Apex Tool Group
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hand tools, power tools |
| Predecessor | Cooper Tools, Danaher's Tools and Components division |
| Fate | Acquired by Bain Capital in October 2012 |
| Headquarters | Sparks, Maryland , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (including United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, China, South America) |
| Products | Hand tools, power tools |
| Owner | Bain Capital |
Apex Tool Group is a U.S.-based provider specializing in hand tools and power tools. It originated as a joint enterprise between Cooper Industries and Danaher, combining Cooper Tools with Danaher's Tools and Components division. In October 2012, Bain Capital acquired Apex from Danaher and Cooper for an estimated $1.6 billion. The company’s headquarters are located in Sparks, Maryland, and it operates more than 20 manufacturing facilities globally, including sites in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, China, and South America.
Hand tool brands
- Allen – Hex keys
- Armstrong Tools – Industrial-grade hand tools
- Atkins – Hacksaws
- Belzer – Mechanic-focused hand tools
- Campbell – Chains and clamps, recognized with the "Member's Choice" award at the Do It Best Fall Market for chain accessories
- Caulkmaster – Pneumatic caulking guns
- Collins – Machetes, axes, and shovels
- Crescent – Sets and general hand tools; honored with the 2006 Breakthrough Award by Popular Mechanics; acquired by Cooper in 1968
- Delta – Tool storage boxes
- Erem – Precision pliers
- GearWrench – Ratcheting wrenches along with other hand tools
- H.K. Porter – Cable and bolt cutters
- Iseli – Precisely matched components
- Jacob's Chuck – Drill chucks
- JOBOX – Storage solutions for trucks and worksites
- K-D Tools – Specialty and mechanic’s hand tools
- K&F – Files and rasps
- Kahnetics – Dispensing equipment
- Lufkin – Measuring instruments such as tapes, gauges, calipers, and micrometers; Cooper’s initial hand tool acquisition in 1967
- Mayle – Mechanic’s hand tools
- Nicholson – Files, rasps, and saws; brought into Cooper's portfolio in 1972
- Plumb – Striking tools including hammers, chisels, and axes; purchased by Cooper in 1980
- SATA – Mechanic’s hand tools
- Spline Gauges – Gauges
- Weller – Soldering equipment; acquired by Cooper in 1970
- Wire-wrap – Electrical connection tools
- Wiss – Snips and scissors; integrated into Cooper in 1976
- Xcelite – Electronics-focused tools like screwdrivers and pliers; acquired by Cooper in 1973
Beginning in 2018, Apex streamlined its worldwide hand tool offerings to concentrate on three primary brands: Crescent, GearWrench, and SATA.
Power tool brands
The Power Tool Division of Apex Tool Group is based in Lexington, South Carolina and includes these principal brands:
- APEX Assembly & Fabrication Tools – Impact sockets, bits, and universal joints for production use
- Buckeye – Material embossing solutions
- Cleco – Assembly tooling
- Cooper Automation – Automated fastening technology
- DGD – Automated system providers
- Dotco – Material removal power tools
- Geta
- Master Power – Industrial pneumatic tools
- Metronix – Servo motors, drivers, and speed controllers
- Rotor – Assembly machinery
- Utica – Tools for torque measurement and control