Which Festool tools are made in Taiwan?

[gcrimmins]

I was recently looking at the website for Geetech/Chiu Ting Machinery, the company in Taiwan that manufactures woodworking tools for many other companies, including Dewalt, Sawstop, Jet, Powermatic, Grizzly, etc. On the "about" page on their website, they list all of the companies that they manufacture tools for, including Festool. Does anyone know which Festool tools Geetech makes? I'm wondering if it's something like the table saw that has the Sawstop technology.

 

[peter halle]

Festool does not manufacture a table saw that has the Sawstop technology.  Sawstop is owned by the parent company of Festool.  As to what Festool products are made in Taiwan, I can't offer any insight but perhaps others may.  My gut guess might be some of the accessories - but that is only a guess.

Peter

 

[Packard]

Some very well-made products are made in Taiwan.  I would say Made in Taiwan is no longer a curse and they have near parity with Made in Japan.

It is a large step up from Made in China.

 

[luvmytoolz]

For machinery "Made in Taiwan" has been regarded as very high quality for some years now.

 

[woodferret]

Likely all the BLDC motors and controllers.

 

[ChuckM]

The Chinese EVs (forgot the brand) passed Tesla for the last quarter of sales of 2023 -- partly because it produces its own batteries and can afford to lower the car price to compete against Tesla. Harvey, also the owner of Bridge City Tools, is gaining reputations among its owners based in North America.

 

[Lincoln]

Festool does not manufacture a table saw that has the Sawstop technology.  Sawstop is owned by the parent company of Festool.  As to what Festool products are made in Taiwan, I can't offer any insight but perhaps others may.  My gut guess might be some of the accessories - but that is only a guess.

Peter

TKS80?

 

[PaulMarcel]

I recall a guy on a woodworking forum I frequented reading the riot act to anybody not doing the uber-patriot flag-waving "buy made in America". Like he was obnoxious on every single thread. (Aside: this is why ban-hammers were created btw) Then he climbed all over someone about buying a made-in-Taiwan planer... he should have bought a made-in-'merica Powermatic planer. So I posted a photo of the nameplate on my 20 y/o PM20 planer... made in Taiwan. He also had the misrepresentation that DeWalt was made-in-merica so I posted the "assembled in Mexico" nameplate off my one DeWalt.

Okay, I got that out of my system...

I know I'm old enough to remember when, in the 70s, my gear-head uncle would repeatedly say "you know, if you want to buy a tool that breaks down the first time you use it, buy one made in Japan! har! har!". Literal quote, and I can picture his rather smug face at the time. Late 80s brought us "Kaizen" conferences to learn how to do manufacturing like the Japanese. Now, companies use Japanese manufacturing as a benchmark.

While everybody complains about Chinese manufacturing (China ≠ Taiwan) I'm actually expecting them to get high-quality products out just like Japan did. Sure they'll produce the crappy breakable stuff under 12+ unpronounceable names on Amazon, but, wait, Harvey... iPhone...

 

[PaulMarcel]

Harvey, also the owner of Bridge City Tools, is gaining reputations among its owners based in North America.

A friend of mine does repairs on BCTW tools. He went to the grand-opening gala Harvey had to for the transfer of ownership. They had tools produced by BCTW and Harvey versions side-by-side. He said it was nearly impossible to tell them apart even for the Joint-Maker Pro, of which he has 5 plus the now discontinued SL.

Companies contract Chinese factories to build things to a price-point then blame them for not having unpaid QC. I called Laguna about a problem I had with their tool and the salesman literally told me "well what do you expect, it's made in China?! haha!" "Well, your name is on it so you are supporting it..." Glad I had a YT presence at the time cuz he got fired. If you think that's mean, recall this is a salesman wanting your commission but also wanting you to accept broken tools with missing parts and dumping more money into it to make it work. Laguna is on my infinite black list btw

 

[Cheese]

Along the lines of the original thread, I've noticed several items that are not made in Germany.

DWC 18-4500...Czech Republic
CXS 12...Czech Republic
BP 12 x 2.5 battery...Poland
BP 18 x 4.0 battery...China
BP 18 x 5.2 battery...Poland
BPC 18 x 5.2 battery...Poland

 

[Peter Kelly]

The ratchet set which were rebranded Stahlwille ones was made in Taiwan. Not sure if this is what Geetech are referring to though.

 

[peter halle]

Festool does not manufacture a table saw that has the Sawstop technology.  Sawstop is owned by the parent company of Festool.  As to what Festool products are made in Taiwan, I can't offer any insight but perhaps others may.  My gut guess might be some of the accessories - but that is only a guess.

Peter

TKS80?

Sorry, I forgot to take off my North American hat when I posted.  I stand corrected.  The TXS 80 does have the the flesh saving technology.

Peter

 

[Hawkeye0001]

Along the lines of the original thread, I've noticed several items that are not made in Germany.

