Snap-on: Американдық құралдар өндірушісінің тарихы мен өнімдері

American tool manufacturer

Snap on Incorporated is an American designer, manufacturer and marketer of high end tools and equipment for professional use in the transportation industry including the automotive, heavy duty, equipment, marine, aviation, and railroad industries. Headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Snap on also distributes lower end tools under the brand name Blue Point. Their primary competitors include Matco, Mac Tools, and Cornwell Tools.

Snap on Inc. operates plants in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Elizabethton, Tennessee, and Elkmont, Alabama. Wheel balancers and tire changers are produced in Conway, Arkansas. Power tools, both cordless and pneumatic are produced in Murphy, North Carolina. Torque products are made and assembled in City of Industry, California. The company manufactures tool storage cabinets in its Algona, Iowa plant. The company's Milwaukee facility manufactures sockets, extension bars, pliers, screwdriver blades and bits. Snap on produces hand held electronic diagnostic tools for the computer systems used in most modern cars and heavy duty vehicles at their Kenosha site. Software development happens in the US, Ireland, Australia, Mexico, Brazil and China. Automotive emissions control diagnostics equipment is produced in its San Jose, California diagnostic facility. Snap on diagnostic products are sold in Europe and Brazil under the name Sun.

Snap on was founded as the Snap on Wrench Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1920 by Joseph Johnson and William Seidemann. The business manufactured and marketed ten sockets that would "snap on" to five interchangeable handles. The company's slogan was "5 do the work of 50". In 1930, the company's headquarters moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin. Newton Tarble was hired, and came up with the idea of developing routes for company dealers to see mechanics on a weekly basis. Eventually these salesmen became independent businessmen and authorized dealers using larger walk in vans to carry a growing product line. In 1956, the company continued to expand with the use of test equipment and wheel service products. This was the start of the company's jump into manufacturing automotive test equipment into the Snap On line. Equipment included voltmeters, ammeters, disruptors, and alternator testers. The next year, Snap on opened a manufacturing plant in Johnson City, Tennessee and closed the plant in 2007. In 1998, workers at the company's Milwaukee plant voted to join the Teamsters labor union and the company expanded the facility in 2013. Also in 1998, the company began a partnership with Lowe's home improvement chain retailer to produce its Kobalt line of tools. In 2010, the Murphy, North Carolina plant was named one of the top 10 plants in North America by IndustryWeek. In 2011, J. H. Williams & Co was officially renamed Snap on Industrial Brands. In 2022, the company announced an expansion to its Milwaukee facility to grow its hand tool business.

In 2014, the company acquired New Hampshire–based Pro Cut for $42 million. In October 2016, the company acquired Car O Liner Holding AB, a Swedish collision repair tool company, for $155 million. Later that year, the company acquired Sturtevant Richmont for $13 million. In May 2017, the company acquired Norbar Torque Tools Holdings Limited for $72 million. In August 2019, the company acquired Cognitran Ltd for $31 million. In September 2020, the company acquired AutoCrib Inc. based in Tustin, California for $36 million. In March 2021, Snap on acquired Canada based Dealer FX Group for $200 million.

The company has sponsored Penske Racing teams in the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series as well as IndyCar. The first driver Snap on became associated with was Rick Mears in 1979. Since 1992, Snap on has sponsored Cruz Pedregon. In 2004, the company began sponsoring Cruz’s brother Tony Pedregon. Snap on has also sponsored Repsol Honda Team in MotoGP since 1998. Snap on sponsored NHRA drag racer Doug Herbert from 1992 until 2008. For the 2010 racing season, the company sponsored Penske Racing.