Our commitments to manufacturing excellence and product innovation have been the cornerstone of Vermont American since 1948. That’s when founder Lee B. Thomas Sr. received the first order for 12,000 circular saw blades from Sears, Roebuck & Company. Initially called American Saw and Tool, the company originated the manufacturing model for mass-production of the first high-quality, economical circular saw blade.

During the next 40 years, Vermont American grew its business through additional acquisitions and construction of new manufacturing and distribution facilities throughout the United States.

By the mid-1980s, Vermont American had become not only the largest but the most recognized and respected manufacturer of power tool accessories for professional, industrial and do-it-yourself markets across North America.

In 2002, Vermont American's long time co-owner Robert Bosch GmbH became the sole owner of the company and formed the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation. Today, we’re the world’s largest manufacturer of circular saw blades and power tool accessories. We’re proud of our rich past and dedicated to quality and service for the future.

Power Tool Accessories Manufacturing Facilities

The Vermont American brand has a rich history of designing and manufacturing its products in the United States —and still does today. We are proud to produce the finest bits and blades at plants in the USA that are staffed with top-quality employees. Below is a list of the company’s domestic manufacturing facilities and what is produced at each plant.

• Lincolnton, NC - Router tables, hole saws, threading tools
• Louisville, KY - Multi-Metals – tungsten carbide products

Circular Saw Blades

Not only was Vermont American the first manufacturer to mass-produce carbide-tipped circular saw blades, but the company also developed the following blade innovations:

• Dyanite® carbide—an alloy modification that increases the life of cemented tungsten carbide by 20x. 
• Titanium carbide—a material that makes Vermont American’s Titanium 10X® circular saw blades last up to 10x longer and stay 3x sharper than standard carbide blades.

Twist Drill Bits & Screwdriver Bits

Vermont American has applied the same innovative technology across other accessory categories, including bits:

• Speed helix technology—developed to dramatically improve dust removal to reduce heat buildup and extend bit life.
• Titanium coated drill bits—designed for maximum durability and longevity.
• Cyrogenically hardened screwdriver bit tips—highly resistant to wear due to a deep-freezing process that locks in a precise molecular structure, producing bits that are extremely hard without becoming brittle.
• Screwdriving bit tips with gripping ribs—provide a better fit and reduce slippage in the screw head (less cam-out).

Router Tables & Accessories

Vermont American has also made its mark on the routing category with a complete line of router bits, router tables and routing accessories. In fact, Vermont American was the first manufacturer to launch an aluminum-top router table.

