chevron north america power tools suppliers

Delivering the power of gas/petrol without the noise, fuss and fumes, EGO outdoor power equipment revolutionized the outdoor power equipment industry and continues to deliver innovative solutions for our markets in North America, Europe and Australia. Products including riding mower, lawn mowers and handheld products, such as our hedge trimmers, chainsaws and blowers.

Have you heard of Chervon?  No, not Chevron, the gas company, Chervon the tool company?  My guess is probably not.  I have to admit, while I had heard of them in the past, I really didn’t know much about them.  Yes, Chervon is a power tool manufacturing company, but there is so much more to them.  We had a chance to visit one of their manufacturing facilities in China last year and ended up learning a ton about them, so I just wanted to share this with you so if you see certain brands around, you will have a little more background about them.  As an FYI, while they did pay for our trip, they didn’t pay us to write an article.  In fact, when they offered for us to visit them, they said they really didn’t care if we covered them at all.  The trip was just so we are more familiar with them. So I figured why should I have all the knowledge, so I decided to write up a quick article and share with you also.

Peter took the time to speak with us and tell us his story.  While the point of this article is to inform you of Chervon, I also want to talk a little bit about his background.  He grew up poor in China.  As with our society, you pretty much stay in the social class you are born in. Peter wanted something different, so that’s when he decided to attend a university and do something more.  After college he started the business from two hotel rooms with two other people and today has created a global brand called Chervon.  For him, it wasn’t business as usual.  It wasn’t about just creating a product, it was about creating a quality product.  He did things that were unheard of in China.  In the past, it was just about having machines running and creating products.  Again, he wanted quality products.  He was one of the first to actually create a testing facility to make sure the products were quality. After seeing first hand what they do and how they do it, I can say they have succeeded in creating quality products.  We saw how they test and implement new tools and it’s amazing.

In 2000, they started creating their own brand of tools and in 2014, they introduced a new line of Outdoor Power Equipment called EGO.  EGO has really taken OPE by storm.  They were the first to really produce a battery-powered OPE that performed. While they weren’t the first to market, they were the first that actually gave gas OPE a run for their money.  As I said, quality is very important to them and we saw that first hand.  It was amazing to see all the testing that went into every product.  Not only did they test each individual product after it was assembled, but they would test all the parts that went into making the final product.  It was amazing to see how clean the facilities were and how organized they were. Now I can’t talk about all the brands they work with or design things for, but let me tell you, it’s a ton.

A Chinese power tool manufacturer is moving its North American headquarters to Naperville from Michigan, taking over an empty new building developed for a Swedish manufacturer.

The company plans to bring more than 200 jobs over the next three years. It will relocate 75 workers from Grand Rapids and the Chicago suburbs of South Barrington and Geneva. Also moving there will be 37 employees who were added when Chervon completed its acquisition of Mount Prospect-based Robert Bosch Tools’ Skil and Skilsaw brands on January 1. The company also plans to hire 25 new workers this year and another 75 over the next three years.

Chervon makes power tools such as saws and drills, many of which are battery powered, with brand names including Ego and Hammerhead. It also makes outdoor equipment such as lawn mowers, blowers, trimmers and chain saws. Last year, Chervon bought the Skil tool brand from Mount Prospect-based Robert Bosch Tool.

There’s a lot of confusion surrounding any manufacturing in China, and where there’s confusion, there are also misconceptions. To clear up some of this, we wanted to understand a bit more about the history of Chervon. Chervon, based on China with facilities worldwide, manufactures power tools internationally. They have manufacturing plants in Nanjing, China as well as Stuttgart, Germany. They also have sales and marketing offices all over the US, Europe, Australia, Germany, and China.

We also got a much more personal look at a company that’s trying to do it right—both in terms of process and also the environment. That’s a lot to swallow, and so we’ve got more than one article on the company and its processes. This article introduces this China-based international power tool manufacturer and what we’ve come to understand about them.

Asking the question “Why can’t we do it this way?”, describes a lot of the history of Chervon. By doing this repeatedly, the company was able to focus on doing the work of power tool manufacturing better and more efficiently. As China began building itself up from almost nothing, Chervon paralleled this in its own development. They grew little by little as a trading business (buying and selling components and products).

Chervon decided to do its own testing. They made investments into the tools needed to test their products. That led to them being able to learn how to locate problems, but they still had to rely on the factories to solve them. Shortly after this, they began hiring teams of people to focus on R&D and to design specific machines.

By 2000, the company made many of their own products and did it better than many other manufacturers. Chervon now holds a spot as one of the top 10 manufacturers of power tools in the world. Their products are sold by over 30,000 stores in 65 countries. Chervon manufactures products for several well-known manufacturing brands as well as their own house brands: EGO and Devon. Not bad for a company that’s only been around since 1993.

