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DeWalt

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For other uses, see DeWalt (disambiguation).
DeWalt Industrial Tool Company
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryManufacturing
Founded1924; 100 years ago (1924)[1]
HeadquartersTowson, Maryland, U.S.
ProductsPower tools
Number of employees
13,000
ParentStanley Black & Decker
Websitewww.dewalt.com

DeWalt Industrial Tool Company (stylized as DᴇWALT) is an American worldwide manufacturer of power tools and hand tools for the construction, manufacturing and woodworking industries, as well as home craftspeople. DeWalt is a registered trademark of Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., a subsidiary of Stanley Black & Decker.

History

The original company was started in 1923 by Raymond E. DeWalt, inventor of the radial arm saw. It grew quickly and was reorganized and reincorporated in 1947 as DeWalt Inc. American Machine & Foundry Co., Inc. bought the company in 1949, and sold it to Black & Decker in 1960. Black & Decker divested itself of the radial arm saw manufacturing branch in 1989, selling it to two executives.

In 1992, Black & Decker began a major effort to rebrand its professional quality and high-end power tools to DeWalt. In 1994, DeWalt took over the German woodworking power tool producer ELU, and used ELU's technology to expand their tool line. As of 2001, they manufacture and sell more than 200 hand power tools and 800 accessories.[2]

DeWalt is now a popular brand of tools for commercial contractors. In 2004, Black and Decker bought rival power tool manufacturer Porter-Cable and combined it with DeWalt in Jackson, Tennessee.[3] In 2011, DeWalt launched a line of contractors' hand tools (including utility knives, pliers, adjustable wrenches, tape measures, saws, and hammers).[4] In 2013, it was expanded to include mechanics' tools, including wrenches, ratchets and sockets.[5][6]

In December 2013, DeWalt announced it would begin assembling a small selection of their products in the United States, using parts manufactured in Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, Italy, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the U.S., and that these products would be labeled "Built in the USA with global materials."[7] As of 2015, they have seven U.S. manufacturing facilities, in New Britain, CT, Hampstead, MD, Shelbyville, KY, Greenfield, IN, Cheraw, SC, Charlotte, NC, and Jackson, TN.[8]

In April 2016, DeWalt created an Android-powered smartphone designed for building industry workers. It costs £379 ($544), is designed to survive a 2 m (6 ft 7 in) drop onto concrete, and has an operating range of −20–60 °C (−4–140 °F).[9]

On September 1, 2016, DeWalt debuted its FlexVolt hybrid voltage battery pack that can switch between series battery wiring providing 60 V (54 V nominal) and 2 Ah, or parallel wiring for 20 V (18 V nominal) and 6 Ah, depending on whether it is installed in a 60 V or 20 V tool, determined by communication between the tool and battery.[10]

In May 2018, it released a line of 20 V and 40 V cordless lawn mowers.[11]

Brand launching

Main article: Black & Decker

Black & Decker was long associated with lighter weight consumer tools such as household appliances, and not the heavy duty equipment professional builders wanted. Towards the end of the 1980s, Michael Hammes, executive vice president and president of the company's power tools and home improvement group, introduced the "Acura concept," a notion Honda utilized to enter the upscale automobile market. Black & Decker found it useful to reintroduce a name with little appeal to many consumers in the market for construction tools.[12]

DeWalt was acquired in 1960 and continued to produce radial arm saws, table saws, belt/disc sanders and other stationary power equipment. In 1992, Black & Decker introduced a few models of hand power tools under the DeWalt label to the consumer and tradesman market. These tools were merely rebadged models from the Black & Decker "Professional" and "Kodiak" lines with a new yellow housing and an expanded warranty and service policy. Both lines were shortly thereafter discontinued in favor of the DeWalt label and its growing popularity.[13] In a market survey of the United States done by Black & Decker before its reintroduction, the name DeWalt was recognized by 70% percent of tradespersons.

Sponsorship

NASCAR

DeWalt Ford Fusion in 2008, driven by Matt Kenseth.

DeWalt Tools sponsored NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth from 1999 through to the season of 2009. In this time period, Kenseth won 18 races, the 2000 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year Award, 2003 Sprint Cup Series Championship, 2004 Sprint Cup All Star Race and the 2009 Daytona 500.

However, in July 2009, DeWalt announced that they would not be renewing their sponsorship deal with Kenseth and Roush Fenway Racing due to the poor economic conditions in the construction industry. DeWalt had also sponsored MotoGP rider, Ben Spies, for the racing season of 2010.

DeWalt returned to NASCAR sponsorship in 2011, but on the #9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford Fusion driven by Marcos Ambrose. This sponsorship ended after 2014, when Ambrose departed the Sprint Cup Series, with DeWalt choosing to re unite with Kenseth, who now drove the #20 for Joe Gibbs Racing, sponsoring six races in 2015, ten races in 2016 and 15 races in 2017.

When Kenseth retired after the season of 2017, DeWalt moved to his replacement in the #20 Erik Jones and parent company Stanley sponsors Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Daniel Suarez. As of 2021, DeWalt sponsors Christopher Bell in the 20 car.

Formula One

On July 15, 2021, McLaren announced a multi-year partnership with Black & Decker. DeWalt will be the official tool and storage supplier for the McLaren Formula One team. DeWalt will be featured on the car's rear wing endplates and on the drivers' racing suits.

References

  1. ^ "DeWalt History". DeWalt. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  2. ^ DeWalt Milestones
  3. ^ Milani, Kate (2005-04-15). "Black and Decker shuttering N.C. plant". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
  4. ^ Deutsch, Stuart (2011-04-05). "DeWalt Launches New Line of Hand Tools!". ToolGuyd. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  5. ^ Amstutz, Jay (2013-04-22). "Dewalt Mechanic Hand Tools & Complete Sets". Cop Tool. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  6. ^ Deutsch, Stuart (2013-04-16). "New Dewalt Ratchets, Sockets, and Mechanics Tool Sets". ToolGuyd. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  7. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  8. ^ "Tools made in the USA with global materials | DeWalt". americanpride.dewalt.com. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  9. ^ "Construction giant Dewalt unveils smartphone". BBC News. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  10. ^ "DeWalt FlexVolt Technology". Pro Tool Reviews. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  11. ^ Timothy Dahl (2018-04-02). "Dewalt Introduces Two New Cordless Lawn Mowers". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  12. ^ Sellers, Patricia (1992-02-24). "Black & Decker New Selling Tool: The Acura Concept". Fortune. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
  13. ^ Slaton, Hunter R. Vault Guide to the Top Manufacturing Employers. Vault Publishing, 2006, p.71
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