Stanley Black & Decker boosts portfolio with new acquisitions

Stanley Black & Decker can start its own woodworking supply store following its recent acquisition of the Lenox and Irwin tool brands from Newell Brands. It certainly has enough inventory.

The deal was announced Oct. 12 and more details are in our Page 12 story, but it boils down to Newell Brands getting out of the tool business and Stanley Black & Decker growing its extensive portfolio.

Stanley Black & Decker is a global company with business interests including commercial security, hospital and healthcare services, and infrastructure products. But to many woodworkers, Stanley makes their tape measures, hammers and chisels. And a lot of other stuff, too.

Stanley, which merged with Black & Decker in 2010, also owns DeWalt, Porter-Cable and Bostitch. Other holdings include Mac Tools (automotive tools), Proto (industrial tools) and Vidmar (storage and workspace solutions). Now it has Irwin, a brand featuring Vice-Grip pliers, clamps, drill bits and saw blades, and Lenox, which is known for its band-saw blades and hand tools.

The publically traded company views the acquisition as an opportunity to enhance its leadership position in the tool industry. That’s a pretty safe bet.

Also in this issue is Bosch’s response (Page 12) to SawStop’s suit before the U.S. International Trade Commission over patent infringements. In a statement, Bosch says it “has vigorously defended, and will continue to defend, its ability to make Reaxx table saws available in the United States. In addition, Bosch will continue to pursue its own claim of patent infringement against the competitor filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The ongoing litigation has no effect on distributors’ ability to buy or sell Bosch Reaxx table saws.”

New portable tools are covered on Page 18, while the use of lasers in the shop is considered on Page 54. Recent environmental regulations are changing what’s available in the wood components marketplace, beginning on Page 48.

I’d also like to draw your attention to Jerry Hund’s Pro Shop column on Page 30. Hund is a shop teacher, about to retire, who has something to say about the need to revive vocational training. It’s first-read material.

And final preparations have been made for our 2017 editorial calendar. Highlights include:

January

Cabinet hardware trends

Spindle repair and service

Sign-making tools

February

CNC for larger shops

Assembly equipment

Tools for trim carpenter and installers

March

New finishes

Desktop CNCs

Table saw trends

April

Joinery options

CNC tooling

Controlling dust, spray and fumes

May

CNC software

Edgebanding

Finishing equipment

June

Outsourcing

Hidden fasteners

Jigs and cutting guides

July

Smartphone apps

Aggregate heads

Woodworking education

August

Sanding machinery

Work-holding for CNC

Adhesives

September

AWFS post-show report

Prefinished panels

Laser cutting and engraving

October

Finish nailers

CNC for small shops

Business software

November

Cabinet and furniture components

CNC turning

Hand-held sanding

December

Wood market review

Fire suppression/avoidance

Compressors and pneumatic tools

This article originally appeared in the November 2016 issue.