Throughout the history of Chervon, the company manufactured plenty of OEM products. They also do quite a lot of ODM manufacturing as well. That includes manufacturing for popular brands sold in Lowe’s, The Home Depot, and Menards. Simultaneously, Chervon is keen to make their own brands. They have a particular interest and excitement about selling their own products to Chinese people in their own country. This actually brought about the Devon line of tools.

The level of manufacturing Chervon engages in is commensurate with Bosch, Makita, and Milwaukee. In fact, they’ve made tools for some of those companies at one point or another as an OEM manufacturer. Tool manufacturing in China is a 1.2 billion dollar market. The OPE (outdoor power equipment) sector is currently dominated by the European and American markets.

This is where Chervon has really stepped up its game in the past few years. The company has quickly gained recognition in business-to-business markets. Now, it has turned its sights on name recognition in the consumer market. Three years ago, Chervon acquired Flex, a German power tool company. In 2014 they debuted the EGO 56V cordless OPE line of tools and a strong move into outdoor power equipment.

The EGO name and brand stands for the move into OPE which is driven by engines and connecting those to applications for lawnmowers and handheld OPE power tools. As Chervon looked for growth areas, they recognized OPE had different manufactures. They weren’t making use of some of the strengths and advantages found in the cordless power tool industry. When Chervon, the largest ODM manufacturer in the power tool industry took a look at the OPE market, they saw a great opportunity. More than just the financial and manufacturing opportunities, Chervon saw an opportunity to bring about some of the environmental advantages cordless OPE technology would offer to the world in general.

The EGO brand was really Chervon’s big move into a self-branded suite of power tools. Other companies express an interest in replacing corded tools. Peter Pan, Chervon president, truly believes lithium-ion can, one day, almost entirely replace the gasoline engine. Based on how well the EGO Powerload 15-inch string trimmer and EGO Select Cut lawnmower are doing, it looks like tools once thought to require gas are well on their way to becoming battery-driven mainstream solutions.

CHERVON started as an international trading company in 1993. Through closely partnering, cooperating and relentless pursuing of distinguished service, CHERVON earned its excellent reputation and built a solid foundation for its future development in the worldwide power tool industry.

In year 1999, CHERVON started to setup our own manufacturing system and became a power tool manufacturer. Afterwards, CHERVON experienced the fastest growth in history and very soon became one of the biggest power tool manufacturers in China.

Starting from 2006, CHERVON has made a very important strategic decision of vertical integration of CHERVON Industry and invested heavily on the core parts manufacture and production system, which further largely improved our product quality level and helped CHERVON not only became the largest power tools manufacturer but also the highest quality manufacturer in China. The R&D Center is established in 2007, further enhanced our capability of research and innovation.

Products produced by CHERVON fall into five categories: corded portable power tools, cordless portable power tools, bench-top power tools, garden power tools and electronic/laser tools. CHERVON now has the resources and abilities to offer excellent complete solutions to the most demanding customers around the world.

CHERVON introduced DEVON brand industrial power tools for the Chinese domestic market in 2007. DEVON earned immediate recognition among the industrial users for its high efficiency and high quality products and excellent customer services and soon became one of the top four power tool brands in China.

At Chervon, we are developing better tools for a better world. Professionals and homeowners rely on our products to get the job done. Through our brands such as FLEX, EGO, SKIL, and KOBALT, we design and manufacture a wide range of power tools and outdoor power equipment. We are a fast-growing company that is constantly expanding our portfolio and aim to be one of the top 5 manufacturers of power tools in the world.

We are constantly looking for ways to innovate and improve. We know that closely understanding our users is the best way to develop products that deliver true solutions. Through user research, we strive to better understand what our users need to produce the next generation of power tool products.

To support our growing team and enhance our capabilities in user-focused design, we are looking for an experienced User Experience Researcher with great communication and people skills to drive user research of our power tool products. You will speak with our customers, generate insights, and give direct input to the product development teams. Working alongside product managers, industrial designers, and engineers, you will drive the user research activities that ultimately lead to new and improved products in the marketplace. Due to the nature of collaboration with team members on a regular basis, this role is located in Naperville, IL. This is an active role that spends a lot of time away from the desk, getting out there to use power tools and speak with users.

Develop hands-on expertise in the power tool product space by using and studying our products, competitor products, market trends, and primary research

Keeping at it, showing full commitment and so celebrating success time and again. That"s what drives not only our customers but also us every day. This enables us to provide professional tradesmen and retailers with precisely the power tools and services that they enjoy using, that instil in them a passion for their work, and that deliver results that they are proud of.