DWC 18-4500...Czech Republic
CXS 12...Czech Republic
BP 12 x 2.5 battery...Poland
BP 18 x 4.0 battery...China
BP 18 x 5.2 battery...Poland
BPC 18 x 5.2 battery...Poland

Some of their drills that were also part of the Protool brand (like PDC, DRC, etc.) have always been produced in the former Protool  (and current Narex) factory in Czech Republic. Some newer models are also produced there (had a 2018 T18 from Germany and a 2017 C18 from CZ).
What I found a bit of a shocker is the recip saw (and recent battery packs) being produced in China. For a company that proudly waves their "Made in Germany" flag around it's a no-go.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Companies contract Chinese factories to build things to a price-point then blame them for not having unpaid QC. I called Laguna about a problem I had with their tool and the salesman literally told me "well what do you expect, it's made in China?! haha!" "Well, your name is on it so you are supporting it..." Glad I had a YT presence at the time cuz he got fired. If you think that's mean, recall this is a salesman wanting your commission but also wanting you to accept broken tools with missing parts and dumping more money into it to make it work. Laguna is on my infinite black list btw

He should have been fired. It's a horrible thing to think/acknowledge about the company in the first place, but to say it to a customer? That's just plain stupid.
"I'm sorry, we will take care of it right away. Our reputation is important to us" ......and then actually do it.

The ratchet set which were rebranded Stahlwille ones was made in Taiwan. Not sure if this is what Geetech are referring to though.

I have my issues with that set, but quality is not part of it. It is really nice, the fit/finish are great.
I'm still baffled by the stupidity of the 7/16" socket omission.

I have no problem with where things are made. This whole global economy thing is here to stay, like it or not. My complaint is with quality. It takes time, qualified people, and some caring about what you produce. China can obviously make quality products, as well as flood the market with cheap junk.
As I see it, the demand for cheap goods drives this. Some foolish Americans want high pay for low skilled jobs, yet the cheapest goods from Walmart. Someone will step in and fill this space.

 

[rst]

The omission of the lack is of 7/16” socket is also there in the new Wera compact 3/8” handl d driver set, it comes with 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2” sockets.  I replaced the 3/8” with a 1/2” as those are  sizes more common to what I do, specifically the arm attachment and arm adjustment for door closers.

 

[ElectricFeet]

I know I'm old enough to remember when, in the 70s, my gear-head uncle would repeatedly say "you know, if you want to buy a tool that breaks down the first time you use it, buy one made in Japan! har! har!". Literal quote, and I can picture his rather smug face at the time.

I wonder if he’d fly on a Boeing 737 Max?

 

[ChuckM]

I know the new quick clamps are made in Vietnam.

Determining where something is made can be a tricky business, and a lot depends on how "honest" the label really is. I ordered this T-shirt from a US business, which was shipped within Canada:

[attachimg=1]

So exactly where is it made? It depends on how you define assembled.

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.
As I see it, the demand for cheap goods drives this. Some foolish Americans want high pay for low skilled jobs, yet the cheapest goods from Walmart. Someone will step in and fill this space.

Please add Canadians, Europeans, Asians, oh well, the whole world to the list of consumers...judging from the success of sites like Amazon, Walmart, Aliexpress, Banggood and Temu, the new kid in town, etc.

 

[Packard]

In the early 1980s I purchased a Walther PPKS that was stamped “Made in Germany”.  For the rest of the world, it was made in Portugal.

There is a quirk in German law that allows them to label a product “Made in Germany” as long as the final assembly is made on German soil. 

So the entire pistol was made in Portugal, but the two grip haves were assembled with a single screw in Germany.  So definitely made in Germany.

Similarly, the Porsche 928 was built in Spain.  But the seats were bolted in while on German soil, so “Made in Germany”.

Don’t get me wrong.  The Walther was a fine weapon made to the highest standards. No quality issues at all.  Just some honesty issues.

Taiwan is no longer associated with cheap goods (except in some peoples’ minds).  Every product that I have seen in the last 15 years that said, “Made in Taiwan” was of high quality.  It is the same transition that “Made in Japan” made in the early 1960s, and which South Korea is in the process of now. 

My appreciation for “Made in Japan” occurred in 1964-1965 when I bought my first Nikon F.  The mechanical and optical quality was undeniable. 

The company I worked for, would on occasion, import some items from China.  If it was a complex and challenging project, the quality was fine.  That was because they called in Western consultants to help define the process.

But if it was a really simple object (like a welded D-ring) they would fail horribly.  That because it was  so-simple-we-don’t-need-any-Western-consultants.

So the quality was good for difficult projects and dismal for easy ones.  Go figure.

Addendum:  I would assume that membership to the EU would mandate that Germany use an EU approved definition for “Made in [Country]”.

 

[grobkuschelig]

The ratchet set which were rebranded Stahlwille ones was made in Taiwan. Not sure if this is what Geetech are referring to though.

Ratchet set would also be my guess. Plus the ratcheting wrenches.

Although the ratchet set was not rebranded Stahlwille (which would have been made in Germany), but the old ones were Wiha and the more recent ones were Felo.

Felo is manufacturing their screwdrivers in Germany, but their ratchets/sockets come from Taiwan.

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