What’s going on now-a-days? No matter where you look everything is being made in China. Yes we know it’s cheaper and sometimes companies don’t have an option if they want to stay competitive, but come on where does it stop? Well it seems that is the approach Channel Lock has taken with their Code Blue Line. Enough, let’s bring it back.review
Channel Lock recently announced they are bringing back the production of their soft grip to the United States. The Code Blue line has always been forged in Meadville, PA, but the grips haven’t. For a while the grips were being made overseas, I think China, but I am not 100% sure. Over time people started to notice. The grips would wear out quicker and even slide off the tool. Channel Lock decided to put an end to all this. They are keeping the same facility in Meadville to forge the line, but now they are also going to start buying from a local contractor in Meadville. Evolution Molding Design will now start producing the redesigned grips for the Code Blue line.
The new grips feature a composite thermoplastic elastomer cores and overmolds that give the user a better grip, better comfort and more durability. So now Channel Lock can truly say these are 100% American Made. Now if we can only get President Obama to think like this, we’ll all be set.
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It’s a rare thing to see a company bring production back stateside. Today I’m even prouder to say I own 23 pairs of Channellock pliers.
Glad to see this. Last time I purchased lineman pliers I debated over the Milwaukee and Channel Lock until I saw that the Milwaukee pliers were made oversees. Both were quality but I purchased the Channel Lock for that reason.
I’m a huge fan of Channellock and I own a bunch of their products. I was surprised when I noticed “made in china” on one of their screwdrivers. Hopefully that’s part of what they’re bringing back to the states.
There’s a lot of companies out there who could and should take a lead from channellock. This could be a very smart marketing strategy, buy 100% made in America rather that cheap Chinese rubbish. To hell with globalization which is one of the great evils of our time, buy local and support local jobs. Most people don’t mind paying extre if it means the quality is there and one is supporting the local economy.
Glad to hear Channellock is coming home, but I feel that your statement regarding Obama is misguided and out of place in this post. Since he was elected we’ve seen 28 straight months of private sector job growth, including the first year-over-year gains in manufacturing jobs since 1997. Even ignoring that fact, this is a tool blog.
I stopped buying Milwaukee for the fact China is going to use our dollars against us. I’m all for USA tools now?
Last year I needed to buy a step ladder. I went to 4 different stores but was unable to find a USA made step ladder. Finally found one made in Mexico so I bought it, better than China! Now China is labeling product made in PRC. Dont be fooled. PRC stands for peoples republic of China. I believe the buy products made in the USA is gaining a lot of steam. Ray
It’s hard to find anything made in the states anymore, which is crazy. We need more people like you to actually start looking to support our country but you are right, I think we are heading that way.
channel lock lasts forever!
I stopped buying Milwaukee for the fact China is going to use our dollars against us. I’m all for USA tools now?