Milwaukee was recently bought by a Chinese company,
TTI Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd in 2005?
:001_huh:
TTI Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd in 2005?
:001_huh:
2ndGen
I'm not knocking Chinese or foreign companies, but damn...I hate to find out that our American companies are being sold out. I don't know Milwaukee's personal situation(s) and can't judge.
Has anybody noticed a drop in quality?
A rise in quality?
No difference?
Are Americans producing Milwaukee products?
I know DeWalt's quality took a big turn down when they farmed out their work to China.
Has anybody noticed a drop in quality?
A rise in quality?
No difference?
Are Americans producing Milwaukee products?
I know DeWalt's quality took a big turn down when they farmed out their work to China.
The quality will depend on what the marketing people think the American public will pay for. If they want cheap, you can find cheap. If you want good, you can find good, no matter where it comes from.
Because of labor costs, the Chinese can do the cheap lines cheaper. They can also do the high quality too. That is the reason for multiple brands, product lines and images.
The companies are sold to Chinese companies because the Americans will not buy the companies for the price the Chinese will pay.
The same thing happened to the cement industry when the U.S. companies did not invest in plants, maintenance and expansion, but ran them. The europeans saw the opportunity and offered more than any U.S. companies would pay. The result is high quality, more research, more marketing, more production, modern plants and more use of cement in construction. - The cement is made in the U.S. with American materials and American labor. U.S. cement is not exported because the same or higher quality cement is available from other countries.
Because of labor costs, the Chinese can do the cheap lines cheaper. They can also do the high quality too. That is the reason for multiple brands, product lines and images.
The companies are sold to Chinese companies because the Americans will not buy the companies for the price the Chinese will pay.
The same thing happened to the cement industry when the U.S. companies did not invest in plants, maintenance and expansion, but ran them. The europeans saw the opportunity and offered more than any U.S. companies would pay. The result is high quality, more research, more marketing, more production, modern plants and more use of cement in construction. - The cement is made in the U.S. with American materials and American labor. U.S. cement is not exported because the same or higher quality cement is available from other countries.
Some additional background on Ridgid and TTI
Following quote is from Jim Lang on the Ridgid Forum, less than two years ago, and I believe it still to be accurate, except the Milwaukee plants may already have moved. TTI manufactures the orange power tools for Ridgid, with only a couple exceptions, but does not own Ridgid. For info:
"The Ridgid Brand (for cordless and corded power tools) is OWNED by Emerson Electric, LICENSED to The Home Depot and MANUFACTURED by Techtronic Industries.
Techtronic Industries (TTI) OWNS the Ryobi, Milwaukee and AEG brands of corded and cordless power tools. Techtronic also contract manufactures corded and cordless tools for The Home Depot (Ridgid brand power tools) and Sears/K-Mart (Craftsman brand power tools). TTI is also in the process of closing the four US plants of Milwaukee and moving the production to China."
Can't speak to Milwaukee quality since the shift as I went with Porter-Cable (now owned by Delta, but if you call the service dep't they answer as DeWalt!?) instead.
Following quote is from Jim Lang on the Ridgid Forum, less than two years ago, and I believe it still to be accurate, except the Milwaukee plants may already have moved. TTI manufactures the orange power tools for Ridgid, with only a couple exceptions, but does not own Ridgid. For info:
"The Ridgid Brand (for cordless and corded power tools) is OWNED by Emerson Electric, LICENSED to The Home Depot and MANUFACTURED by Techtronic Industries.
Techtronic Industries (TTI) OWNS the Ryobi, Milwaukee and AEG brands of corded and cordless power tools. Techtronic also contract manufactures corded and cordless tools for The Home Depot (Ridgid brand power tools) and Sears/K-Mart (Craftsman brand power tools). TTI is also in the process of closing the four US plants of Milwaukee and moving the production to China."
Can't speak to Milwaukee quality since the shift as I went with Porter-Cable (now owned by Delta, but if you call the service dep't they answer as DeWalt!?) instead.
If you check the manufacturing facilities in China, you would probably find many American-produced production equipment and systems. You can be sure it will be Chinese production equipment if they think they can copy that and still keep the level of quality needed to sell to the U.S. consumers.
The problem with China is the subcontractors and availability of some specialty materials. Basic materials and processes (heat treating, etc.) can always be checked and monitored. The Chinese can always assemble, handle, package and ship cheaper. - There are ships coming from China that are larger than an aircraft carrier, too big for any lock and many ports that cross to the West Coast in 4 fewer days with a crew of only 12 people. That is not doing it with cheap hourly labor costs.
What products are sold depends on the price and quality demanded by the user. The trick is being able to really be able to sort out the real quality and price. You cannot change where it is made, unless you are willing to exclude certain products.
The problem with China is the subcontractors and availability of some specialty materials. Basic materials and processes (heat treating, etc.) can always be checked and monitored. The Chinese can always assemble, handle, package and ship cheaper. - There are ships coming from China that are larger than an aircraft carrier, too big for any lock and many ports that cross to the West Coast in 4 fewer days with a crew of only 12 people. That is not doing it with cheap hourly labor costs.
What products are sold depends on the price and quality demanded by the user. The trick is being able to really be able to sort out the real quality and price. You cannot change where it is made, unless you are willing to exclude certain products.
Atlas Copco AB purchased Amstar, the parent corporation that owned Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation in 1995. TTI bought them in Jan 2005 as stated above.
They have been foreign owned for 13 years now. Much of their tools are still made in the US.
They have 5 US based plants and one plant in Mexico.
Milwaukee on Wikipedia
They have been foreign owned for 13 years now. Much of their tools are still made in the US.
They have 5 US based plants and one plant in Mexico.
Milwaukee on Wikipedia
Double-A,
Correct, OWT is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TTI.
On another note, have read some threads in here where folks are unhappy with the shipping aspects of the Ridgid lifetime guarantee, but it is an impressive guarantee and I've purchased both cordless and corded power tools with it as the discriminator between Ridgid and, for instance, DeWalt. Not particularly a Ridgid fan, but the six of their tools I have are earning their keep with no significant problems. Time will tell.
Correct, OWT is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TTI.
On another note, have read some threads in here where folks are unhappy with the shipping aspects of the Ridgid lifetime guarantee, but it is an impressive guarantee and I've purchased both cordless and corded power tools with it as the discriminator between Ridgid and, for instance, DeWalt. Not particularly a Ridgid fan, but the six of their tools I have are earning their keep with no significant problems. Time will tell.
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