Ever wonder who owns Craftsman tools? How about Milwaukee, Mac Tools, or Skilsaw? It may surprise you to know that only a handful of power tool companies own your favorite tools. That’s right, most tool brands fall under a parent company that also controls additional power tool manufacturers and brands. We break it down for you…with charts!

Stanley Black & Decker (SBD) turned heads when it bought Craftsman Tools in 2017 after Sears closed 235 stores in 2015. The company owns many brands, however. Dating back to 1843 with a man named Frederick Stanley, the company quickly formed its roots. In 2010, it merged with another company that started in 1910—Black and Decker. As of 2017, the company maintains a $7.5 billion business in tools & storage alone. SBD brands include:

As it turns out, TTI owns Milwaukee Tool and a host of other power tool companies. It also licenses the RIDGID* and RYOBI names for cordless power tools (Emerson owns RIDGID). TTI stands for Techtronic Industries Company Limited (TTI Group). Founded in 1985 in Hong Kong, TTI sells tools all over the world and employs over 22,000 people. TTI is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and had worldwide annual sales of over US$6 billion in 2017. Their brands include:

Not anymore. In 2017, Chervon acquired Skil Power Tool Brands from Bosch. This added two big brands to their portfolio: Skilsaw and Skil. Chervon started its power tools business unit back in 1993, launching the EGO brand of cordless outdoor power equipment in 2013. In 2018, the company rebranded Skil (including the logo) and announced new 12V and 20V cordless power tools. Today, Chervon tools and products are sold by more than 30,000 stores in 65 countries. Chervon manufactures the following brands:

First off, Bosch Tools only represents part of the Bosch Group which includes Robert Bosch GmbH and over 350 subsidiaries across 60+ countries. In 2003 Robert Bosch GmbH combined its North American power tool and power tool accessory divisions into one organization, forming Robert Bosch Tool Corporation in North America. The company designs, manufactures, and sells power tools, rotary and oscillating tools, power tool accessories, laser and optical leveling devices, and range finding tools all over the globe. Bosch also manufactures the following tools:

Husqvarna Group manufactures chainsaws, trimmers, robotic lawn mowers, and ride-on lawnmowers. The Group also makes garden watering products as well as cutting equipment and diamond tools for the construction and stone industries. They have a presence in more than 100 countries and employ over 13,000 people in 40 countries. Husqvarna Group also owns the following tools:

JPW owns several large brands including Jet, Powermatic, and Wilton. The company has its headquarters in La Vergne, Tennessee but also has operations in Switzerland, Germany, Russia, France, Taiwan, and China. They sell products in 20 countries throughout the world. Their tool brands include:

Apex Tool Group has its headquarters in Sparks, Maryland, USA and employs more than 8,000 workers. They operate in more than 30 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Annual revenues exceed $1.4 billion on the sale of hand tools, power tools, and electronics tools for the industrial, automotive, aerospace, and construction/DIY markets. The following tool manufacturers belong to APEX Tool Group:

Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), Emerson controls power tool manufacturers and products in the industrial, commercial, and residential markets. While TTI licenses the RIDGID name for power tools, Emerson controls the following tools (among others):

Based in Wendlingen, Germany, TTS or Tooltechnic Systems owns Festool (electric and pneumatic tools), Tanos (not to be confused with the guy who destroyed half the universe), Narex, Sawstop, and now Shaper Tools. TTS is truly behind the scenes as it doesn’t really have appear to have its own website (at least not in the US) or an official logo. In bullet point format, its subsidiaries include:

Yamabiko Corporation started in 2008 and has three core business segments: outdoor power equipment, agricultural machinery, and industrial machinery. Based in Japan, Yamabiko is a global company with major markets in Japan and North America, and a growing presence in Europe and Asia. Tool brands include:

Founded over 100 years ago, ITW manufactures specialized industrial equipment, power tools, hand tools, and consumables. ITW operates in 57 countries with over 50,000 employees. They also have more than 17,000 granted and pending patents. ITW brands include:

Who makes Harbor Freight Power Tools remains a mystery—possibly because they may have switched suppliers in the past. Some have suggested LuTool, a company established in June 1999 supplies their power tools. LuTool has headquarters in Ningbo, China, and a North American office in Ontario, Canada. LuTool is owned by Gemay (Ningbo Gemay Industry Co Ltd) which also has its headquarters in Ningbo, China.

Not to be outdone, others have suggested Powerplus as the manufacturer behind the Drill Master, Warrior, Bauer, and Hercules lines of tools. Powerplus is a division of European company Varo with headquarters in Belgium.

Hilti and Makita are just Hilti and Makita. Hilti doesn’t have any subsidiary companies underneath them or a parent company over them. Makita, on the other hand, did acquire the Dolmar brand, bolstering its already-impressive line of outdoor power equipment tools. It’s pretty impressive the market share each of these companies enjoys!

