Western Forge

Western Forge was an American manufacturing company. The company manufactured hand tools that were sold under other brands, including private-label brands such as Craftsman and Husky. It was a subsidiary of Ideal Industries.[1]

Western Forge
Subsidiary of Ideal Industries
IndustryManufacturing
Founded1965 in Defiance, Ohio
FounderC. William Schlosser
Defunct2020
HeadquartersColorado Springs, Colorado
ProductsHand tools
Websitewww.westernforge.com

The company was the largest American manufacturer of screwdrivers,[2] though the company was relatively unknown because it sold no tools under its own name.[3]

History

Western Forge was founded in Defiance, Ohio in 1965 as a joint venture between Sears and C. William Schlosser to make torque wrenches.[3] In 1966, it relocated to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where it built a new manufacturing facility. In the next few years, the company began producing screwdrivers, punches, chisels, adjustable wrenches, and pliers.[4]. The company's slogan at one time was "Mile High Quality" (in reference to the relatively dry Colorado manufacturing location).

In 1976, Western Forge shipped its 100 millionth Craftsman screwdriver.[5] In 2008, the company produced its billionth screwdriver overall.[3]

In 1978, Western Forge applied for and received its USA trademark.[6] They produced and test marketed a line of hand tools branded with their own name.

In 1981, the company was acquired by Emerson Electric.[3]

In the late 1990s, Western Forge moved its screwdriver production to a plant in Murphy, North Carolina. In April 2006, it closed the plant and consolidated its operations in Colorado Springs, citing declining sales. The company received $200,000 in cash incentives from the City of Colorado Springs and the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation to stay in Colorado Springs.[7][8] Sears Craftsman products (and others) that are produced by Western Forge are marked with a "WF" on them.

In 2007, the company was acquired by MW Universal.[3] In 2010, it was acquired by Ideal Industries.[9][10]

In April 2017, Ideal declined to renew its contract with Sears and stopped supplying it with tools. Sears filed a lawsuit against the company in June, contending that it was not honoring the terms of its supply agreement. Sears Craftsman tools that were previously produced by Western Forge in the US are now supplied by an Asian supplier.[11][12]

In February 2020, Ideal announced that it would close the Western Forge manufacturing plant, laying off all 164 employees. Ideal had attempted to sell the facility but was unsuccessful. Ideal CEO Steve Henn said in a statement, "This was a long and carefully considered decision. Our Western Forge employees delivered high quality product and did everything we asked of them to help us maintain the business. We just couldn't survive the impact from the Craftsman move."[13]

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References
  1. "Ideal Announces Acquisition of Western Forge a Premier Manufacturer of American Made Hand Tools" (Press release). Ideal Industries. 2009-12-31. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  2. Varnon, Rob (2010-06-25). "Workers hope for aid in closing". The Advocate. Retrieved 2014-01-16.
  3. Heilman, Wayne (2008-03-29). "Forging ahead". The Gazette. Retrieved 2014-01-16.
  4. Western Forge. "Our History". Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  5. Sears Archives. "Sears Digital Archive: Timeline: 1970s". Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  6. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (1981-02-17). Western Forge. Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  7. Chakrabarty, Gargi (2005-12-22). "Springs to gain 150 Western Forge jobs". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  8. Sealover, Ed (2005-12-03). "Should firms be paid to stay?". The Gazette. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  9. Heilman, Wayne (2010-01-04). "Western Forge to be sold to Ideal Industries". The Gazette. Retrieved 2014-01-16.
  10. Heilman, Wayne (2010-01-05). "New owners to pump millions into Western Forge". The Gazette. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  11. Yerak, Becky (2017-06-07). "Sears sues second Craftsman vendor to maintain tool supply". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
  12. Thomas, Lauren (2017-06-08). "Sears sues second Craftsman supplier as frustrations with key vendors mount". CNBC. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
  13. Heilman, Wayne (2020-02-18). "Western Forge to end 54-year run in Colorado Springs, lay off all employees". The Gazette. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
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