at the facility, but I’m fairly certain that Ideal will want to continue producing as much of SK’s full line as possible.
Frank
If you remember Ideal bought Western forge they will do most of the forging. The final product will be made in Sycamore. The sockets also will be made in Sycamore. Ideal is buying some new machine tools also for upgrading the factory.
Tom
I applaud Ideal for not going off shore to have the SK tools made. Now if Irwin would bring VISE GRIPs ack to America, that would be great!
The Dude
Looks like I too will be a SK Tools guy now. Nice to see manufacturing starting to come back.