Irwin Tools, makers of Vice-Grip pliers announced today that they will be shutting down their DeWitt, Nebraska production facility and moving production to China. Vice-Grip pliers were invented by a Nebraskan and first manufactured in DeWitt, Nebraska in the 1920's and the DeWitt plant has been in continuous operation ever since. DeWitt, with a population of about 600, and the surrounding area provides about 330 employees to the DeWitt plant. The company sites deteriorating market share and increasing manufacturing costs (Vice-Grips cost more than other locking pliers manufactured offshore) as the driving force behind the move. For the company to even survive, they say, they have to move production offshore.

Now, before anyone goes into a tirade about how China is so awful, first ask yourself how many pairs of Vice-Grips you've bought lately. When the time came to get a pair of locking pliers did you buy "Made-In-The-USA" Vice-Grip pliers or did you buy the cheap knockoff (probably) made overseas? Personally, I own six pairs of Vice-Grip pliers and at least a dozen of their great bar clamps (for woodworking). Even Harbor Freight and Sears stores sell official Vice-Grip pliers, so they aren't hard to find.

I do buy Vice Grips. I have 3 pair, although I'll admit I like the Craftsman release better.

I admit I have some of the China variety but in my defence I use them for welding and they have a short life span. To bad to see them go, I have several pairs that I use when not welding and they are much better quality by far.

All the locking pliers in my tool box are Vise-Grip, including the duck bill ones I have for sheetmetal.

Up til now I would only buy real Vice Grips (I have 4 pairs, maybe more if I can ever find them all.) Much like the Levi's that I would only buy until the went over seas. If I'm going to get something that is china made, I refuse to pay USA Made prices.

I have only bought the vice-grip brand, even paid 5.50 each for those cheapie plastic clamps. Guess I can start shopping around now. Although, there should be enough of the USA ones left around here for awhile.

It would be interesting to see what will happen with the price, and to make a quality comparison.

I have about 10 pair in total. Thats too bad, i will have to go out an buy some more before their quality goes in the dumper

It's a shame that too many people just want "cheap" and not enough want "quality".

Every time I go near the Harbor Garbage store, it's packed with people buying cheap Chinese BS.

Rest assured that eventually, it will not be cheaper to send raw materials to China to be made into finished products which are then imported, and we will begin to see manufacturing here again.

Thats too bad, i will have to go out an buy some more before their quality goes in the dumper

I can see a run on Vice Grips over the next couple weeks.

Rest assured that eventually, it will not be cheaper to send raw materials to China to be made into finished products which are then imported, and we will begin to see manufacturing here again.

Or somebody will finally figure out that a country full of unemployed people don't buy anything, even if it's cheap.

I haven't bought Vise-Grip's before, but I did buy the Craftsman variety. I've bought plenty of Irwin levels, door lock install kit, straight edge, etc. Not all were Made In USA. Most of Irwin's products seemed to have been manufactured in USA. Seemed like they were one of the few holdouts continuing to produce some products in the good old USA.

I try to buy USA made products, but it is VERY hard to find USA products anymore. I guess the only thing we can hope for is China will become too expensive to justify making product there, so companies in the USA will produce here. I personally think these public companies are pressured by the large stockholders and analysts to keep profit and sales growing. Any decline means, it's time to go overseas. True or not, it's a real shame the USA is becoming "service only" and losing the manufacturing jobs. :(

I use Irwin tools quite a bit in my shop, their punches and chisels seemed very high quality, stood up well for me, but I can't fathom getting some Cambodian center punch! I'll have to start making my own. :D

That's too bad Rich. All I have are Vise Grip brand. As for the Chinese. Well they have not been stagnant in the quality improvements. Yeah there are mis-steps but they keep making better and better stuff. If Irwin/Vise Grip pushes for it I doubt most folks will notice any quality change in the pliers. I hate to see stuff leave too. :sad:

I rarely buy Vise Grips, I usually just find them when someone loses them. That said, I rarely use them, either, as I have a vast collection of more appropriate tools to use first. When I do need them, it's usually a last resort. The stuff I work on, the boss throws a fit if he even sees a pair. :yes: Lots of stainless fasteners, Vise Grips tears it up too easy. We did have a guy who used them as a primary tool of choice, though. He was always gettin' yelled at. :D He even had the Vise Grip Leatherman tool. :clonk:

I will have to run out and buy some more of their welding clamps, though. I have a few pairs of them, both solid end and swivel. I have some off brands too, they don't even compare. :noway:

That is a shame. I try to always buy American but it seens to be getting harder and harder to find anymore.:mad:

Rest assured that eventually, it will not be cheaper to send raw materials to China to be made into finished products which are then imported, and we will begin to see manufacturing here again.

