Earlier today, I posted about how GreatStar Tools has acquired the Shop-Vac brand.
It seems appropriate to follow up on that post with a quick look at other popular wet/dry vacuum, shop vacuum, and consumer vacuum brands.
As in some other tool industries, you might be surprised to know that many popular brands are not owned by American companies, even if the brands themselves are prominent or based in the USA.
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Alton Industries
Alton Industries manufactures wet/dry and shop vacuums under Dewalt, Stanley, and Porter Cable branding for Stanley Black & Decker.
Looking on Alton Industries’ website, they mention their USA office, but there is not much information about the company itself. Digging deeper, FCC licenses for Alton Industries vacuum products have been given to Suzhou Alton Electrical & Mechanical Industry Co., Ltd., which is based in China.
It’s hard to say for certain, but it seems that the USA-based Alton Industries is simply a subsidiary of the Suzhou Alton Electrical & Mechanical Industry company.
Bissell
Bissell is a USA-based privately-owned business.
Emerson: Ridgid, Workshop
Emerson Tool owns the Ridgid brand and their line of wet/dry vacs, shop vacs, and portable vacuums.
Emerson also owns the Workshop brand.
Emerson is a USA-based publicly-traded company.
Flex
Flex is owned by Chervon, a privately-owned company based in China. Chervon also owns EGO, Skil, and Skilsaw brands, and also manufactures tools for other brands and private labels.
Shop-Vac
Shop-Vac is now now owned by GreatStar Tools, a subsidiary of Hangzhou GreatStar Industrial Co. LTD., which is based in China.
TTI Brands: Hoover, Oreck, More
TTI, the publicly-traded company that also owns Milwaukee Tool, owns the following vacuum industry brands:
- Dirt Devil
- Homelite
- Hoover
- Oreck
- Vax
Vacmaster
Vacmaster is owned by Cleva North America, Inc.
As far as I can tell, Cleva North America is based in Greenville, SC, with no foreign ownership ties.
Update: Thanks to James’s comment, we now know that Cleva NA is a subsidiary of Cleva, based in China.
Keep in Mind…
Context matters.
A lot of people automatically criticize brands based on where their parent companies are based, but to me this always seems unfair.
Take Milwaukee Tool, as the biggest example of this. I can’t tell you how many times I’ll receive an email or see a comment that amounts to “OMG, did you know they’re a Chinese company? I won’t give money to that.” But in actuality, despite Milwaukee Tool having a foreign parent company (and one that’s publicly-traded, meaning anyone anywhere can own part of it), they invest heavily in their USA-based efforts. Milwaukee Tool has greatly expanded their headquarters over the years, building new R&D and testing facilities over the years. A larger USA-based footprint means more local investments, and more jobs.
In general, it’s hard to know which brands are firmly planted in the USA despite being owned by other companies, and which are simply USA brands with all the major design and engineer work being done overseas.
Consider Dremel. Bosch, a foreign company, acquired the brand in 1993.
Consider Skil and Skilsaw. Emerson acquired Skil in 1979, and then Emerson and Bosch jointly owned Skil from ~1992 to 1996. Bosch solely owned the brand from 1996 until 2016 when Chervon acquired the brand from Bosch.
KKR, an American investment firm, owns Metabo and Metabo HPT, tool brands based in Germany and Japan, respectively.
In the list above, Bissell, Ridgid, Vacmaster, and Workshop seem to be the only American brands owned by American companies. Most of the others are still American brands, but owned by foreign parent companies.
Keep in mind that many American brands and subsidiary companies operate no differently than if they were solely based here.
In other words, brands’ corporate relationships are interesting, but such information is not consequential in and of itself.
See Also
Tool Brands: Who Owns What? A Guide to Corporate Affiliations
Tom D says
I think all the complaints boil down to “cheap tools are crap” – as you never hear complaints about Festool or other German/Japanese tool makers “stealing American jobs” – and people are quite happy with things made in China if they’re made well.
Rock Hound says
You should probably put Milwaukee under TTI, because of the cordless shop vacs that they produce.
Stuart says
Cordless vacs are really outside the scope of this post.
PETE says
You should also include Yamaha on this post- they’re the best motorcycle/piano company around
Stuart says
I know you’re trying to be cheeky, and I appreciate it, but Yamaha is a Japanese brand!
Bob says
“Keep in mind that many American brands and subsidiary companies operate no differently than if they were solely based here.”
Except the corperate profits are going to a foreign company. True if it is a publicly traded company you could say anybody can own stock. The main issue I have is a hostile government owns/controlls/influences these brands. Collusion, IP rights, corporate espionage is all fair game with that country.
No gripe with regular every day folks from that country.
In the short term some of the shop vac folks getting their jobs back is great. In the long term another avenue for ChiCom manipulation is a bad thing.
The only ironic thing is I don’t think you could make shop-vacs any cheaper. These door buster price point vacuum cleaners are the biggest pieces of…..hmm….”plastic” every made.
Peter says
I myself are fine to support a foreign company that makes stuff here.
My Silverado is made in Canada while lets say a Tundra is made in the US so if I have the choice next time I will choose a Tundra made in the States over a Chevy made in Canada.
Bob says
I think you don’t hear “cheap German/Japanese tools are crap” Because well they don’t make cheap tools. Cheap in price or quality.
Just like USA made stuff its not cheap to make. Both here and “there” have the challenges of a high wadge workforce, high standards and costs for saftey/environmental/energy. High tax rate. Constant onslaught of low cost competitors trying to cut you off at the knees. A company really has to have their $#!+ together to remain competitive manufacturing in a first world country.