We can’t leave out the popular house brands available at those big-box retailers and home improvement warehouses. Note that many (if not all) of the brands below represent ODM or OEM solutions. That means the tools get specified by the store but executed by another manufacturer. In other scenarios, tools are “offered” to a retailer and then manufactured in bulk upon acceptance of a buyer’s order.

While you may have thought you knew who owned all those power tool manufacturers, consolidation has changed the playing field. By far, Stanley Black & Decker demonstrates the largest buyout pattern. Companies like TTI, Apex Tool Group, ITW, and others also enjoy adding to their numbers.

SKIL Power Tools is a brand of electric power tools and accessories located in Naperville, Illinois, United States.Chervon, a company based in Nanjing, China.

The company now focuses more on the do-it-yourself consumer, but at one time made professional construction-grade power tools, which are now being sold under their subsidiary, SKILSAW.

Skil products include circular saws, cordless drill/drivers, cordless screw drivers, cordless tackers, cordless sealant guns, belt sanders, random orbit sanders, multi-sanders, angle grinders, hammers, drills, mixers, jig saws, lasers and measuring tools, reciprocating saws, routers, and planers.

In the early 1920s, Edmond Michel, a French immigrant in New Orleans with a penchant for tinkering and inventing, watched a group of farmers hack away at sugar cane with large machetes. After observing the painstaking labor the workers went through, Michel began experimenting with how to mechanize the Machete. In 1923, Michel created a motorized machete, which had a 6-inch (150 mm) saw-blade mounted on carved wooden frame and powered with a motor taken from a malted milk mixer – the first electric handsaw.

After forming the company, six production models were made at $1000 each. Michel went to the new Atlantic City"s Million Dollar Boardwalk to demonstrate the new tools, where the first portable electric saw was purchased for $160 by the Piers’ developer.

In the 1950s, the company changed its name to the Skil Corporation. Skilsaw remained the brand name used for the company"s products. European sales followed a few years later, by which time Skil had entered the consumer market. By 1959 it had a full and successful range of DIY tools.

Skil broke into the Australian market in the early 1960s, when they acquired the Australian company Sher Powertools, which was a good quality tool, and sold at a premium price intended to compete with the European brands of Wolf and Desoutter which were well established fine quality brands of tools at the time.

In the 1970s onwards, Skil constructed a network of factories, service centers and sales offices all around the world, its name becoming synonymous with power tools. Skil still has its European head office in Breda. All manufacturing of power tools for the European market is outsourced, mainly in China. Pre-development, Logisitics, Sales, Marketing and Finance are among the activities of the Dutch head office.

Emerson Electric acquired Skil Corporation on March 23, 1979. Under new ownership, Skil continued to grow. In late 1979, Skil redesigned many of its tools to have heavy-duty plastic, double-insulated housings. In 1982, the company embarked on a program to become the most successful power tool company in America by investing heavily in new manufacturing and quality-control systems.

On August 23, 2016, Chervon (HK) Ltd., a power tool manufacturer based in Nanjing, China, agreed to acquire the SKIL brand from the Bosch Power Tools division, which gave them control over the SKIL businesses in both North America and the European market.

“Skil, the power tool company.” Chilton’s Hardware Age. May 1988: page 58 (Accessed online through GaleGroup.com on August 2, 2012 (Subscription required))

You may have read Rob Johnstone’s eZine editorial a couple of issues ago announcing that SKIL® Power Tools will soon be owned by Chervon. Maybe then you wondered, who’s Chervon?

It’s a good question. All of us avid power tools users know the big brand names and their colors — yellow, orange, green, blue, teal, red, gray, black and green. We toss their names around with our shop buddies, on the jobsite and in online forums as we discuss who makes “the best this or that” for all manner of tools these days. And that can be lively debate almost all the time, because power tools are constantly changing and improving, especially on the cordless tool front.

Chervon designs and manufactures a wide range of tools, including handheld portable power tools, stationary benchtop tools, laser and electronic tools, cordless lawn and garden equipment and accessories. In fact, it’s one of the top 10 largest tool companies in the world, with offices in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. And yet, I’ll bet most of us don’t know Chervon by name.

Aside from cordless tools, Chervon builds professional grade miter saws, band saws and tile saws for many of the largest professional and private label brands in the marketplace, Turoff says.

“OEMs take plans from another brand and build to order, and it’s how our business started,” Turoff explains. As one example, Chervon has been servicing Bosch Power Tools for 14 years as one of its OEMs. The two companies also work collaboratively: in 2007, Bosch and Chervon formed a joint venture called Bovon Power Tools that develops power tools for the Asian market.

Over the years, Chervon has acquired other power tool labels as well, including the Flex and Calmdura brands in Europe. Soon, SKIL Power Tools will be added to this portfolio.