Knipex

German pliers manufacturer. Widely considered the best in the world by tradespeople.

Approved

Founded: 1882
Website: knipex.com
HQ: Germany
Manufacturing: Germany
Ownership type: Family-owned

Ownership

Family-owned, fourth generation. Manufacturing entirely in Germany.

Reversibility

What would change our verdict

Moves manufacturing out of Germany. Sells to a conglomerate or PE firm.

Read the full investigation

Investigation · March 31, 2026

Your Power Tools Got Worse On Purpose

Two conglomerates bought American power tools in the 2000s. One built Milwaukee into the dominant cordless platform. The other spent $6B+ hollowing out Craftsman, Porter-Cable, and more. Plus the brands that refused to sell.

Read the full investigation

Track This Brand

When the verdict changes, you'll hear first.

Brands on this Ledger shift status as ownership changes or new investigations surface. The newsletter is how subscribers find out, and where the full reporting lives.

No spam. Nobody pays me to say nice things. Unsubscribe anytime.