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MADE IN PORTLAND
July 25, 2013
LEATHERMAN
By KYLIE WRAY
The Tribune
L
eatherman, a Portland tool group, was
founded in July 1983 after Portland
mechanical engineer Tim Leather-
man realized something very detri-
mental in a time of crisis. His car broke down,
and he didn’t have pliers on his pocketknife.
“I was carrying an old Boy Scout-type knife
and used it for everything from slicing bread
to making adjustments to the car. But I kept
wishing I had a pair of pliers,” Leatherman
wrote on the company’s website.
After several years of growing a company,
they made their first sale to hunting and fish-
ing outfitter Cabela’s.
Since then,
Leatherman has
grown to support 600
employees making
15,000 folding multi-
tools a day.
The company pro-
duces 40 different
styles of tools which
each go through an
average of 150 differ-
ent processes during
production. Leather-
man usually releases
a new product every
year.
Leatherman’s web-
site provides a list of
all the tools uses and
features as well as user guides. They also
provide an activity finder to help customers
narrow down which tools would be of the
most use for their activities of choice.
According to Leatherman’s website, their
mission is to “improve people’s lives by creat-
ing products which prepare them for the ex-
pected and unexpected.”
Leatherman has been recognized as one of
Oregon’s Healthiest Employers for the last
two years. Five years ago, Leatherman start-
ed LiveWell, a wellness program designed to
address all aspects of an employee’s well-be-
ing. According to its website: “The program
covers everything from individual specific
health care, to work and home stress man-
agement, to finance and a healthy diet.” But
the programs not only benefit their employ-
ee’s, but their friends and families as well, as
they take home the knowledge that they gain
from the classes. In a company with more
than 500 employees, not everyone gets to
know each other, and the LiveWell program
gives them the chance to interact.
Leatherman is also introducing the “Pink
Program,” a line of tools dedicated to raising
money for cancer research and awareness.
The program offers three different styles in
pink colors featuring the breast cancer rib-
bon. Their website encourages shoppers to
ask their stores to stock this collection if they
are not already doing so.
Leatherman has a retail store in Portland
at Cascade Station, not far from their manu-
facturing facility.
Leatherman stands behind its products
with a 25 year no-questions-asked warranty.
But Portland will never lose Leatherman.
Before retiring, Leatherman put in the by-
laws that his company would never leave the
state.
Because founder wanted pliers with his knife, international tool company
grows from humble beginnings
“I was carrying an old Boy Scout-type knife and used
it for everything from slicing bread to making
adjustments to the car. But I kept wishing I had a pair
of pliers.”
— Tim Leatherman
Leatherman
Tool Group
Inc.
12106 N.E .
Ainsworth Circle
Portland 97220-
9001
PHONE:
503-253-7826
TOLL FREE:
800- 847-8665
leatherman.com
TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO
A Leatherman “Charge” model multipurpose tool is one of the pieces manufactured in Portland.