Now I’m sure every brand has had some stinkers slip through. But by in large most of the stuff is high quality with an appropriately high price tag. Except Festool. Those guys are just crooks!!!
Just kidding. Don’t want the festool fanboys tracking me down lol
Bob says
Dang it hit reply too quick.
No gripe about “stealing american jobs”. I think its because most see those countries in Europe/Japan competing fairly most of the time.
MI Dad says
Today I learned bissell makes a shop vac. Huh.
Is Vac master any good? They’re cheap as heck on Amazon.
I have a 7-8 year old Ridgid that is just SO loud and suction is just mediocre… anyone have a decent recommendation for a homeowner DIY-er / casual wood shop?
DAVID says
I too have an older Ridgid (Emerson) that literally requires hearing protection. I now use a 12G Craftsman XSP (Vacmaster) in my shop that is powerful and significantly quieter. Got it on sale during the holidays for under $100 — normally just over..
Tom D says
I’ve learned that whole home vacuum systems are still a thing – and garage ones exist.
https://evacuumstore.com/c-80-central-vacuums.aspx
Probably among the quietest available.
King duck says
I am really considering going central vacuum in my garage the only thing I don’t know I’d how well they handle wet sloppy crap but I hate my loud as hell rigid. I’m definitely at the point I would spend real money on an easy to empty with good on board tool storage wet/dry shop vac.
MI Dad says
Same.
John says
Vacmaster makes/made the Craftsman line of wet/dry vacs sold at Sears in recent years. They also make several of the Master Force vacs sold at Menards. The Craftsman XSP vacs are really strong and quiet as someone already mentioned. I read the ToolGuyd review a few years ago and bought the 12 gallon model based on that article. It was so nice I went back and bought the 5 gallon 2-stage model for use inside the house. They both have lots of useful features and are well-made.
MI Dad says
Thanks!
That’s at least two people vouching for vacmaster now. I’ve started checking them out. Good timing, right after all the holiday sales lol but maybe by springtime they’ll have some deals too and that gives me time to research what I want to replace my Ridgid and where to get it.
DJames says
Just got a Vacmaster Beast 14gal with the stainless tub.
Only used once to cleanup some drywall inside but it was much quieter than I expected.
Johnkok says
When the parent company is from China. They have high tendency to be made in China.
Why made in China have been perceived as what it has ever been is becaused of their basis. Like German who solely proud of high quality engineering and Japan who put their dignity into their work. China run on money. Even when they make quality tools or product, is because the money pay off.
Robert Mannering says
I love Milwaukee as a user, but I am also a retailer which I start to hesitate promoting Milwaukee so much recently. As a user, their products are great! However, I’ve heard from oversea that they are about to open their second retail shops. I was told they are moving towards Hilti’s business strategies and target consumer directly. Their plans are probably cover all the places that don’t have Milwaukee and retail directly to consumers within 3~5 years. Assumming these countries go well, within 5~10 years, they will be probably retailing directly, like Hilti, in Canada and U.S.. Let’s see how it goes….
MI Dad says
Whoa. If true, that strategy doesn’t seem to make sense or cents, at least in North America. I respect you and smaller, local dealers (my two local long-time hardware stores have been bought up – one by True Value and the other by Do It Best first, now Ace) – I just can’t see how Milwaukee, or any major brand for that matter, can make MORE money by having their own store vs. selling to big box, local dealers and online retailers. It’s a lot of overhead they don’t need to manage if they’re just shipping product to someone else’s brick n mortar. This move also likely cuts off (directly or indirectly) smaller dealers by cutting them out entirely. Now you’ve given me something to research. I wonder if any of TTI’s other brands are exploring this route…
Przemek (Poland) says
Maybe it is not relevant. Some off topic.
Flex is german Company, bought by Chevron. Yes, but vacuum cleaner for me is a project from Nilfisk. Look at Flex, Makita, Milwaukee, Mirka…same scheme diffrent colour.
Starmix – not listed because is german (i think). Vaccums are seen in Metabo, Eibenstock, Mafell (all german, all listed in CAS – Cordless Alliance System)
To be honest Dewalt vacuum is made in china.. Most of it design is simple and good. But suction …suck. They didn’t create any update. Rest of the world create stronger and more efficient vacuums (Starmix, Nilfisk )
Dt says
Any info on Channellock vacs?
Stuart says
The one I reviewed a while ago was very good and made by Vacmaster.
James says
Vacmaster is owned by Cleva a Chinese based company.
https://www.cleva.com/company
Stuart says
Thank you!
I’m sorry, I couldn’t get any further than Cleva North America when trying to find corporate ties.
Mac says
I’ve owned two Rigid shop vacs and used friends other brands…I really like these shop vacs.
However I recently bought a Rigid drywall cutout tool… cordless…and when it decides to turn on it’s ok…needs frequently blown out with compressed air to keep working.
Not sure I will buy anything Rigid/Emerson again.
Nathan says
when my shop vac dies or I can’t get bags and other accessories for it anymore I think I’ll end up with a ridgid.
I might get a vacmaster.
Question is the dewalt vac made in China – Alton industries has plants here and they seem to indicate they make theme stateside. ALso they make the craftsman branded ones as well – if I recall correctly.
Now perhaps the vac is made in china while the dust extrator models are made stateside.
Bob says
If that drywall cut out tool was a battery Rigid tool from Home Depot I believe it was built by TTI (aka Milwaukee, Royobi.) There is some sort of private label/licensing agreement deal. The gist of it is if its a battery Rigid tool from HD its not built by Ridgid/Emerson.
Guys feel free to set me straight if im full of it.