The beginning of the Channellock story goes all the way back to 1886 , when George B . DeArment , a blacksmith from Evansburg , Pennsylvania , began hand-forging farrier ’ s tools in a small factory , travelling from town to town to sell the products out of the back of his wagon . The company eventually became known as the Champion Bolt & Clipper Company , before passing into the hands of George ’ s two sons , Almon W . and J . Howard DeArment . In 1923 , the pair moved the company into a 33,000 square-foot facility on South Main Street in Meadville . It was there that the company , thanks to the hard work of Chief Engineer Howard Manning , developed the concept of multi-position , tongue and groove , slipjoint style pliers , sold under the name ‘ Channellock ’. The company took this as its name ten years later , in 1963 , and has continued to deliver innovation upon innovation ever since .

Today , Channellock is run by the fifth generation of the DeArment family , which includes Bill , Jon and Ryan DeArment . Still located at its base in Meadville , the company ’ s two facilities total 260,000 square feet , and provide employment to more than 370 full-time associates , making it one of the largest employers in Pennsylvania ’ s Crawford County . The company manufactures more than 75 different sizes and types of pliers , all forged from steel made in the US . The products are made on site , before shipping to upwards of 4000 wholesale and retail customers throughout the US and beyond .

Skilled workforce

Bill Huff is the Director of Manufacturing at Channellock . Having been with the company for more than four years , he oversees the company ’ s production , scheduling , quality , and shipping operations . It ’ s a position that offers

Channellock

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Manufacturing Today Issue 205 Issue 205 - October 2022 | Page 67