tools

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All you have to do to get your knife is CLICK HERE to enter your shipping information and you’ll be all set to receive your free knife loaded with OLFA’s ultra-sharp black snap-off blade.

Nine of the most passionate RIDGID® fans recently experienced the trip of a lifetime to the RIDGID world headquarters as part of the 2nd Annual RIDGID Experience Contest. The all-expenses-paid VIP trip included a tour of the headquarters and the opportunity to build their very own iconic RIDGID custom pipe wrench, take part in a photoshoot for an upcoming brand campaign, go walleye fishing on Lake Erie and more.

As part of the headquarters visit, winners had the chance to tour the plant, get a sneak peek of the latest innovations that have yet to hit the market, meet some of the men and women who make the tools they use daily on the jobsite and provide insight for future product developments.

“I’ve been using these tools for 15 years and being here and seeing the machines and people who make the tools, it’s emotional,” said Bobby Scirica, contest winner and plumbing – service technician from Arizona. He describes the SeeSnake® Camera as one of his favorite RIDGID tools to use on the jobsite.

“Spending a few days with some of our biggest fans and celebrating their work in the trades is a thrill for all of us here at RIDGID,” said Becky Brotherton, manager, marketing communications, RIDGID. “Every tool we create is purpose-built with the contractor in mind, so to get to hear first-hand what they need in a tool only adds to the innovation we’re able to bring to each of our products.”

Details of the next RIDGID Experience Contest will be announced in early 2019. Stay tuned to the RIDGID Facebook page for details.

Milwaukee, Wis. — Milwaukee Tool will begin construction on another major expansion of its Global Headquarters Campus in Brookfield, Wisc. With a total investment of $32MM, the new advanced manufacturing and R&D facility is expected to create 350 new jobs, continuing a strong track record of rapid growth for the company within the United States.

This newest expansion will house the company’s advanced manufacturing, engineering, and global research and development center, occupying a 3.5-acre site on the company’s Global Headquarters Campus. The 114,500-square foot, multi-story building starts construction in Q3 and is expected to be completed by Q4 of 2019, bringing its global headquarter space from 390,000 square feet to an approximate 504,500 square feet.

“When you look at the growth our company has achieved in the last decade, the catalyst for our success has been, and will always be, our people. The drive, determination, and obsession of our employees has enabled us to continue delivering disruptive innovation for the professional trades and our distribution partners,” said Steve Richman, Milwaukee Tool Group President. “Our newest expansion will help us continue to grow a world-class work environment that will attract, recruit, and retain the best talent in the world.” ​

Milwaukee Tool has sustained organic double-digit growth throughout the last decade. This growth is driven by its exceptional people, the company’s focus on the professional trades and its breakthrough developments in cordless technology, advanced accessory engineering, and innovative hand tool and storage solutions.

Over the last decade Milwaukee Tool has continued to invest heavily in its national growth, making over $190MM in capital investments in the U.S., including $33.4 million in

manufacturing, tripling the workforce at its Global Headquarters Campus in Wisconsin, and growing its base of 3,500 employees nationwide. This newest expansion marks the next step in the company’s impressive growth and is a testament to its dedication to continuing all product development in the area for which it was named.

Just a couple days ago I returned from an event that has me so excited about working in the trades and what it means to be “Made in the USA”.  The RIDGID Experience is only in it’s second year of existence but its clear to me that this will be an amazing annual event for years to come. Here’s how it works: All across their social media channels RIDGID invites anyone who uses their tools, any and all of the RIDGID tools to show off their pride in the work they do with those tools. There’s an official entry process and some hashtagging involved but its super simple and fun. Once entered RIDGID picks the winners of the contest and those winners are treated to a total first-class experience with factory & hands-on training center tours, an inside look at new upcoming products and tools, meals, lodging, airfare, limo, professional photo shoots,  a box suite at the Indians ball game and even a fishing trip on Lake Erie! Oh man, I gotta tell you it was a blast!

Of course factory tours are exciting, getting to see how our favorite tool is made and even meeting the people who make them daily leaves me with a higher level of respect for the brand and excitement for my work. That was definitely the case for me after the #RIDGIDExperience.

Unfortunately we don’t always get to take the camera’s along for every step of the tour but I’ve posted a few cool shots on our Facebook and Instagram along with some comments along the way. I’ve included a video of the final steps in the assembly of the iconic 300 below; its hard to believe that machine was ever so clean and shiny!

I’d like to thank the entire team at RIDGID and those involved who organized and pulled off a truly memorable experience for all of us “winners”. It’s clear the entire company knows and cares about who their customer is. Thank you, Eric Aune.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlLwrqWhEO3/?taken-by=mechanicalhub