Channellock Inc., a family owned and operated plier and hand tool manufacturer, celebrates its 130th anniversary this year.
“To be able to say that our worldfamous pliers are still made in Meadville, Pennsylvania, USA is a source of pride to everyone at Channellock,” said Chairman and CEO Bill DeArment. “Our company was founded in 1886 in northwest Pennsylvania on the principle of making the highest-quality tools, and nothing has changed.”
Channellock has long been known for high quality and craftsmanship, and its product line is the preferred choice of professionals and the serious DIYers who want to get the job done. Since its founding as the Champion Bolt & Clipper Co., the company has also led the industry through innovation. In 1932, chief engineer Howard Manning developed and patented the tongue-and-groove plier, dubbed “Channellock” at the time.
Throughout the years, Channellock Inc. has taken pride in its tradition of innovation. The company has made many improvements in its manufacturing practices, including site-specific laser-heat treating operations for more durable products and the implementation of robotics in the forging, polishing and machining arenas.
Other areas of innovation in recent years include 3-D printing, which has allowed Channellock Inc. to develop prototypes for new tools and potential improvements to existing products.
“It has been a welcome addition to our tool design process because it allows us to see how an idea would actually function before advancing too far along the process,” said Jon DeArment, president and chief operating officer of Channellock.
For more information, www.channellock.com.
