Craftsman Tools sister company hails USA trade show a success
company news from - Craftsman Tools
17 November 2008
Craftsman Tools’ sister company in the USA is hailing its appearance at this year’s International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), in Chicago, as a great success.
Chevin Tools Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Craftsman, which is based in West Yorkshire, has appeared at the bi-annual event every time since 1992.
The company came away from this year’s six-day show having securing orders for tool-holders valued at around $14,000.
It also used IMTS to launch its new corporate branding, which includes a modernised logo as well as new promotional material as it prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary next year.
Robert Johnson, Chevin Tools president and Craftsman Tools managing director, said: “The rebrand forms part of the strategy across both Chevin and Craftsman of redefining our positions in the marketplace, as has given us a renewed focused to help take the businesses forward.
“We have also adopted the strapline “Collaborating with the World’s Finest”, which is a perfect statement that both businesses are involved with the major players.”
IMTS is one of the biggest exhibitions of its type in the world attracting around 91,000 people from 119 countries, and 1,500 exhibitors, and Chevin had on display a range of tool-holding and work-holding products.
Chevin Tools is based in the Rolling Meadows suburb of Chicago, and has experienced rapid grown in recent years, so much so that in 2006 it broke the $1 million sales barrier for the first time.
As Chevin approaches its first decade, the setting up of a new manufacturing site is currently being investigated.
Robert Johnson added: “We have has so far located three sites – all in different states – of around 5,000 sq ft, and have been putting business plans together for each site.
“While in the USA we also used the opportunity to meet inward investment officials from the three States we have so far pinpointed.
“We expect that whichever site is chosen will grow to around 15,000 sq ft in five years, and by then employ around 30 people.
He added: “We would initially be looking at manufacturing a range of tool-holding equipment in the USA, which is one of our biggest export markets.
“This would give Craftsman Tools here in the UK extra capacity, and we are already planning for that by tapping into largely undiscovered areas, for us, such as India and China.”
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