Irwin Industrial Tools
Encyclopedia
Irwin Industrial Tools is an American
manufacturer and distributor of hand tools and power tool
accessories. It is a subsidiary of Newell Rubbermaid
. It is most well known for producing Vise-Grip locking pliers
. Additionally, it produces clamps, drill bits, saw blades, pipe wrench
es, screwdrivers, snips, and other construction
tools.
as the Irwin Auger Bit Company by Charles Irwin, a pharmacist
. Irwin had bought the rights to a solid-center auger bit from a local blacksmith
.
In 1924, another blacksmith, Danish
immigrant William Petersen of DeWitt, Nebraska, invented the first locking pliers
and named them Vise-Grips. In 1934, Petersen formed the Petersen Manufacturing Company to produce them. In 1957, Petersen added an easy-release trigger to the design, creating the modern locking pliers design.
In 1985, the Petersen family formed American Tool Companies and bought out Petersen Manufacturing. In 1993, American acquired the Irwin Tool Company, and in 2002, Newell Rubbermaid
acquired American. In 2003, the company officially changed its name to Irwin Industrial Tool Company.
In 2008, Irwin announced the closing of its DeWitt, Nebraska plant, ending 80 years of American production for Vise-Grips, citing a necessity to move production to China
"to keep the Vise-Grip name competitive."
In 2010, Irwin closed the costumer service office in Wilmington, OH and moved the constumer service department to Huntersville, NC.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
manufacturer and distributor of hand tools and power tool
Power tool
A power tool is a tool that is actuated by an additional power source and mechanism other than the solely manual labour used with hand tools. The most common types of power tools use electric motors. Internal combustion engines and compressed air are also commonly used...
accessories. It is a subsidiary of Newell Rubbermaid
Newell Rubbermaid
Newell Rubbermaid is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products including such well-known brands as Rubbermaid food storage, home organization, and refuse container products; Sharpie, PaperMate, Parker and Waterman writing instruments; Calphalon gourmet cookware; Goody beauty and...
. It is most well known for producing Vise-Grip locking pliers
Locking pliers
Locking pliers, Mole grips or Vise-Grips are pliers that can be locked into position, using an over-center action. One side of the handle includes a bolt that is used to adjust the spacing of the jaws, the other side of the handle often includes a lever to push the two sides of the handles apart...
. Additionally, it produces clamps, drill bits, saw blades, pipe wrench
Pipe wrench
The pipe wrench is an adjustable wrench used for turning soft iron pipes and fittings with a rounded surface. The design of the adjustable jaw allows it to rock in the frame, such that any forward pressure on the handle tends to pull the jaws tighter together. Teeth angled in the direction of turn...
es, screwdrivers, snips, and other construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
tools.
History
Irwin was founded in 1885 in Martinsville, OhioMartinsville, Ohio
Martinsville is a village in Clinton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 440 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Martinsville is located at ....
as the Irwin Auger Bit Company by Charles Irwin, a pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
. Irwin had bought the rights to a solid-center auger bit from a local blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
.
In 1924, another blacksmith, Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
immigrant William Petersen of DeWitt, Nebraska, invented the first locking pliers
Locking pliers
Locking pliers, Mole grips or Vise-Grips are pliers that can be locked into position, using an over-center action. One side of the handle includes a bolt that is used to adjust the spacing of the jaws, the other side of the handle often includes a lever to push the two sides of the handles apart...
and named them Vise-Grips. In 1934, Petersen formed the Petersen Manufacturing Company to produce them. In 1957, Petersen added an easy-release trigger to the design, creating the modern locking pliers design.
In 1985, the Petersen family formed American Tool Companies and bought out Petersen Manufacturing. In 1993, American acquired the Irwin Tool Company, and in 2002, Newell Rubbermaid
Newell Rubbermaid
Newell Rubbermaid is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products including such well-known brands as Rubbermaid food storage, home organization, and refuse container products; Sharpie, PaperMate, Parker and Waterman writing instruments; Calphalon gourmet cookware; Goody beauty and...
acquired American. In 2003, the company officially changed its name to Irwin Industrial Tool Company.
In 2008, Irwin announced the closing of its DeWitt, Nebraska plant, ending 80 years of American production for Vise-Grips, citing a necessity to move production to China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
"to keep the Vise-Grip name competitive."
In 2010, Irwin closed the costumer service office in Wilmington, OH and moved the constumer service department to Huntersville, NC.