Delta sold, manufacturing will move to South Carolina

Chang Type Industrial Co. Ltd., a manufacturing company based in Taiwan, has agreed to purchase the Delta brand of woodworking equipment and machinery from Stanley Black & Decker. The deal is expected to close on Feb. 4.

The new independent company, Delta Power Equipment Corp., will be based in Anderson County, S.C., and led by Bryan Whiffen, who was named president and chief executive officer. Norm MacDonald has also joined the company as an executive vice president and chief operating officer. Both Whiffen and MacDonald have years of experience in the power tool industry and have been responsible for manufacturing and marketing such brands as Ryobi, Homelite, Milwaukee and Ridgid.

The new Delta company will continue to provide a complete line of professional woodworking equipment and machinery, and will continue to build the Unisaw, as well as the Biesemeyer accessories, in the United States. Plans are to move the manufacturing equipment from Jackson, Tenn., to the company's facility in Anderson.

Once fully operational, the Anderson facility will include manufacturing, research and development, engineering, sales and administrative functions.

"We are pleased to be able to say that the Unisaw will continue to be made in the U.S.A.," says Whiffen. "We are also excited for this opportunity to invest in the great Delta brand so that we can bring high quality, innovative woodworking equipment to Delta's loyal customers.

"Stanley Black & Decker has been very supportive of this sale and have agreed to help us make the transition as seamless as possible for our dealers and our customers."

Chang Type manufacturers power tools for the Craftsmen, DeWalt, Ryobi, and Black & Decker brands.