Leatherman: The Tools You Trust
“This is probably one of the best known little companies in the world”, Alex Kelsay,manufacturing project manager, said. Leatherman multi-tools are designed andmanufactured in the United States, in Portland, Oregon, and they are shipped to morethan 80 countries throughout the world. Everyone knows the Leatherman brand.

There is an actual Leatherman. Tim Leatherman. And he's been the driving force for 25 years. After all, he states, “my name is on every tool.” Today, Tim Leatherman serves as Chairman of the Board.

The company employs nearly 500, and they manufacture in excess of 1 million tools peryear in their 90,000 square foot facility. Their products can be purchased at such bigbox retailers as Target, Costco, Lowes, and they can additionally be purchased by military personnel through their local AAFES (army and airforce exchange service).
All Leatherman tools (there are 46 different varieties) come with a 25-year warranty, andTim is quoted as saying “long enough to prove we stand behind our tools, but shortenough to show we're serious.” Leatherman products are complex to make -- A typicalLeatherman tool goes through approximately 300 processes during production! When Iasked Alex how Leatherman continues to excel, and beat out manufacturers in other regions of the world, he said there were a number of reasons, and two most noteworthy:
  • Leatherman products are complex designs - high tolerance designs - and thus they are not easily copied.
  • The company operates as a well oiled machine. The management team is integrally involved in the strategic process, and the company practices best known practices, with continuous improvements. Voted one of Oregon's Most Admired Companies year after year, Leatherman strives for not only excellence in their product, but in their business practices as well.
THE HISTORY: Young Tim Leatherman and his wife traveled through Europe and theMiddle East back in the mid-1970's. Between a cranky Fiat and leaky hotel plumbing,Tim found that his boy scout knife just wasn't cutting it. He needed more, like some pliers, and maybe a screwdriver or two. Tim Leatherman, a young mechanical engineer, dreamed up a multi-tool.

Over the course of the next years, Tim developed several prototypes with cardboardand wood. His brother-in-law, a machinist, taught Tim machining.

In 1980, Tim applied for and received US Patent 4,238,862 for his .rst multi-toolprototype, “Mr. Crunch”. Tim waited patiently for the million dollar order to come in.Alas, it didn't happen.

By 1983, the prototype was .ne-tuned and the Pocket Survival Tool (R) was launched.A few companies placed orders for their holiday catalogs, and Leatherman Tool Groupwas born.

Leatherman's goal was to sell 4000 Pocket Survival Tools in the .rst year. The company sold nearly 30,000! Fast forward a decade, and Leatherman achieved 1million sales for the year!

Over the course of the next decade, Leatherman introduced Super Tool (R), whichfeatured locking blades, and the Wave (R), which was the .rst multi-tool that allows access to the blade without opening the pliers.

In the .rst decade of the new millennium, Leatherman launched the Juice (R), the Squirt(R), as well as a series of tools and knives for speci.c activities, like their huntingknives, and their gardening prunes.

TOOLS FOR MILITARY / LAW ENFORCEMENT: Leatherman offers duty-speci.c multi-tools, black multi-tools, and black knives to support those who protect us. When your life depends on your equipment, Leatherman offers tools that are speci.cally designedfor shooters and EOD techs, with all the utility you expect from Leatherman.

MULTI-TOOLS FOR CIVILIANS: Leatherman offers an array of multi-tools for consumers and hobbyists, including full size multi-tools, ones that are pocket sized, andeven key chain multi-tools.

LEATHERMAN KNIVES: The Crater knives by Leatherman are designed for maximum portability with minimal bulk. A redesign of their original line of folding knives, theseslim, lightweight, folding knives offer everything from the simple to the, “wow, how didthey do that?”

The Expanse series folding knives from Leatherman are just that, an expansion on agreat idea. Upgrade to 154CM blades and stainless steel reinforced handles, keepingall the utility and portability of the Crater line.

LED FLASHLIGHTS: The Monarch series of LED .ashlights from Leatherman features powerful output and sturdy, lightweight construction for a great price. From key chain to handheld, there's a model for every activity you can engage in.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH: In an effort to give back to their local and nationalcommunities, Leatherman supports our troops overseas, fund-raisers for environmentalconservation groups, local charities, and individuals across the country who have goneabove and beyond the call of duty to help their fellows in a time of need.

In addition to product donations, Leatherman is also supporting employees who want todonate their time to voluteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters programs or our localHabitat for Humanity projects. Both groups' operations rely heavily on volunteer time and both also present a great match for the skill sets of many employees at the company.

The cornerstone of all Leatherman engineering is preparedness. Product donations toall these partners are used to work on wilderness restoration projects, help in disaster situations here and abroad, build homes, keep or troops up and running, and much more.

The team at Leatherman recognizes the scarcity of journeyman tool and diemakers.They are planning to put together an apprenticeship program in-house to promote thecraft, and are seeking experienced candidates to support this effort.

PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY IN WIRE EDM MACHINING: Alex met North­South's Chris Gendusa nearly 6 years ago when he was evaluating EDM machines for Leatherman. Alex says they were using a competitive EDM machine, and in their analysis they found that the Mitsubishi EDM Chris was proposing was a much morerigid machine tool design for precision machining than competitive EDM machines.“The Mitsubishi was built on a solid frame”, Alex said. “We needed a machine that would withstand decades of use, run unattended 24x7, and retain its rigidity. The Mitsubishi EDM .t this requirement and had many other capabilities we required, andwe couldn't .nd on other EDM machines.”

Alex appreciates the support he gets from Chris, his North-South Sales Engineer. “Chrisis an experienced tool maker”, Alex said, “and I can count on him to give me the rightrecommendations for my capital purchases. He will even tell me when I shouldn't make a purchase, because it is not what we need at Leatherman. Chris is loyal and I trust his expertise.”

Today, the company owns 3 Mitsubishi EDMs, including the FA-10S, the FA-20S, andthe FA-20S Advanced.

The Mitsubishi R&D Group is constantly improving its technology - working with thefactory on future product offerings. It is in this environment that they develop EDM machines to meet the needs of speci.c markets - like the MD+PRO wire EDM.

To purchase Leatherman multi-tools, knives, or .ashlights, visit their website atwww.leatherman.com. Contact them if you want to be involved with their apprentice program as well.

Article Courtesy of A2Z Metalworker Magazine [ Feb / March 2011]