Gray Tools
 | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | Toronto, Ontario, Canada (September 12, 1912) |
| Founder(s) | Alex Gray |
| Headquarters | Brampton, Ontario[1], Canada |
| Number of locations | 2 |
| Key people | |
| Products |
|
| Employees | 100 (2011) |
| Divisions | Dynamic Tools |
| Website | www.graytools.com |
| References: [2] | |
Gray Tools is a Canadian professional tool company based in Brampton, Ontario. Founded in 1912 by Alex Gray, Gray Tools is Canada's only professional tool manufacturing company, with 4000 industrial products available.[2][3]
History
Gray Tools Canada was founded in 1912 by Alex Gray.[4] Gray started as a machinery equipment supplier. As the automobile industry was starting up, Gray began making automobile manufacturing tools and tool kits specific to the automobile companies in nearby Detroit. In May 2012, President and owner Alex Gray III sold the company to Garry Nuttall[5] and Frank Dominguez. Alex Gray III remains with the company as chairman.[6]
Today
Most of Gray's hardline (sockets, ratchets, wrenches) are made in Canada, while most of their pliers are sourced from Germany and USA. The rest of their catalog is filled with products made in Taiwan and elsewhere in Asia.
All the Canadian manufacturing is done in Brampton, Ontario[7] and warehousing is located at the Brampton, Ontario location and in Edmonton, Alberta.[8] In the industrial sector, Gray Tools is assisting the industry with custom tooling for the different fields in demand of custom made tools. The main consumer of custom tools is the mining industry in Canada. With most of the custom tool orders coming from mines that may make their own tools by misusing tools or welding tools together. Recently Gray Tools has produced a medium price point line of tools called Dynamic. The Dynamic line of tools are manufactured off shore in China aimed at the consumer market.[9]
Products
The main focus at Gray tools is the professional hand tool line with 4000 products available. Tool storage and organization accompanies the main hand tool lines with rolling and non-rolling shop cabinets. For the consumer, cheaper offshore tools sold as Dynamic are made to compete with the middle range tool marketplace.[4]
Availability
Up until the 1990’s the Gray Tools "Maple Leaf" line of tools were available at nationwide chain stores including Canadian Tire and Home Hardware. The items previously available through Canadian Tire and Home Hardware had a rougher finish than the full polished, professional versions. The consumer versions of the tools were branded as the Maple Leaf line of tools with a stamped maple leaf on them. Due to less grinding and polishing a lower production cost and faster turnout was achieved, in which savings were passed on to the consumer.
Today Gray Tools are much harder to come across for the consumer. Tool stores and industrial distributors will order in Gray Tools but available stock may be limited. On the Gray Tools website, the 100th anniversary tools can be ordered online.
100 Years
Gray Tools celebrated its 100th birthday by making a large donation of tools and equipment to local schools and by initiating the Gray Tools Canada Highest Standard Achievement Award, presented to a student with exceptional success in vocational education.[7][5][10]
References
- ↑ "Gray Tools Canada Inc Company Information".
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Canadian Company Capabilities: Gray Tools Canada Inc.".. Industry Canada web site.
- ↑ "Pass the Wrench".
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bitti, Mary Theresa. Video: Gray Tools twists what it means to go offshore. Financial Post, 12 December 2003.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Gray Tools launches achievement award. Woodworking.
- ↑ "Larter takes Gray Tools into the next century".
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Gray Tools brightens school programs. Brampton Guardian, 6 March 2013.
- ↑ Treble, Patricia. Tool geeks only have eyes for Grays. McLean's magazine, 29 September 2012.
- ↑ "Interview with Gray Tools at 2013 NHES".
- ↑ [http://www.snapcaledononline.com/index.php?option=com_sngevents&id[]=428550 "Gray Tools Celebrates 100 Years By Giving Back."]. SNAP Caledon,. August 2012.