Skil

Skil is a brand of small power tools that are produced by Robert Bosch GmbH.

The portable circular saw was invented in 1924 by Edmond Michel, who founded the "Michel Electric Handsaw Company" along with Joseph L. Sullivan which renamed itself "Skilsaw Inc." Portable circular saws are often still called Skilsaws or Skil saws. Its successor is still sold by Skil as the model 77.

In the 1950s, the company changed its name again, becoming the Skil Corporation, and expanded outside its native borders for the first time. Skilsaw remained the brand name used for the company's products. International sales began in Canada, followed a few years later by Europe. By that time, Skil had also entered the consumer market and, by 1959, had a full and successful range of DIY tools. Skil's European factory was built in 1961 in the Dutch town of Breda, followed soon after by the electric motor plant at Eindhoven.

From the 1970s onwards, Skil constructed a network of factories, service centres and sales offices all around the world, its name becoming synonymous with power tools.

It was taken-over by Emerson Electric in 1979, and sold to Bosch GmbH in 1996.

Skil still has its European head office in Breda. All manufacturing of power tools for the European market is currently outsourced, mainly in China. Pre development, Logisitics, Sales, Marketing and Finance are among the activities of the Dutch head office.

Skil product categories include: circular saws, cordless drill / drivers, cordless screw drivers, cordless tackers, cordless sealant gun, belt sanders, random orbit sanders, multi sanders, angle grinders, hammers, drills, mixers, jig saws, Laser and measuring, reciprocating saws and planers.

* [http://www.skil.com Skil home page]
* [http://www.skileurope.com Skil Europe home page]