by Ashley Horne
It’s always interesting to know a little about the history of the tools you use every day. It’s also fun to know about the companies that make them! Like many of the great power tool companies, the Makita Company has a long history.
Makita was founded in 1915 in Nagoya, Japan and was originally a repair shop for electric tools and equipment. The company continued to grow its reputation in tool repair until 1958, when it began manufacturing electric power tools. The very first product manufactured was a portable electric planer. In an effort to support its growth in manufacturing and repair as well as continued product diversification, the company went public in 1962. Such efforts helped the company to obtain the leading position in Japanese power tools by 1969.
Over the years Makita continued to offer consumers and professionals new tools and accessories such as the introduction of the cordless power drill to the market in 1978. With this success the company found the need to open factories in Canada, the US and then twice in China over the next twenty years. Makita capped their success with the introduction of the Maktec line of low-cost, made-in-China power tools to Asian markets outside of Japan in 2002.
Today, the Makita Company is still working towards becoming the best supplier of electric power tools world wide. To do so the company focuses on product innovation and sales in four product groups. The first group is the portable general purpose tool group which includes drills and jackhammers. The second are portable woodworking tools like saws, planers and routers. The third group is stationary woodworking machines like table and band saws. The final group is consumer tools like vacuums, chainsaws and hedge trimmers.
With continued research and development, Makita continues to see success. In fact, the company has products at plants in Japan, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We look forward to what products continue to be developed by this strong brand.
