Festool's first U.S. production line

[TylerC]

We teased a bit of info about this on the Fourth of July, but tomorrow we'll make the official announcement about Festool's first U.S. production line. The first production line will be for assembly of the FS Guide Rails. There are plans to build additional production lines in the future, and we'll announce those when the time it right.

The press release that we'll be releasing tomorrow is below.

We also have a video about the building the line. It's more for internal use, but it's a nice look at creating the first line and rolling out the first rail. You can watch it here:

FESTOOL ANNOUNCES U.S. MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS
FS Guide Rails are the first products made in Indiana​

LEBANON, IN (July 11, 2017) – Festool announced today that it has started producing its FS Guide Rails, an integral system component and accessory of many of its power tools, at the company’s North American headquarters in Lebanon, IN. Festool plans to expand its Lebanon-based manufacturing facilities for additional production lines and other products in the future.

FS Guide Rails production uses U.S.-sourced material and will begin shipping throughout the U.S. and Canadian markets in late 2017.

Essential to the Festool power tool system, FS Guide Rails are aluminum tracks that work in collaboration with some of Festool’s most popular products, including its track saws, routers and jigsaws.

“German engineering and American manufacturing is a powerful combination,” says Ole Held, CEO of Festool USA. “Launching a U.S. production line will allow us to expand the Festool presence in North America and strengthen our commitment to create innovative, precise, superior quality products.”

Festool designs and engineers its portfolio of innovative power tool products in its home country of Germany and all Festool power tools are manufactured in Europe.

 

[jeh]

Making the rails in the US (especially the longer ones) is a good move.

 

[Cheese]

The first production line will be for assembly of the FS Guide Rails.

That doesn't appear to be an extruder, does that mean the bare extrusions are still made in Germany?

 

[Paul G]

Will the USA rails have squared ends?

 

[TylerC]

The first production line will be for assembly of the FS Guide Rails.

That doesn't appear to be an extruder, does that mean the bare extrusions are still made in Germany?

Extrusion for these rails will be done in the U.S. but not as part of the production line in Lebanon.

 

[Cheese]

Extrusion for these rails will be done in the U.S. but not as part of the production line in Lebanon.

Well that's  [cool]

Thanks...

 

[Shane Holland]

Tyler, will all rails be produced in the USA now? All lengths as well as the LR32 rails?

Also, any plans to expand the offerings in any way?

Thanks for the video and info.

Shane

 

[TylerC]

[member=48572]Shane Holland[/member]  The LR and FS 5000 will not be part of the initial launch. All other lengths will be included.

At this point, this shouldn't change the product offerings. All of this could change at some point. We're starting fairly small with plans to continue growing.

 

[Alec Buscemi]

I dont see the lr32 hole punching unit through which  EVERY new Festool rail of ALL sizes could and should be processed.

 

[semenza]

Length cut to order would be a cool expansion ........................  I'd like a 3130 please  [smile]

Seth

 

[six-point socket II]

Hi!

Congrats, this is awesome!

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Bob D.]

I dont see the lr32 hole punching unit through which  EVERY new Festool rail of ALL sizes could and should be processed.

That would be nice.

 

[#Tee]

so i dont get it..where did the rails come from ? this plant just threw stickers on and punched some holes?

 

[semenza]

so i dont get it..where did the rails come from ? this plant just threw stickers on and punched some holes?

See below for what Tyler posted above.

The first production line will be for assembly of the FS Guide Rails.

That doesn't appear to be an extruder, does that mean the bare extrusions are still made in Germany?

Extrusion for these rails will be done in the U.S. but not as part of the production line in Lebanon.

And put the glide strips , splinter guard , and anti-slip strips on.

Seth

 

[Cheese]

so i dont get it..where did the rails come from ? this plant just threw stickers on and punched some holes?

.

They're starting their manufacturing journey in a small deliberate fashion...nothing wrong with that. It always looks easier than it is.

Basically, they have an approved extruder in the US that they will be working with and then will have someone (could even be the extruder) EVENTUALLY punch the holey rails.

Festool manufacturing adds the label, glide strips, splinter strips and foam grip strips. It's not a huge undertaking but it's a start. That piece of equipment that performs these 3 simple tasks (the label was placed by hand) probably ran $150k-$200k.

Edit: Being made in Germany and using Festo parts, that machine probably cost twice that amount. [eek]

I also saw that in the middle of the machine there was a box that the rails passed under. My guess is that was some type of UV, microwave or thermal curing station for all the adhesive strips. 

 

[Gregor]

I dont see the lr32 hole punching unit through which  EVERY new Festool rail of ALL sizes could and should be processed.

The unholey rails should IMHO simply be discontinued as they don't make sense, neither for the customer nor for Festool: Getting a holey rail with your TS-Set by default would be a direct incentive to buy LR-32 and a router.

 

[Cheese]

The unholey rails should IMHO simply be discontinued as they don't make sense, neither for the customer nor for Festool: Getting a holey rail with your TS-Set by default would be a direct incentive to buy LR-32 and a router.

Amen...marketing 101...

 

[Bob D.]

The unholey rails should IMHO simply be discontinued as they don't make sense, neither for the customer nor for Festool: Getting a holey rail with your TS-Set by default would be a direct incentive to buy LR-32 and a router.

Amen...marketing 101...

Ditto, it's been said before here. I guess it only makes sense from our side of the transaction. But also feel that it would be an incentive to some to invest further into the Festool system with the LR32 kit and that leads you to a Festool router. Once you're that far in you're gone, might as well go for broke.

 

[antss]

The unholey rails should IMHO simply be discontinued as they don't make sense, neither for the customer nor for Festool: Getting a holey rail with your TS-Set by default would be a direct incentive to buy LR-32 and a router.

Amen...marketing 101...

Ditto, it's been said before here. I guess it only makes sense from our side of the transaction. But also feel that it would be an incentive to some to invest further into the Festool system with the LR32 kit and that leads you to a Festool router. Once you're that far in you're gone, might as well go for broke.

Speak for yourselves guys, but not everyone.  This customer likes both types of rails.

I'll also bet that ALL of you don't have holey rails exclusively.

And what are y'all going to use a 5000mm rail with holes for anyway ?

 

[Bohdan]

I'll also bet that ALL of you don't have holey rails exclusively.

I have. I converted all of my rails and can now just grab the most convenient size for the job.