Business Briefs: Channellock Forges Ahead
Fiercely made in Meadville for 130 years.
Few American manufacturing firms can wear their heritage as proudly as Channellock, Inc. In 2011, when Channellock celebrated 125 years in business, it produced a book to commemorate the event. The first page reads, “When we started making pliers, the Wright brothers hadn’t even started making airplanes.”
As if that statement isn’t evocative enough, consider the fact that when Channellock was launched in 1886, the United States itself was just 110 years old. Channellock has not only grown with the United States, it has literally helped build our nation.
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George B. DeArment made his first tools in the winter of 1886. The blacksmith spent the winter making tools, then started off in the spring following the railroad and sold them town-by-town from a horse and wagon. When the tools were all sold, he sold the horse and wagon, rode the train home and started all over.
Today, Channellock is in its fifth generation of family leadership and employs 375 people in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Although it now occupies two plants in Meadville, totaling 230,000 square feet of manufacturing, shipping and office space, one of them has been Channellock’s home since 1923. Some of the building’s original features, including areas of end-grain wood block flooring, are still visible today.
In 1933, the company, then called the Champion DeArment Tool Co., introduced its first tongue-and-groove pliers, which were named Channellock. The tool and its name were patented in 1935. By 1963, the name was so synonymous with pliers in the minds of contractors that the company officially changed its name to Channellock, Inc.
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“For me, the most gratifying part of being a part of Channellock is understanding how much effort, energy and know-how it takes to make the tools that we make." — Bill DeArment, CEO/Chairman of the Board, Channellock |
Forging ahead
In 1980, William S. DeArment became the family’s fourth generation to helm the company. Under his leadership, more innovations followed, such as the PermaLock fastener for Channellock pliers, and the company continued to grow. The company’s product lines have grown to include more than 100 types and sizes of pliers and hand tools.
“For me, the most gratifying part of being a part of Channellock is understanding how much effort, energy and know-how it takes to make the tools that we make — and being able to see our amazing employees deliver,” William says. ”Without our people, there would be no pliers.”
After more than 45 years with the company, the last 35 of them as president and CEO, William announced his transition to CEO and chairman of the board of directors just this year. Jonathan DeArment, William’s oldest son, was named president and COO on October 1, 2014.
Ryan DeArment, Jonathan’s younger brother, is vice president of sales and marketing and serves on the company’s board of directors.
“Over the last few years as vice president of manufacturing and engineering, Jon has demonstrated the type of leadership capability that I believe will move Channellock forward,” William said. “By continuously improving our initiatives and processes, Jon will position the company to become a world-class operation in a highly competitive, global business environment.”
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“I have always believed that great companies are made from great people, and our workforce is our greatest asset" — Jon DeArment, president and COO, Channellock |
“It is an honor to be appointed president of our family’s business,” Jonathan said. “I have always believed that great companies are made from great people, and our workforce is our greatest asset. Without all of our 375 associates, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
Channellock’s recent E Series pliers and updated Linemen’s pliers exemplify the company’s product development philosophy.
“We don’t waste time constantly trying to design the latest gizmo or gadget to add to pliers,” explained Ryan DeArment. “When we introduce a new product or update an existing one, we make sure it’s an actual improvement over the existing offerings. The result is that one of the best aspects about Channellock tools is dependability."
"Each Channellock tool delivers category-leading performance and is designed and manufactured to do so for its entire life.”
One only has to look at the company’s most recent innovation, high-leverage technology, for an example.
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“When we introduce a new product or update an existing one, we make sure it’s an actual improvement over the existing offerings." — Ryan DeArment, vice president of sales and marketing, Channellock |
“We call it Xtreme Leverage Technology, or XLT,” Ryan said. “With XLT, we’ve positioned the plier rivet closer to the plier head, achieving up to 40 percent less force needed to make clean, accurate cuts compared to other pliers in the market. XLT is currently incorporated into our updated high-leverage linemen’s pliers and E Series plier line.”
The company’s slogan, “Fiercely Made in Meadville, PA,” stands as a testament to the company’s heritage and steel-forged commitment to manufacturing in America.
Channellock features its own employees in its advertising and highlights its historic plant, which today mixes traditional forging methods with state of the art computer controlled machinery.
Every Channellock plier begins its life as North America-made 1080 steel, which is the starting point of the famed Channellock Blue pliers, an enduring emblem of quality, fiercely made in America since 1886. Learn more at www.Channellock.com. CS
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