Last week, as I was getting ready to leave for the International Builder's Show, I got a tweet on my phone from a friend and colleague of mine, Bryan Wright, with a link to an article he'd written for
toolboxbuzz.com about Black & Decker selling Delta Woodworking Machinery. To read his interesting and informative article, click this
link. As we all arrived at the show, the lunch table talk turned consistently to this subject, and other writers, editors, and tool guys and gals starting asking the questions, "Will they leave Jackson, TN?", "What will happen to the new Unisaw that they recently launched?", "Will they still concentrate on woodworking tools?", and so on and so on... Well, just a week later, we have the answer to some of these questions.
In a press release, Delta's New PR Agent made the following statement:
(Anderson, SC, January 18, 2011) – Chang Type Industrial Co. Ltd., a Taiwan-based manufacturing company, has agreed to purchase the Delta brand of woodworking equipment and machinery from Stanley Black & Decker. The deal is expected to close on February 4, 2011.
The new, independent company, Delta Power Equipment Corporation, will be based in Anderson County, South Carolina and led by Bryan Whiffen, who has been named President & Chief Executive Officer. Norm MacDonald has also joined the company as an Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer. Both Whiffen and MacDonald have years of experience in the power tool industry, and have been responsible for manufacturing and marketing such brands as Ryobi, Homelite, Milwaukee and Ridgid.
The new Delta company will continue to provide a complete line of professional woodworking equipment and machinery, and will continue to build the world-class Unisaw, as well as the Biesemeyer® accessories, in the United States. Plans are to move the manufacturing equipment from Jackson, Tennessee to the company’s facility in Anderson.
Once fully operational, the Anderson facility will include manufacturing, R&D, engineering, sales and administrative functions.
“We are pleased to be able to say that the Unisaw will continue to be made in the USA,” said Whiffen. “We are also excited for this opportunity to invest in the great Delta brand so that we can bring high quality, innovative woodworking equipment to Delta’s loyal customers.
Delta Power Equipment Corp. is working to ensure that the fine sales and service that Delta dealers and woodworkers have come to expect will continue.
“Stanley Black & Decker has been very supportive of this sale and have agreed to help us make the transition as seamless as possible for our dealers and our customers,” added Whiffen.
Customers and dealers can continue to obtain information on sales and service for Delta woodworking equipment at www.deltamachinery.com.
So, some of our questions have been answered... As a Tennessean, I'm sad to see the business move to South Carolina, but the Anderson, SC area has been synonymous with the tool manufacturing industry, and I am glad that the Unisaw will still be made in the USA. In reality, the Delta brand was getting lost in the many brands that Stanley Black & Decker has under it's umbrella (Stanley, Bostitch, Black & Decker, Dewalt, and Porter Cable to name a few), so maybe this change will be for the better. Hopefully, we'll see new innovations very soon, and can bring you the latest reviews on the NEW line of Delta Woodworking tools. We'll keep our eyes and ears open, so keep checking back for more updates!
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