Maybe. But will any of us be alive when it happens? :confused: :sad:

:sad:

I own a variety of locking pliers but this breaks my heart. I asked for a full set of Vise Grip pliers from my parents one christmas about 10 years ago. They ended up getting my the cheapest, bottom of the barrel, set they could find. The sears "companion" house brand pliers. The absolute worst brand of tools I have ever used. If they were made in China, then even these are a lower POS quality then China made. I still get pissed when I think of that. Getting no gift at all would have been better then insulting me with those. I still have them but they are only good for clamping for welding jobs at best, forget trying to turn a bolt with them.:mad:

Our local Mac tools guy was throwing out a great deal of locking pliers. 7 bucks got you any size pliers you wanted. He had a huge box full of them and I dumped like 175 bucks just on locking pliers for clamping welding jobs and whatever else I need. Im sure they are not made in the USA but I cant honestly tell.

I have had the best luck with the Vice Grip brand and it was nice to see something is still made in the USA. I honestly believe its our countrys fault that these companies are driven out of the country in order to survive making thier product.:(

It's a sad day for America, if you ask me. :(

It's a shame that too many people just want "cheap" and not enough want "quality".

Every time I go near the Harbor Garbage store, it's packed with people buying cheap Chinese BS.

Rest assured that eventually, it will not be cheaper to send raw materials to China to be made into finished products which are then imported, and we will begin to see manufacturing here again.

The "problem" with quality, is that you don't have to keep buying them. I've still got several sets of my fathers Vise Grips. I'd have even more if he'd have done a better job of keeping me away from his tool box when I was a kid! :D

This is a sad statement about manufacturing in America. As long as we have free trade this happens in all fields, how many people got upset when RCA moved tv production to Mexico, GM and Ford? It's a shame to see all this leave. As a consumer that buys all variety of items, it doesn't make sense to shop for a higher prioced brand if you don't really need it. Quality is important but a lot of the import tools are good enought the use they get from many of us hobbyists.

I'm not sure what the answer is, but asking consumers to buy something that has a higher cost to support companies that are not economically sound is not the answer. I tend to think import tariffs are a better answer, but that idea doesn't seem like a good answer either. I read once that it is the natural progression of an economy to go from agriculture to manufacturing and then to a service. We are definitely a service economy now.

I read once that it is the natural progression of an economy to go from agriculture to manufacturing and then to a service. We are definitely a service economy now.

The problem is that the next step is the collapse of that economy......

This is a sad statement about manufacturing in America. As long as we have free trade this happens in all fields, how many people got upset when RCA moved tv production to Mexico, GM and Ford? It's a shame to see all this leave. As a consumer that buys all variety of items, it doesn't make sense to shop for a higher priced brand if you don't really need it. Quality is important but a lot of the import tools are good enough the use they get from many of us hobbyists.

What FREE trade? I just paid $18.00 on duty for a $124.00 dollar item from the US which was made in China.

Quality is important statement: Many tools I have were made in China/Japan. Engine host/Engine stand/Mig welder/Grinders/Drills/Miter saw/Tool boxes/Table saw/Many many hand tools... A made in America sticker is only a guaranty of 2 or more times what the product is worth. Because people like you and I invest in these company's looking for a return at the end of the year. The real enemy here is You and I.

I am disgusted at a lot of the junk I see come from over seas. All the economy and job stuff aside, for the most part if it says made in the usa usually it is a quality product. If it says made in china I'm suspect and I will not purchase it unless i do my homework and make sure its a quality product.

If you open my SNAP ON roll away you will find 95% of everything in it is made in the USA. I personally am sick and tired of having to fish around to find stuff that is made well and I feel like tools are one of the few things still left where I can find quality stuff easily. I however will no longer purchase anything that has a craftsman name on it unless its their professional line, their standard line of tools has gone to heck too made in the usa or not

For me its quality first price second especially when it comes to tools, I'm 24 years old and look at them as a life long investment

I am disgusted at a lot of the junk I see come from over seas. All the economy and job stuff aside, for the most part if it says made in the usa usually it is a quality product. If it says made in china I'm suspect and I will not purchase it unless i do my homework and make sure its a quality product.

