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Albert F. Siebert founded the Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The year was 1924. The company began by perfecting the Hole-Shooter, a lightweight, one-handed drill initially developed by A.H. Petersen. The innovation set the stage for Milwaukee Tool’s reputation for durable and reliable products.

Over decades, the brand introduced several groundbreaking tools

In 1951, they unveiled the Sawzall, the first portable reciprocating saw, revolutionizing cutting tasks across various industries. Growing up in the nineties, my dad constantly brought out his Sawzall from its signature red metal case to use wherever needed: DIY home projects or at the shop.

The 1970s saw the introduction of the Hole-Hawg, a drill specifically designed for electricians and plumbers.

Ownership changed hands multiple times

In 1976, Amstar acquired it, followed by a sale to Merrill Lynch in 1986, and then to Atlas Copco in 1995.

The most significant move happened in 2005 when Techtronic Industries (TTI), a Hong Kong-based company, purchased Milwaukee Tool for $626.6 million.

Despite its Chinese acquisition, Milwaukee Tool still operates out of its headquarters in Brookfield, Wisconsin

The company continues to manufacture a significant portion of its products in the United States, too, with facilities in Wisconsin and Mississippi.

TTI, founded in 1985, owns several other well-known brands, including Ryobi and AEG. Under TTI, Milwaukee Tool expanded its product lines and invested heavily in research and development. This led to advancements in battery tech and smart tool features.

Milwaukee Tool faces stiff competition from other industry giants like DeWalt, Bosch, and Makita. Still, the company’s focus on quality, innovation, and understanding of professional users’ needs has kept it at the forefront. The M18 and M12 cordless tool systems, known for durability and performance, are particularly popular among tradespeople.

Moreover, on Glassdoor, its U.S. staff seems to enjoy working for the company. More than 80% of its hundreds of reviews recommend employment there, citing average salary and benefits.

In any case, while you might not have known it’s now a Chinese subsidiary, Milwaukee Tool retains a good bit of its roots stateside.

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Editor-in-Chief

Sarah Kennedy

Sarah Kennedy is the Editor-in-Chief of MotorBiscuit. She joined the team as Managing Editor in 2021 and has more than 20 years of automotive and operations expertise. She held ASE certifications as an Automotive Service Consultant and Parts Specialist and was a licensed car salesperson for many years. Sarah often focuses on helping drivers navigate used car buying and vehicle ownership. She created “Shop Smarts,” a column for MOTOR Magazine, and was a contributor there for eight years. Her work earned her a Gold Medalist award from the American Society of Business Publication Editors in 2014 and Bronze Medalist awards from the International Automotive Media Competition in 2014 and 2015. She attended the Automotive Management Institute and earned her bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University.