Owner Lowe's Companies, Inc. Introduced 1998 | Country USA Website www.kobalttools.com | |
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Product type Hand and mechanics' tools, power tools, tool storage Markets United States, Mexico, Canada | ||
Kobalt is a line of hand and mechanics' tools, power tools, and tool storage products owned by the American home improvement chain Lowe's. It is the house brand for both Lowe's in North America and their joint venture Masters Home Improvement in Australia.
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History
Lowe's and manufacturing partner J.H. Williams launched Kobalt in 1998, with the intention of competing against rival retailers Sears and The Home Depot and their respective Craftsman and Husky tool brands.
In 2003, the Danaher Corporation began producing the majority of Kobalt hand tools.
In 2011, Lowe's ended its arrangement with Danaher and switched to a different supplier for its mechanic's hand tools, JS Products of Las Vegas, Nevada. Screwdrivers continue to be supplied by Great Neck. The same year, the Kobalt line expanded to include cordless power tools, manufactured by Chervon.
Budget brands
Lowe's has two brands of tools and supplies positioned below Kobalt in quality and cost: Task Force and the more recent Blue Hawk, introduced in 2009.