Skil
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Skil is a brand of power handtools produced by Robert Bosch GmbH. The line traces its heritage to the invention of the portable circular saw, marketed as a Skilsaw. The Model 77 which evolved from it set the industry standard for handheld worm-and-drive circular saws and remains in production almost unchanged today. In an example of a genericized trademark, portable circular saws are often still called Skilsaws or Skil saws.
Skil products include circular saws, cordless drill/drivers, cordless screw drivers, cordless tackers, cordless sealant guns, belt sanders, random orbitsanders, multi-sanders, angle grinders, hammers, drills, mixers, jig saws, Laser and measuring tools, reciprocating saws, and planers.
History
The portable circular saw was invented in 1924 by Edmond Michel, who along with partner Joseph L. Sullivan founded the Michel Electric Handsaw Company. Mitchell Electric renamed itself Skilsaw Inc.
In the 1950s, the company changed its name to the Skil Corporation and expanded outside its native borders for the first time, beginning in Canada. Skilsaw remained the brand name used for the company's products. European sales followed a few years later, by which time Skil had entered the consumer market. By 1959 it had a full and successful range of DIY tools. Skil's European factory was built in 1961 in the Dutch town of Breda, followed soon after by an electric motor plant at Eindhoven, Netherlands.
From the 1970s onwards, Skil constructed a network of factories, service centres and sales offices all around the world, its name becoming synonymous with power tools. Emerson Electric acquired Skil Corporation in 1979. In 1996, Skil was sold to Bosch.
Skil still has its European head office in Breda. All manufacturing of power tools for the European market is outsourced, mainly in China. Pre-development, Logisitics, Sales, Marketing and Finance are among the activities of the Dutch head office.
External links
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- Official website
- Official website — Europe
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