If you open my SNAP ON roll away you will find 95% of everything in it is made in the USA. I personally am sick and tired of having to fish around to find stuff that is made well and I feel like tools are one of the few things still left where I can find quality stuff easily. I however will no longer purchase anything that has a craftsman name on it unless its their professional line, their standard line of tools has gone to heck too made in the usa or not

For me its quality first price second especially when it comes to tools, I'm 24 years old and look at them as a life long investment

Snap on. Nice stuff. Never found any one yet that didn't complain about the price of Snap on. Or any of those other brands sold by traveling sales men.

The "problem" with quality, is that you don't have to keep buying them.
Exactly! I have three pairs of Vise Grip in my tool box that I have owned for over two decades, in my youth those puppies went to work for me on a daily basis :D.

This is happening all over north America, I just heard the other day that John Deere in Welland Ontario is closing and laying off 100's of employees and relocating in Mexico.:sad:

Originally being from Nebraska, and knowing that the true vice grip pliers are made in Dewitt, I always look for the Dewitt logo on any pair that I purchase. All of my 20 or so pairs are Dewitt's. Boy this is sad, we are sailing out our whole country.

The problem is that the next step is the collapse of that economy...... Yep...you would think the most powerful country in the world would be able to see this coming, don't kid yourself, this is where we are headed, quickly. Greedy people gonna' ruin this great country of ours...all for a buck.

I have three visegrip pliers that are older than my kids the big ones my grandpa bought me in 1966! Then I have various other visegrip brand clamps, about 8 or 10 of them. I set for life!:)
Sad to see another great American company leave. :sad:

It's good to hear that so many of us have real Vice-Grips!

The statement said they need to lower their production costs to remain competitive and to (hopefully) regain marketshare. I would assume this means a lower price for a given tool, but if they are like so many companies who've gone before them, it will mean, in part or in whole, an increased profit margin for the company but not necessarily lower prices.

I see two ugly trends that has ruined manufacturing in this country:

1. The Wal-Mart mentality: Consumers want lower prices and don't consistantly demand quality. A strange contradiction is that those same consumers also want higher wages for themselves while they seem to be oblivious to lower wages or lost jobs of the folks who provide the products they want.

2. Companies strive to make their stockholders happy by consistantly delivering increased profits and growth. After automating the factories, busting the unions and cutting other costs to the bone, the only thing left to keep the profit train running is to lower labor costs by moving offshore.

Personally, I honestly don't see why a company that makes a consistent profit HAS to necessarily grow and expand. What's wrong with just making a good product, making a reasonable profit on that product and continuing to develop your product with a portion of those profits and continuing to do what you do well? When the stock price of the company goes up or down, that doesn't really affect the money inflow and outflow of the company (unless they heavily invest in their own stock which some companies do) so why do they really care what their stock price is? Why?, because the owners/managers of that company stand to profit (via bonuses or stock options) if the stock price goes up even though it is somewhat arbitrary to the success or failure of the company. It all comes down to the personal success of the people in charge moreso than the company itself. We need more than a little realignment in business structures that has less emphasis on the success of the executives and more on the long term and continued success of the company and ALL its employees.

But, in the end, as long as consumers predominently demand "cheap" over "quality" companies will do what they have to do to even survive. China and other countries CAN and DO provide quality products if asked to do so. I just hope that soon the labor sources in these countries will ask to be treated to the same kinds of benefits and wages provided to workers in most more developed economies. That more than anything would do more to level the playing field.

I saw on tv the other day where the wages in china are on the increase and companies are looking to move to veitnam.
I'll say it again "Freedom isn't free and it's not cheap either."

That's what I mean, Rob. Eventually, wages will catch up and there will be nowhere to get labor for 5 cents per hour.

I have only bought Vice Grips but not for a long time. I guess part of the problem is that they ARE GOOD and last a lifetime.

The Chinese crap will wear out long before, needing multiple replacements, nevermind if they hold like a vise or not (and they will not).

That's what I mean, Rob. Eventually, wages will catch up and there will be nowhere to get labor for 5 cents per hour.
they have been exploiting cheap labor from somewhere my entire adult life......:(

well, it may not be in our lifetimes, unfortunately

It's good to hear that so many of us have real Vice-Grips!

The statement said they need to lower their production costs to remain competitive and to (hopefully) regain marketshare. I would assume this means a lower price for a given tool, but if they are like so many companies who've gone before them, it will mean, in part or in whole, an increased profit margin for the company but not necessarily lower prices.

I see two ugly trends that has ruined manufacturing in this country:

1. The Wal-Mart mentality: Consumers want lower prices and don't consistantly demand quality. A strange contradiction is that those same consumers also want higher wages for themselves while they seem to be oblivious to lower wages or lost jobs of the folks who provide the products they want.

