About Us
Powell Tool Supply is a family-owned Precision Cutting Tool, Industrial Supplies, and MRO/Safety distributor that has been in business since 1948. We take great pride in our skilled team being able to service our customers to best meet their needs and help them achieve their goals through quality products and process improvements. Powell Tool Supply also supports its customers with VMI, improving MRR, and by equipping their customers with the proper PPE to keep employees safe.
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Powell Tool Supply has made its mark in the industrial sector. Brothers Harley and Ralph Powell started the business right after World War II in 1948. Their interest in quality lines and sound financial planning produced steady growth. Their core beliefs were best stated in their first catalog published in 1963: “We make every effort to conduct the affairs of our company so as to continue to merit your confidence and respect as customers as well as the confidence and respect of the manufacturers we represent. ” Harley and Ralph retired in October 1979. Larry Powell filled that vacancy until 1987.
Al Eaton, who began working at Powell as a janitor in his high school years and quickly learned every aspect of the business, assumed the responsibility of president in 1987 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2002. Al's daughter, Cari Eaton, currently serves as its CEO and owner. Mike Stevenson as President. They likewise began in entry-level positions and with their dedication and expertise stand at the helm to keep the direction originally set by the Powell brothers. They have been with Powell since 1978, until Mike Stevenson retirement in 2017. Rick Melvin came on board as President in 2017 and brings 32 years of Industrial distribution experience to the organization. The company prides itself in remaining family- and privately-owned to date. Harley and Ralph moved their home-based business to its current corporate HQ location in South Bend, Indiana in 1957. Steady growth demanded expansions of this facility in 1967 and 1992, bringing the total workspace to approximately 12,000 square feet.
Additional adjacent property has been acquired in anticipation of the company's proven ability to expand. A branch was opened in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1999 due to a demand in that market area.
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Powell Tool Supply continues to expand not only its product line offering but also its service to customers across the United States and globally. Powell is no longer limited to the immediate "Michiana" and Ft. Wayne areas. As a member of Affiliated Distributors, there is access to additional product lines at competitive prices and opens avenues to servicing customers across our country. Powell also lends a valuable presence as a member of the Industrial Supply Association (ISA) and the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA). Powell Tool Supply is also a nationally certified women-owned minority business (WBENC) since 2016.
Powell's first product line in 1948 was Celfor Tool Company with drills as its main offering. Soon after, National Twist Drill and Besly Tap and Gage followed. Primarily a cutting tool house for many years, it has expanded its offering to include MRO and janitorial supplies in order to be a full-service supplier, from cutting tools to paper. Powell has been able to broaden its range of product also through Supply Force, a national accounts integrated supply and procurement services program. The company prides itself with its exceptional sales team and believes it has one of the finest in the industry. You will find both inside and outside sales representatives to be courteous and knowledgeable. Its entire staff is compiled of men and women who share the same core values as those implemented by Harley and Ralph in those beginning years. Currently a staff of 20 people lends the advantage of a combined total of over 430 years of industry-related experience. All play a vital part in the process of delivering to the customer the finest in product and service. Powell strives to build the customer/distributor/manufacturer relationship and believes that training is an essential element. Its sales team is regularly exposed to updates in technology as well as seminars provided by the manufacturer. It also makes available to the customer seminars conducted at Powell, at the customer's facility or at the manufacturer.
Powell Tool Supply's goal is not only to offer superior product but to be on the cutting edge of providing solutions in the everyday workplace. It teams up with the manufacturer to facilitate product testing and to assess productivity and cost analysis. It offers Vendor Managed Inventory in all forms; i.e. stock maintained at Powell, manual inventory control on site and vending machines. -
Harley and Ralph Powell founded Powell Tool Supply, Inc. in 1948 as a family owned business with an idea and a conviction, to provide valuable support and service to the community by providing quality cutting tool products from world class respected manufacturers. Their main GOAL was to provide value to customers to allow them to meet their company's goals. This was received in the marketplace with great enthusiasm from their customers, suppliers and the community as Powell tool continues to provide our unique offering. This corporate attitude and focus are what made Powell relevant for over 70 years, and this core attitude is still integral to everyone at Powell Tool to continue to provide solutions and value for many years to come.
Powell Tool Supply continues to develop its capabilities in Vendor Managed Inventory as well as acquiring access to more product lines and services. It is expanding its online capabilities which will streamline the ordering process for the customer. Powell recognizes that each customer is unique and has its own special needs and rises to accommodate these ever-changing requirements with "tailor-made" solutions.
Having reached the milestone of 72 years in business, Powell Tool Supply also credits its success to good work ethics and sound business practices despite the temptations to do otherwise in an industry that has become so competitive. It relentlessly maintains high standards and a reputation of being respectable and dependable.
“Our vision is to continually offer relevant services and quality products to our marketplace, to ensure we remain the distributor of choice to our Customers, Suppliers and the community we service. This vision will continue to make Powell a company our partners can rely on to help them achieve their goals for years to come."
