Kobalt (tools)
Brand of tools
title: "Kobalt (tools)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["lowe's", "store-brands", "tool-manufacturing-companies-of-the-united-states"] description: "Brand of tools" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobalt_(tools)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Brand of tools ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox brand"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| logo | [[Image:Kobalt Tools logo.png |
| name | Kobalt |
| type | Hand and mechanics' tools, power tools, and tool storage |
| currentowner | Lowe's Companies, Inc. |
| origin | United States |
| introduced | |
| markets | United States, Mexico, Canada |
| website | www.kobalttools.com |
| :: |
| logo = [[Image:Kobalt Tools logo.png|200px]] | name = Kobalt | image = | type = Hand and mechanics' tools, power tools, and tool storage | currentowner = Lowe's Companies, Inc. | origin = United States | introduced = | discontinued = | related = | markets =United States, Mexico, Canada | previousowners = | trademarkregistrations = | website = www.kobalttools.com
Kobalt is a line of hand and mechanics' tools, power tools, and tool storage products owned by the American home improvement chain Lowe's. It is the house brand for both Lowe's in North America and their joint venture with the now defunct Masters Home Improvement in Australia.
History
Lowe's and manufacturing partner J.H. Williams launched Kobalt in 1998, with the intention of competing against rival retailers Sears and The Home Depot and their respective Craftsman and Husky tool brands.
In 2003, the Danaher Corporation began producing the majority of Kobalt hand tools.
In 2011, Lowe's ended its arrangement with Danaher and switched to a different supplier for its mechanic's hand tools, JS Products of Las Vegas, Nevada. Screwdrivers continue to be supplied by Great Neck. The same year, the Kobalt line expanded to include cordless power tools, manufactured by Chervon. The current (2020) miter saws are manufactured by Rexon Industrial Corp. Taiwan. In 2019 Lowe's announced that they will launch the Kobalt XTR power tools .
Budget brands
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Blue_Hawk_tools_logo.png" caption="Blue Hawk logo"] ::
Lowe's has two brands of tools and supplies positioned below Kobalt in quality and cost: Project Source and the more recent Blue Hawk, introduced in 2009.
Gallery
File:Kobalt wrenches.jpg|An assortment of Kobalt combination wrenches, manufactured by Danaher. File:Kobalt lineman's pliers.jpg|A pair of Kobalt lineman's pliers. File:Kobalt utility knife.jpg|A Kobalt utility knife.
References
References
- (1998-11-05). "Lowe's Announces Joint Venture with Snap-on's J.H. Williams Division.". [[PR Newswire]].
- Groeller, Greg. (2010-11-17). "Columbus, Ga., Firm Supplies New Line of Tools for Lowe's Home Centers.". Tribune Business News.
- Blair, John T.. (2003-02-10). "Who Makes What Tools". SOL's Morgan Web.
- Knight, Jerry. (2006-01-30). "Danaher Thrives on Discipline". [[The Washington Post]].
- Deutsch, Stuart. (2011-08-10). "New Kobalt Tools at Lowes (Imports)". ToolGuyd.
- (Spring 2012). "JS Products Inc. is a true American success story". Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce.
- Deutsch, Stuart. (2014-05-08). "New Kobalt Screwdrivers are Made in the USA". ToolGuyd.
- Deutsch, Stuart. (2011-08-27). ""New" Kobalt 20V Cordless Power Tools". ToolGuyd.
- Deutsch, Stuart. (2013-06-23). "Lowes' Kobalt Cordless Power Tools – 18V NiCad & Lithium-Ion". ToolGuyd.
- Durham, Christopher. (2013-08-01). "Fifty2, The MPB Project: Lowe's Home Improvement, Blue Hawk". My Private Brand.
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::