Eklind Tools, the last major U.S. maker of hex keys, has filed a WARN notice with the state of Illinois announcing the closure of its Franklin Park factory. The plant, which also served as company headquarters, employs 112 workers, all of whom will be affected by the closure.
The filing is dated and listed as a “Plant Closure” under the WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) Act. Eklind’s website still describes the company as “proud to employ over 100 people in our Franklin Park, Illinois factory,” and the brand has not yet published a statement addressing the closure or where future production will move.
What Eklind Made
Eklind has been a fixture in American machine shops and assembly lines for decades, producing hex key (Allen wrench) sets in long-arm, fold-up, T-handle, and ball-end configurations, in both SAE and metric sizes. The brand also supplied hex wrenches to other tool companies under private label, including reportedly Snap-on. Eklind was one of three major U.S. hex key producers alongside Bondhus and Chapman Manufacturing (the latter sold to Bristol Wrench in 2025).
Why It Matters
Hex keys are a small, unglamorous category, but Eklind’s exit is the latest in a string of contractions among U.S. tool manufacturers. ToolGuyds article notes it comes as Apex Tool Group (parent of Gearwrench and Crescent) downsized its own U.S. headquarters earlier this month, and as Stanley Black & Decker warned in its Q1 2026 earnings that Section 301 tariffs could lift prices on imported tools by August.
For buyers, the practical question is supply: existing Eklind stock on shelves and at distributors will continue to sell, but warranty replacements and resupply could get harder. Bondhus is now the obvious heir as the largest remaining U.S.-made hex key brand. Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Wera are the main non-U.S. alternatives for hex drivers on cordless drills and impact drivers.
What to Watch
Eklind has not said whether production will move overseas or simply end. The WARN notice did not specify a closure date, and Illinois filings typically give 60 days notice before layoffs begin. If you stock Eklind sets for production use, this is a good time to verify your spares and check what Bondhus and Chapman equivalents are in distribution.
Sources: ToolGuyd, June 18 2026.
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