Festool clamps now made in Vietnam?

[JonathanJung]

Can Festool or anyone confirm which locations Festool clamps are manufactured?

Got in a couple ratchet clamps from one of my usual suppliers, and am disappointed they are now being made in Vietnam, not Germany. I'm thinking, why pay $42 for a clamp made overseas...can anyone confirm this is legit and if so, that the quality is the same?

Photo of my original clamps has the Germany stamp.

 

[Coen]

Quality does not depend on country, but used materials and machinery.

I don't think Festool ever made those themselves honestly. I think they always bought them from Bessey.

Did you ask Festool directly?

 

[Michael Kellough]

A lot of the lower end Bessey stuff is made in China and I’ve read that Western manufactures are moving some of their production capacity out of China, to Vietnam in particular.

That clamp is not lower end but since you have both what do you think of the quality? Like Coen said, location isn’t the determinant.

 

[RustE]

Environment regulations are forcing a lot of foundries to close. Festool already had a manufacturing source in Vietnam for soft goods. At this point, be happy they’re still transparent about country of origin.

 

[DeformedTree]

Vietnam clamp has better surface finish on it. Could be they made a new batch of tooling with a move.

Like others said, it's the design, manufacturing, materials that make the quality difference, not where it's made. It's fine though if the issue to be taken has more to do with the labor/wages side of things, or the environmental impact. As mentioned, the biggest reason for going to these countries is to dodge environmental regs. This is not a comment against the regs, it's an issue with companies dodging them this way.

 

[Coen]

Not always. Sometimes it's also the local supply chain or just the lower labor costs. When you have to refurbish an old factory for new... building a new one on the other side of the globe might be just as expensive but result in lower running costs.

 

[blues]

.. these clamps may out live our lifetime. It's got the festool name, has the green color.. so must me worth the money.. 8)

 

[mac sparrow]

I have three Festool ratchet clamps purchased 2/3 years ago and they are made in Germany.  I bought the same clamps in November 2020 and can confirm they were made in Vietnam.  I see no difference in functionality.

 

[JeremyH.]

I find it to be a let down but not because of quality. I'm just not super interested in the amorphous blob approach to existence.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I'm just not super interested in the amorphous blob approach to existence.

Interesting, manufacturing in Vietnam can be seen as an amorphous blob approach to existence. I'll have to ponder over this for a while.  [scratch chin]

 

[Paul_HKI]

Better than China.  I have a few Metabo tools with Vietnamese made/assembled chargers and batteries.  Never any issues and better than made in China in my books.  I'll never buy a 4Ah Festool battery as long as they make them in China. 

 

[JeremyH.]

Better than China.  I have a few Metabo tools with Vietnamese made/assembled chargers and batteries.  Never any issues and better than made in China in my books.  I'll never buy a 4Ah Festool battery as long as they make them in China.

I agree that a lot of other asian countries make things better than in China. But who wants to say "I like Festool they are a German/Vietnamese/Taiwanese/Chinese company at a premium German/Vietnamese/Taiwanese/Chinese price, I really like supporting German/Vietnamese/Taiwanese/Chinese manufacturing." It's just one more step towards the blob.

 

[ChuckM]

In term of clamps. I have two lots of Made in China clamps: Harbor Freight F-clamps and 14" deep throat clamps. They outperform many other clamps Made in China/Taiwan/Asia, USA and Mexico in my possession of the same style in terms of value (clamping and price considered).

The 14" DT clamps ($100 Cdn for 6) are from an old welder who recently retired. I have had only brief experience with similar Bessey DT clamps ($170 Cdn or so each). The welder told me that Piher DT clamps (sold in mm) are the best, but not something he could afford for his business. He didn't think the Bessey DT clamps could beat his Chinese clamps.

But no imported aluminum bar clamps can match the USA Dubuque clamps in terms of quality.

 

[JeremyH.]

Sure those Chinese clamps might be great, but they don't say Festool on them... so it's not really part of the topic.

 

[ChuckM]

Metabo clamps are stamped Festool?

 

[Paul_HKI]

Metabo clamps are stamped Festool?

No, the point I'm making is that I've had other German branded tool products come from Vietnamese factories and they'll been absolutely up to scratch.  The fact that a premium branded product comes from Vietnam should not dissuade a buyer from seeing quality and appropriate value for money in the item they purchase.  Unless it's coming from China.  If it comes from China, I'll buy something else if I can find an alternative.  Clamps or batteries, it doesn't matter to me.

 

[ChuckM]

My comment was in response to "...so it's not really part of the topic."

 

[Paul_HKI]

Ah, got it.  [embarassed]

 

[JeremyH.]

Metabo clamps are stamped Festool?

Not a favorite thing, the out sourcing for a premium.

 

[mcooley]

It all sucks and once again means no one knows the true cost of any of this stuff either from a labor point of view or environmental impact. It'd be nice if we knew for certain our tools weren't undermining people and environment whether in one country or another. Like Trader Joes it all just says Monrovia CA! Ugh.