| ST. LOUIS, MO-- (PRNewswire) -- Emerson Professional Tools, a business of Emerson, today announced efforts to enhance the manufacturing and marketing of Emerson's RIDGID® brand bench top and stationary woodworking power tool products. Under the agreement, One World Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of TechTronic Industries Company Limited, will supply these RIDGID® brand tools, leveraging the strengths from each organization in engineering and quality manufacturing.
The tools will be built to meet the high standards established by Emerson that customers have come to expect from the RIDGID brand name -- hallmarks such as reliability, durability, best-in-class manufacturing, industry-leading design and professional quality.
"This new partnership and business model will further enhance an innovative line of power tools that already has the respect of end users everywhere," said Pat Sly, Emerson executive vice president and Emerson Professional Tools business leader. "RIDGID tools have long been recognized as superior products within the industry, and this agreement will strengthen that position."
The Home Depot is and will remain the exclusive hardware home center retailer of RIDGID bench and stationary woodworking power tools, as well as wet/dry vacs, hand tools, pumps and plumbing/pipefitting tools.
With a well-established reputation in the power tool industry, OWT will leverage its record of innovation, product development and leading capabilities in manufacturing logistics and distribution. Strict adherence to RIDGID quality standards will be maintained as the companies transition production.
"This is quite an honor for One World Technologies to manufacture these bench top and stationary tools," said Bob Freitag, Executive Vice President of OWT. "In fact, the new line will include improved features and benefits consistent with RIDGID's reputation for meeting and exceeding the needs of professional contractors. This is a win-win for all parties, and we're excited to help ensure that the RIDGID brand continues to be a success for The Home Depot," Freitag continued.
Tool users can expect the new line of bench top and stationary power tools from the partnership to begin appearing in The Home Depot stores this August.
Emerson will continue supporting the full RIDGID line and will remain a significant manufacturer of RIDGID wet/dry vacuums, hand tools, and other products for The Home Depot.
The new partnership also impacts technical and after-sales service for the bench top and stationary woodworking power tools. RIDGID has always enjoyed an excellent reputation for service, and this agreement will expand and improve performance in that area. New services include nationwide two-day UPS part service for faster turn-around, triple the number of available local service centers, and a dedicated, full-time staff to answer technical woodworking tool-related questions.
As always, customers can call 1-800-4-RIDGID (1-800-474-3443) to speak with a RIDGID technical service representative and obtain service part ordering information or visit http://www.ridgid.com. An additional toll free number, 1-866-539-1710, is also available to further facilitate customer inquiries.
Emerson Professional Tools brings together technology and engineering to design and produce some of the highest quality tools and equipment in the world. From wet/dry vacs to the industry's best-selling pipe diagnostic system, key brands include RIDGID, Knaack and Weatherguard. Emerson Professional Tools is a business of St. Louis-based Emerson (http://www.gotoemerson.com), a global leader in providing innovative solutions to customers in electronics and telecommunications; process control; industrial automation; heating, ventilating and air conditioning; and appliance and tools. Sales in fiscal 2002 were $13.8 billion.
This eUpdate posting by: Steve Joyce
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