Steel City Tool Works closed its doors on March 31. The company created an industry buzz when it was established in 2005, with a staff of veteran, independent machine experts and designers who aspired to bring the best value in woodworking to their customers. That aspiration was reflected in their motto, “By Woodworkers, For Woodworkers.”
Many insiders at the time speculated that their journey would be an uphill climb, and with a tough economy hammering away at the industry, those insiders proved to be right, with a number of changes and restructuring of the organization. According to a statement on Steel City’s website, they went through a lot of changes during their ten years of business until little remained of the original Steel City organization. And in 2014, the company saw its largest restructuring yet. A small team of industry professionals, several being Steel City veterans, founded the Axiom Tool Group. This new team’s goal was to carefully point Steel City Tool Works in a new direction. The new focus was to “provide quality machinery, steeped in technology, and sell it at competitive prices.”
One industry insider said the company made a valiant marketing effort to understand how to reach their customers and tool dealers using the internet, but it was ultimately unsuccessful.
In response to the company closing, Steel City recommends tool owners seeking product support to contact the distributor where they purchased their tool for service, and to call the Steel City technical support line for replacement parts.
For more about woodworking machines, check out Woodworking Machinery 101
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Comments
I had my eye on the Steel City 13" Deluxe Portable Planer with Helical Head 40200H for years - and was disappointed when it was discontinued.
However, it seems RIKON may have commissioned the same Chinese factory to build a very similar-looking model: the Rikon 25-130H HSS Helical Head Portable Planer 13 inch. Highland has them for $549.
Anyone know if this is the 'same' planer?
cahudson42,
The 40200H planer was never discontinued. It is still being made by the factory that made the original Steel City portable planers. (40100, 40300H and 40200H) There was a rift between owners and SC went with different factory. The original 40100, 40300H, and 40200H planers are being reintroduced shortly (Already on their way) and will be sold direct to the consumer via a online website under the original factory's CUTECH label. There is also word of a low priced 40100H helical style possibly in the future mix.
Former SC TS
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