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In continuing its commitment to innovative jobsite solutions to expert tradespeople around the world, RIDGID® is pleased to announce the addition of Mitch Barton to the RIDGID Global Press Connection team, where he will serve as Marketing Director. In this new position, Barton will manage product development, partner relations and new business opportunities for the growing line of RIDGID press tools.

Barton brings several decades of marketing and product development experience to his new role. Previously, he served as Director, Global Project Management for Performance Health in Akron. In this role, he transformed the product management group from a support organization to a high performing team leading projects and decision making across the organization. At RIDGID, he brings this innovative outlook to the Global Press Connection team, helping them strengthen their focus, responsiveness and global connectivity solutions in the pressing category.

“Looking at the needs of our end-user – the professional tradesperson – is critical to our overall product development strategy. Mitch understands this ‘consumer-first’ mindset and will help us continue to take a more holistic view towards new tool technologies,” said John Ruese, VP & General Manager of Global Press Connection at RIDGID.

In addition to more than 30 years of marketing experience across a variety of industries, Barton also holds a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science degree from Bowling Green State University.

Emerson’s professional tools business, which includes RIDGID as well as the Greenlee and Klauke brands, provides the industry’s broadest portfolio of advanced, reliable tools and technologies for the mechanical, electrical and plumbing trades globally. Visit emerson.com/professionaltools for more information.

New multifunctional tool aids in damage-free installation and easy adjustment

IRWIN® announces that the new VISE-GRIP® Pliers Wrench is now available. With more than 97 years of product innovation in the pliers’ market, the new VISE-GRIP® Pliers Wrench features smooth jaws that provide damage-free installation and IRWIN®’s new patented GrooveLock™ ratcheting up mechanism for easy adjustment in confined spaces.

Ideal for plumbing applications, the smooth, anti-marring jaws minimize harm to chrome and plated fixtures during installation. While traditional adjustable wrenches are difficult to access/adjust in confined spaces, the GrooveLock™ ratcheting up mechanism allows for fast and easy adjustment in tight working areas. The IRWIN VISE-GRIP Pliers Wrench also replaces metric and imperial spanners up to 1-1/2” (38mm) with one convenient tool, eliminating excess equipment on the jobsite, in addition to offering anti-pinching, bi-material ergonomic handles that help provide comfort and control.

Primary users for the IRWIN® VISE-GRIP® Pliers Wrench include plumbers and HVAC professionals. The tool is available now in 10 in. (IRHT82636) and 8 in. (IRHT82635) models.

“IRWIN listened to customer feedback about limitations of traditional adjustable wrenches and implemented several innovations to improve the user experience,” commented Matthew Grella, Product Manager. “We believe the modifications in the VISE-GRIP Pliers Wrench will allow plumbers and other tradesmen to work more efficiently and comfortably, while mitigating damage to work pieces being serviced.”

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