Cooper Tools are a trusted and respected manufacturer of wrenches and hand tools, but these American made products were finding it increasingly difficult to maintain market share as cheaper imports flooded the category.
Updating the drop-forged tool would affect the cost of goods only marginally. In order to compete with low-cost, knock-off products the client needed to completely rethink the manufacturing process so that superior tools could be created more efficiently.
Through an extensive assessment and innovation program, new products were created which were stronger, more comfortable to use and, cheaper to manufacture in the USA. The laminated, 1050 ply Steel actually outperformed its drop-forged counterpart. The new design was sold in 2 sizes, (with the same jaw capacity as 3 sizes of traditional box wrenches). It quickly became the 3rd best selling hand tool in Home Depot and thwarted the influx of competitors from Taiwan and China.
Following the development of the Duraplyer, our team developed a number of fully adjustable tools. By rethinking their manufacturing process Cooper Tools are now able to compete head on with all competition and expand their product line into new areas.
