The year was 1990.
Gas was $1.16 a gallon and the federal debt was at a staggering 3 trillion dollars. My elders were advising me to save my money and start a kitchen garden - I didn’t listen.
Instead, I drained my savings account and started Toolcraft. No, there was no market research telling me that Monroe, Washington was in need of a new machine shop. I just needed a new challenge. |
My first few years were spent making custom precision tools, jigs, and fixtures for big shops. My equipment list at the time was pretty slight: a Bridgeport mill, one manual lathe, a drill press, and a band saw.
A lot of things have changed with Toolcraft Inc. since 1990:
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Most importantly, our team has expanded beyond just myself, Karl Niemela, into a large team of dedicated employees who love what they do, including two generations of family working together under one roof.
OUr Values
While some things change, others stay the same. Our values have remained identical since day one:
Quality |
Partners look to us to deliver quality parts, and we’re committed to doing projects right the first time.
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Customer Service |
Toolcraft is dedicated to communicating with partners early on in the process and consistently throughout.
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Integrity |
When we commit to a project, we’re producing it. If we say something will be delivered on time, our partners can depend on that.
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We pride ourselves on employing an enthusiastic, reliable staff who are committed to doing jobs right and engaging with clients to provide knowledge and support.