2. Companies strive to make their stockholders happy by consistantly delivering increased profits and growth. After automating the factories, busting the unions and cutting other costs to the bone, the only thing left to keep the profit train running is to lower labor costs by moving offshore.

Personally, I honestly don't see why a company that makes a consistent profit HAS to necessarily grow and expand. What's wrong with just making a good product, making a reasonable profit on that product and continuing to develop your product with a portion of those profits and continuing to do what you do well? When the stock price of the company goes up or down, that doesn't really affect the money inflow and outflow of the company (unless they heavily invest in their own stock which some companies do) so why do they really care what their stock price is? Why?, because the owners/managers of that company stand to profit (via bonuses or stock options) if the stock price goes up even though it is somewhat arbitrary to the success or failure of the company. It all comes down to the personal success of the people in charge moreso than the company itself. We need more than a little realignment in business structures that has less emphasis on the success of the executives and more on the long term and continued success of the company and ALL its employees.

But, in the end, as long as consumers predominently demand "cheap" over "quality" companies will do what they have to do to even survive. China and other countries CAN and DO provide quality products if asked to do so. I just hope that soon the labor sources in these countries will ask to be treated to the same kinds of benefits and wages provided to workers in most more developed economies. That more than anything would do more to level the playing field.

X2...:thumbsup:

That's what I mean, Rob. Eventually, wages will catch up and there will be nowhere to get labor for 5 cents per hour.

I think as long as you have totalitarian and communist regimes in the world this will never happen. More than just money and such at stake. Other countries see it as economic warfare (china specifically and chinese officials have outright stated this to be true with their eyes on a very long term goal since they think in length of 100's of years where we think in length of 5 years) so its not just coin....its about knocking America down and stepping into what used to be our role in the world. Economy is just one rung on the ladder.

Wages will never be equal and since wages equate to overhead production is going to follow where the cheapest wages are at the time. Its just going to keep moving around the world and if you notice it always stops in spots where communism is either the primary or underlying govt and the govt has control over the people for employment.

China, Vietnam, Korea......manufacturing is not going to shift to Sweden, UK, etc because of labor laws, kids cannot be "used", govt is more open and the press can report on it, all that jazz. People will say "hell no, i'll just milk the system, get a check and beg for money on the street to get my fix".

Other places its "ah, you get to rot and die then and we're taking your kids to make these soccer balls" to which the reply is usually "What time should I start work?"

Other places its "ah, you get to rot and die then and we're taking your kids to make these soccer balls" to which the reply is usually "What time should I start work?"

yes an its better then starving ......which is the OTHER choice they have :(

the Eliet owners only care about driving down the production costs ..... they don't give a Rats A@@ about the human cost ..

Irwin Tools, makers of Vice-Grip pliers announced today that they will be shutting down their DeWitt, Nebraska production facility and moving production to China. Vice-Grip pliers were invented by a Nebraskan and first manufactured in DeWitt, Nebraska in the 1920's and the DeWitt plant has been in continuous operation ever since. DeWitt, with a population of about 600, and the surrounding area provides about 330 employees to the DeWitt plant. The company sites deteriorating market share and increasing manufacturing costs (Vice-Grips cost more than other locking pliers manufactured offshore) as the driving force behind the move. For the company to even survive, they say, they have to move production offshore.

Now, before anyone goes into a tirade about how China is so awful, first ask yourself how many pairs of Vice-Grips you've bought lately. When the time came to get a pair of locking pliers did you buy "Made-In-The-USA" Vice-Grip pliers or did you buy the cheap knockoff (probably) made overseas? Personally, I own six pairs of Vice-Grip pliers and at least a dozen of their great bar clamps (for woodworking). Even Harbor Freight and Sears stores sell official Vice-Grip pliers, so they aren't hard to find.

This IS exactly why I am running for congress. This makes me sick!!!!!

I probably have a dozen or so, some new, some picked up at yard sales. Different shape jaws including the specialty ones for welding and sheet metal work. I have the first one I bought in the early 70's, still my weapon of choice when you need a firm grip. Same with Channel-lock brand pliers and Cresent brand adjustible wrenches. Cheap tools screw up more things than they fix.

Some one needs to link this to them at their web site.

If you guys think you can make higher quality vise grips here in the states at a price people can afford, you should pool your money and open a factory. Or, you could pool your money, buy a large block of DeWitt stock, take the company over, and keep the manufacturing in Nebraska. Otherwise, all you're doing is griping about what OTHER people do with THEIR MONEY, which really is none of your business.