Vermont American Milestones

• 1947—First circular saw blade is produced on November 25, 1947
• 1948—First shipment of circular saw blades. Through innovative engineering, the company introduces steel dado blades
• 1953—Acquires J.V. Pilcher Co., introduces molding heads
• 1954—Completes successful acquisition of Deluxe Saw & Tool Co.
• 1955—Acquires Multi-Metals, a producer of powder metal parts
• 1957—Introduces industrial taps & dies 1958—Company expands beyond industrial taps and dies into consumer tap and die market
• 1959—Develops high speed steel router bits
• 1960—Builds first plant, Lincolnton Manufacturing Division
• 1961—Corporate name changes to Vermont American; develops the first investment cast router bits
• 1963—With successful acquisition of Maxson Saw & Manufacturing Co., product line is expanded to include reciprocating saw blades, hacksaw blades and bandsaw blades; Corporate Engineering/ Machine Division is formed
• 1965—Introduces carbide tipped adjustable dadoes, dado sets and rotary planner heads
• 1968—Builds manufacturing plant to produce high speed steel twist drill bits
• 1970—Acquires Magna Division for its position in the screwdriver bits market
• 1973—Vermont American tops $50 million in sales
• 1974—Acquires Rosco Tools
• 1976—Vermont American moves into new distribution center in Lincolnton, NC
• 1977—Completes Toccoa Division to produce steel circular saw blades
• 1978—Completes Auburn Division for manufacture of router bits; introduces the first thin rim carbide circular saw blades
• 1979—Acquires DML Lineberry Division
• 1980—Adds warehouse in Ogden, Utah
• 1982—Introduces titanium nitride coated power tool accessories
• 1983—Fountain Inn Division added to manufacture screwdrivers; introduces first slack belt sander for radial saws, the first pin router unit and the first high speed steel forstner bits; introduces Pro-Bore® self-feed bits
• 1984—Acquires Universal Franchises, Vermont American Australia; acquires Carbide Blast Joints
• 1985—Acquires Vermont GmbH & Westa Werkzehau GmbH, Germany; establishes Vermont American Canada in Mississauga
• 1986—Sets up carbide circular saw blade plant in Australia; introduces Laser X2™ carbide tipped circular saw blades; develops first multiple-blade carbide tipped dado
• 1987—Acquires The Credo Co., Woodburn, Oregon
• 1988—Introduces Dyanite® carbide—a patented process that increases the life of a carbide blade up to ten times
• 1989—Vermont American is first manufacturer to apply ribbed-tip technology to power screwdriver bits; first manufacturer to offer Iso-Temp™ toughening process for screwdriving accessories that increases life up to six times by increasing fracture resistance of tips; merges with Emerson Electric Co. and Robert Bosch GmbH (Sears is a preferred stock holder until 1991)
• 1991—Introduces The Claw® hand screwdriver with ribbed-tip technology; introduces the Sidewinder™ drill bit and Lightning™ circular saw blades
• 1992—Acquires Forest City Tool and gains access to the industrial woodworking market; begins co-sponsorship with The New Yankee Workshop; introduces the Wood Devil™ spade bit with unique spurs that provide a cleaner, smoother and faster cut
• 1993—Primark Tool Group is formed; VA Singapore is started
• 1995—Master Series™ circular saw blades are launched with optimum performance for specific applications and machines; Vermont American and Credo Marketing Groups are moved to Louisville corporate headquarters; VA Asia in Hong Kong is formed
• 1996—Wood Eater® hole saws are introduced, cutting six times faster than standard bi-metal hole saws; new masonry drill bit introduced, twice the speed of standard rotary masonry drill bits; VA Shanghai and VA Japan are formed
• 1997—National Retail Hardware Association gives Vermont American more awards for innovative new products than any other manufacturer; company is the largest manufacturer of power tool accessories in the world
• 1998—company celebrates 50 years of making power tool accessories for professionals and do-it-yourselfers; Ice-Bit™ screwdriver bits are launched, cryogenically hardened for extra-long life
• 1999—Acquires Carbbits for masonry drill bit capacity
• 2000—Robert Bosch GmbH completes acquisition of Vermont American
• 2003—Robert Bosch Tool Corporation created

Management Team

Uwe Thym, President, Accessories Business Unit – North America
Joseph Smith, Vice President, Brand, Channel & Product Marketing
Uwe Hirsch, Vice President Finance
Al Deremo, Director Special Markets Group
George Ireland, Director Channel Marketing
Kevin Enke, Brand Manager
Chris Carlson, Group Product Manager - Woodworking
Steve Angus, Group Product Manager - Linear Edge & Abrasives
Ed Pchola, Group Product Manager - Drill / Drive
James Mogle, Product Manager, Hole Saws, Hack Saws & Band Saw Blades
Tom Fuller, Product Manager, Diamond & Bonded Abrasives
Mike DeMaira, Associate Product Manager, Hand Tools
Fulvio Camarotto, Associate Product Manager, Hammer & Masonry Bits
Jose Diaz, Product Manager, Screwdriving
Joseph Serpico, Product Manager, Router Bits & Coated Abrasives
Ken Osberg, Product Manager, Wood Drilling
Jon Howell, Product Manager, Circular Saw Blades
Stefanie Reynolds, Product Manager, Router Tables & Accessories
Heather Evans, Associate Product Manager, Mixed Sets

US Headquarters:

Robert Bosch Tool Corporation
Accessories Business Unit
1800 West Central Road
Mount Prospect, IL USA 60056
Telephone (224) 232-2000

Canadian Headquarters:

Vermont American Canada
1226 Cardiff Boulevard
Mississauga Ontario L5S 1P6
Telephone (905) 564-1155

Global Headquarters:

Robert Bosch GmbH
Power Tool Division
Max-Lang Strasse 40-46
70745 Leinfelden Echterdingen
Germany

Web site: http://www.vermontamerican.com