Greenlee
Description
Greenlee is an industrial and electrical tool company headquartered in Rockford, IL. It was founded in 1862 by two brothers: Robert and Ralph Greenlee. Robert and Ralph launched their invention with the use of a drill surrounded by four chisel blades. This invention was used to make the pockets for mortise and tenon joints (a mortise [or mortice] and tenon joint connects two pieces of wood or other material) for the furniture industry in Rockford. This device is still used in cabinetmaking. The brothers later diversified into a variety of hand woodworking tools as well as machinery for making wooden barrels. The company was acquired by Textron in 1986. Greenlee purchased Fairmont Hydraulics in 1992 and German tool manufacturer Klauke in 1996. Greenlee expanded into data and telecommunications with the acquisition of several companies in 1999 and 2000 which now fall under the Greenlee Communications brand. Greenlee expanded its DIY (do it yourself) offerings with the addition of Paladin Tools on December 17, 2007. In 2013, Sherman + Reilly and HD Electric joined the Greenlee family of Utility brands. The Greenlee brothers walked in the footsteps of their father who was a barrel maker. Their impactful contributions to the railroad industry included an automatic tie and track laying and drilling machine that rolled right along behind on the track it had just laid.
In 2018 Textron announced that it planned to sell its Greenlee brand to Emerson.
Greenlee employs their United States workforce in seven manufacturing facilities, where they design, assemble and manufacture robust products which meet the rigorous demands of their diverse customer base. They encourage their customer base to provide valuable product feedback. This includes soliciting feedback about their packaging and marketing materials. Greenlee proudly promote the fact that their products are designed and manufactured in the United States.
Greenlee products address a wide range of applications:
- Hand Tools - professional grade hand tool line launched in 2006
- Holemaking - bits, punches, knockouts
- Bending - conduit benders
- Fishing & Cable Pulling
- Wire & Cable Termination
- Voice Data Video
- Testing & Measurement
- Storage & Material Handling
- Hydraulic Pumps & Miscellaneous
- Plumbing
- Utility: impact wrenches, cutting and crimping tools
Their Research Parkway plant in Rockford, Illinois was opened back in 1988. It currently supplies over 25,000 orders of products each week. The plant manufactures and assembles nearly every Greenlee holemaking product including punches, dies, draw studs, auger bits, and hole saws. Greenlee was built around hole making tools and wouldn’t be where it is today without the efforts from Research Parkway.
Greenlee of Genoa opened in 1948. The manufacturing plant sits on 7 acres of land with a current headcount of 73 people including office personnel. The plant manufactures commercial tools for the electrician including capital goods for bending and pulling applications. The plant is responsible for approximately 4200 SKU’s and every product is 100% tested before it leaves the facility.
Since 1999 the Greenlee facility in Louisville, Kentucky, has focused on expanding the fabrication capabilities of the plant to become the premier supplier of metal fabricated products, components, sub-assemblies, and weldments for all Greenlee products. Along with the fabrication capabilities, Greenlee Louisville also has extensive assembly capabilities and a powder coat paint system that offers the flexibility for their customers to order custom color products. Today the facility has 80 employees who strive to produce over 300 quality products that are utilized by customers across the globe.
Contact your Shattuc sales representative or contact us online for more information on Greenlee products.
