DEWALT, a Stanley Black & Decker brand, is celebrating its 100th anniversary of powering the pros. Through its commitment to innovation, safety and productivity, DEWALT has been delivering tools to meet the needs of professional tradespeople around the world since 1924 when Raymond DeWalt’s forward-looking vision resulted in the founding of DEWALT.
“DEWALT has been committed to professional tradespeople for the past 100 years, and Raymond DeWalt’s founding principles of innovation, safety and productivity remain the core ethos of our company today,” says Chris Nelson, CEO, executive vice president and president, Tools & Outdoor at Stanley Black & Decker. “When we put the DEWALT name on something, it’s a commitment that our tools will help get the job done right. This milestone anniversary is also a humbling reminder of both the responsibility and critical role DEWALT plays supporting the trades with solutions, training and resources needed to meet the demands of the future.”
DEWALT has championed the trades sector since its founding, and in 2019, the company began offering annual DEWALT Trades Scholarships to support and grow the next generation of trades professionals. DEWALT continues to expand its commitment to the future generations of tradespeople. In 2023, DEWALT pledged $30 million over five years toward its Grow the Trades initiatives to support active and aspiring tradespeople. In addition, DEWALT contributed nearly $7 million last year to programs that support tradespeople, including trade schools, VOCTEC schools and other training organizations, while also collaborating with industry and non-profit partners on increasing women, diversity and veteran participation in the trades.
A Company Built on Innovation
Raymond DeWalt was a tradesman in Pennsylvania in the early 1920s and became a power tool pioneer when he sought a way to streamline and expedite wood-cutting operations without sacrificing quality or safety. His journey led to the invention of the “Wonder-Worker,” an adjustable electric radial arm saw that provided the ability to efficiently execute multiple operations on one affordable piece of equipment, and the creation of DEWALT.
The “Wonder-Worker” set the stage for DEWALT to begin distributing products both nationally and internationally, with the company counting household names like Steinway & Sons and Westinghouse Electric Co. among its satisfied clients. By 1927, Sears, Roebuck boasted that DEWALT’s saw contributed to helping manufacture “50 ready-cut houses” each day.
Later in life, DeWalt focused on helping close the skilled trades gap. He became a shop teacher at Mechanicsburg High School in Pennsylvania, educating the next generation of professional tradespeople. DeWalt passed away in 1961, but his trailblazing legacy lives on in the tools and outdoor products that bear his name.
Today, DEWALT powers trades around the world with award-winning products that includes a portfolio of power tools and technology equipment, hand tools, accessories and storage as well as outdoor powered equipment.
Our Commitment to the Pro
Alongside its commercial success, DEWALT from the beginning has influenced the trajectory of the industry through its commitment to innovation, safety and productivity:
- In the 1930s, DEWALT collaborated with the U.S. government and industry organizations to define and improve safety regulations in the construction industry, before the establishment of what is now known as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
- During the 1940s, DEWALT began a period of rapid expansion of its manufacturing capabilities to meet the demands of government orders in connection with national defense requirements.
- In 1992, DEWALT introduced its first line of portable electric power tools and accessories designed to meet the unique needs of pro users. Two years later, DEWALT introduced a revolutionary system of more than 30 new cordless tools, including the most powerful cordless tools at the time: the 14.4-volt cordless drill/driver and the 5 3/8-inch cordless saw.
- In 2016, DEWALT introduced FLEXVOLT, which was the world’s first battery that automatically changes voltage when the user changes tools.
- In 2021, DEWALT was the world’s first major power tool brand to use pouch cell batteries designed for the construction industry with the launch of its POWERSTACK battery.
- In 2023, DEWALT introduced the DEWALT Ascent Series. The completely reimagined battery-powered commercial mowing platform with advanced tech solutions.
- In 2024, DEWALT announced the launch of DEWALT POWERSHIFT, a groundbreaking equipment system to optimize the workflow of concrete jobsites through electrification.
Anniversary Celebrations Throughout the Year
DEWALT will celebrate its milestone anniversary in multiple ways this year. A few highlights include:
- Launching innovative products including DEWALT POWERSHIFT, an electrified equipment system that optimizes the end-to-end workflow of concrete job sites, which made its debut at the World of Concrete trade show last week with an electrifying activation on the exterior of Sphere;
- Ringing The Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange on May 14, 2024, officially marking 100 years in business;
- Introducing a special anniversary branding and paint scheme on NASCAR driver Christopher Bell’s #20 Toyota Camry; and
- A “Pro Series” social media campaign honoring and highlighting the contributions of current professionals and promoting careers in the trades
“Entering DEWALT’s second century, we remain just as committed to driving relentless innovation and supporting the trades as Raymond DeWalt did in 1924. From cutting-edge technology to skills development, DEWALT’s future remains strong, and we will lead the way in empowering tradespeople to succeed while defining the next era of industry innovation,” Nelson said.
