American Tool Companies Inc. North American Headquarters

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When 20-year-old Danish blacksmith Vilhelm Petersen sailed into Boston Harbor, little did he know that his journey would lead to the establishment of American Tool Companies, Inc. In 1902, "Bill" Petersen settled in Minden, Nebraska, where he worked for a fellow Danish blacksmith, keeping horses shod, plow shares sharpened and wagons repaired. Bill Petersen was an inventor at heart. With the introduction of the automobile and farm tractor, blacksmithing was on the decline. During the long Nebraska winters, Petersen experimented with his ideas. In 1921, he invented and patented a unique wrench with a "vise-like" grip. By 1924, Petersen had refined his invention by adding a locking lever. He patented the enhanced tool and gave it an innovative name that would become world famous: VISE-GRIP® locking pliers. He registered the distinctive clasped hands logo, a symbol that today represents the most recognized hand tool brand in the world. American Tool Companies, Inc., led by Allen Petersen, the founder’s grandson, has evolved into a leading global manufacturer and marketer of hand tools, cutting tools and power tool accessories. The company has more than 4,400 employees and manufacturing facilities throughout North America, Europe, Brazil, and the Pacific Rim. Today, its product lines include VISE-GRIP locking pliers, clamps and wrenches, IRWIN® wood boring and cutting tools, QUICK-GRIP® clamping products, RECORD® hand tools, MARPLES® woodworking tools, JACK® hand saws, POWERPRESS® pipe clamps, TURBOMAX® drill bits, PROSNIP® snips, MARATHON® and SPRINT® saw blades, UNIBIT® step drills, HANSON® taps, dies and drills, CHESCO® hex tools, SPEEDBOR® wood boring bits, and STRAIT-LINE® marking tools. Quite a dramatic change from the day a young Danish immigrant traveled to America and established his place in history. To see some of the historic events from American Tool and from around the globe, choose a period of time below.

Innovation is a mainstay of American Tool. For more than 75 years, it's been an idea that has permeated the culture of our company and continues to drive everything we do. And today, as a part of Newell Rubbermaid (NYSE: NWL), we enjoy the financial backing and systems support of a $7 billion global consumer products company. Newell's strength allows us to concentrate on our business and on innovation more than ever. Throughout our history, American Tool has been at the forefront of the industry, creating better tools in a better way. Our dedication to improving products and processes is a driving force in all that we do. These improvements are significant—not superficial changes like the color of a tool's handle. We recognize the core needs of end users and address them by employing our wealth of industry expertise to produce a quality product. The result: American Tool consistently provides an unmatched commitment to innovation and quality for all end users—from the casual do-it-yourselfer to the seasoned professional. Innovative Products American Tool has an outstanding track record of developing new products that not only redefine, but in many cases, create the market segments in which they compete. Just a few examples of American Tool's first-to-market innovations include: the first locking pliers and locking tools, auger bits, multi-material drill bits, offset snips, one-handed bar clamps, and center-point groove flat bits. More recently, American Tool has introduced: All-in-one drill bits that can drill several sized holes without wasting time and effort by switching bits Portable, durable, lightweight, and easy-to-clean resin vises Compact laser levels All of these American Tool products created the markets in which they currently compete and were designed with the consumer in mind. Innovative Processes Category-creating new products are the hallmark of American Tool, but they wouldn't be possible without the entrepreneurial spirit and processes that foster innovation. At American Tool we make our products better, faster, and more efficiently through the application of technology, manufacturing, and process innovation. For example: We use the latest computer technologies through partnerships with elite research facilities like Northwestern University, Pennsylvania State University's Applied Research Labs, and the University of Nebraska, to make use of rapid-prototyping and rapid-tooling technologies. This has enabled us to reduce the average cycle time for new tool development and production—from two years to eight months. American Tool was also the first to successfully use state-of-the-art resins, plastics, and ceramics in tool categories typically dominated by steel. Our merchandising group was one of the first to employ "try-me" packaging and other point-of-purchase displays that allow consumers to feel and work with our products before purchasing them. Whether you're looking for innovative products that meet your needs, or innovative ways to make and deliver those products to market, look no further than American Tool.