If you guys think you can make higher quality vise grips here in the states at a price people can afford, you should pool your money and open a factory. Or, you could pool your money, buy a large block of DeWitt stock, take the company over, and keep the manufacturing in Nebraska. Otherwise, all you're doing is griping about what OTHER people do with THEIR MONEY, which really is none of your business.

http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1808/9925604/19552922/314709721.jpg

they have been exploiting cheap labor from somewhere my entire adult life......:(
I have a brother that does a lot of business in China, Hong Kong etc. He has told me that labor rates have more than doubled in the last 12 months alone! Most large companies are actively looking for the next "cheap" labor market! :sad: By the way, I own 6-7 pairs of locking pliers, all Vice Grip but one, somebody gave me that one. It is my "loaner" when somebody comes looking for a pair of pliers. They alway somehow get back in my box. ;)

I have a brother that does a lot of business in China, Hong Kong etc. He has told me that labor rates have more than doubled in the last 12 months alone! Most large companies are actively looking for the next "cheap" labor market! :sad: By the way, I own 6-7 pairs of locking pliers, all Vice Grip but one, somebody gave me that one. It is my "loaner" when somebody comes looking for a pair of pliers. They alway somehow get back in my box. ;)

Don't loan out the Vice-Grips they might not come back!

The other day I was at my shop which is a rental unit in a complex of rental units. A stranger came by asking to borrow a screwdriver. Trying be neighborly I loaned him the first one I grabbed, a Craftsman. He said he'd be right back. Two hours later he finally showed up and said he lost my screwdriver somewhere in his storage unit and offered me $3 to replace it. :rolleyes:

http://pic70.picturetrail.com/VOL1808/9925604/19552922/314709721.jpg

Grow up.

So Rich what is going to happen to the town since half of the people work their.?

IT;s a sad day in Florida because Brad is inside wasting time on his computer instead of out in the garage bolting that pickle bucket down to the floor in his convertible :D

IT;s a sad day in Florida because Brad is inside wasting time on his computer instead of out in the garage bolting that pickle bucket down to the floor in his convertible :DI got your pickle bucket down on the floor, byotch...:D
My car is at the alingment shop now, so whats up with your pickle bucket.

Grow up.
you too

So Rich what is going to happen to the town since half of the people work their.?

I'd guess that the town is pretty much toast. Maybe they will try to find another use for the plant and keep some jobs there, but Irwin plans to close the plant entirely. Not sure about white collar jobs, those will probably move to another of Irwin's locations if they move at all.

Some plants such as this CAN find new uses. For example, my small town used to have a good sized manufacturing plant for National Crane. When the boneheads in charge decided to close the Nebraska plant (even though it had higher productivity, lower cost per production output and substantially higher output quality than the east coast plant they moved the work to) the plant sat empty for a couple of years. Just as I was fearing it would begin to deteriorate into a hellhole it was bought by a local lumber company for use in manufacturing pre-made building trusses. This was a good move as business took off shortly thereafter and now they regularly get trainloads of lumber on a regular basis to keep up with demand (Nebraska hasn't yet felt the building slump as bad as the rest of the country). They continue to do a crisp business there though I don't know if they employ as many people as National Crane did previously.

Mark that one down as a win, but about a year ago the pipe plant across the highway from the lumber company shut down and is still sitting empty. I kind of wish the city would buy the property and develop something there as it sits right on the main road through town and looks bad sitting there empty even if they do still mow the grass on the property. It would be a great place for light industry or office space.

The biggest problem for DeWitt is that they are really small and about 50 miles from any kind of large town (Lincoln). I'm not sure who would want to locate a manufacturing facility that far off the beaten path.

I have a brother that does a lot of business in China, Hong Kong etc. He has told me that labor rates have more than doubled in the last 12 months alone! Most large companies are actively looking for the next "cheap" labor market! :sad: By the way, I own 6-7 pairs of locking pliers, all Vice Grip but one, somebody gave me that one. It is my "loaner" when somebody comes looking for a pair of pliers. They alway somehow get back in my box. ;)
just wondering what were the rates before they doubled?

The more I read on this issue the more I wonder if Vice-Grip could have stayed in the US if the company hadn't been bought by Newell Rubbermaid. It might be more about corporate mentality than marketshare. Vice-Grips have been made in Nebraska long after their competitors have all moved offshore yet still seem to be sold in large and small stores all over the country.

Anyway:
http://www.nebraskahistory.org/sites/mnh/neb-made/visegrip.htm