Knaack

Knaack is a division of Emerson Electric Company Professional Tools that is a leading producer of job site storage for the industrial and construction markets. Established in 1960 in Crystal Lake, Illinois, Knaack LLC was the first to offer national distribution of jobsite storage boxes in Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Hammond, Denver and Washington D.C. In 1968, Knaack LLC acquired the Weather Guard Truck Equipment brand from a small sheet metal company in St. Louis. Van equipment was added the same year. In 2000, Emerson Electric Company acquired Knaack LLC to compliment other companies in Emerson Professional Tools business.
History
Knaack was established in 1960 as Knaack Manufacturing Co. by Howard Knaack and his four partners Bill and Ed Brockschmidt, Charlie Schwab and Ed Meyer. Initial operations begun in a 1,700-sf building behind airport hangar. In 1961, Knaack introduced its first work table, and it’s first catalog featuring 10 products in production.
By 1968, Knaack purchased the license to build Weather Guard Truck Line, and moved its headquarters to a newly built 16,000-sf facility. As the demand for products rose, Knaack doubled its Crystal Lake facility to 31,000-sq in 1972, adding bake and enamel ovens the same year. To leverage the growing trend toward vans and utility service in mid-1970’s, Weather Guard van was added to the production line alongside Hi-Side and Underbed Boxes. This new addition allowed Knaack to go International and expand into Canadian and Puerto Rican markets.
Through 1980’s Knaack kept redesigning products and adding more SKUs as well as expending their facility. They became the second company ever to trademark a color (tan), after Owens Corning’s pink. This allowed Knaack to pioneer powder-coating testing, including salt spray for both Knaack and Weather Guard truck and van solutions. To increase efficiency, Knaack upgraded its manufacturing equipment by adding automated coil processing and several robotic welders as well as increase the size of their facility by another 100,000-sf.
1990’s was a decade of wide expansion for Knaack. In 1996, Knaack builds another 172,000-sq facility in Payson, Utah to serve the needs of western markets. In 1998, company expands its custom capabilities by acquitting metal fabrication plant in Rockford, IL for OEM and custom jobsite boxes. By now, Knaack Jobsite has sold 120,155 units and has 72SKUs, while Weather Guard Truck and Van sold 457,984 units of 466 SKUs.
In 2000, Emerson Electric Company acquires Knaack Manufacturing Company. Major global corporation provides resources and capital for further expansion and adds two robotic presses and a first CNC for aluminum tread plate. Knaack Manufacturing Company changes its name to Knaack LLC and rolls out a series of new products, including Monster Box, PowerCrew, and E-Line Saddle Boxes.
In 2010, Knaack celebrated its 50th Anniversary, introducing Model 50 Jobsite Storage Chest, Launching Ford Transit Van storage line as well as introducing new Watchman 5 Lock System.
Corporate Achievements
* 1969 - patented and trademarked Watchman I Lock System
* 1969 - patented and trademarked Watchman I Lock System
* 1975 - patented and trademarked Watchman II Lock System
* 1980 - Knaack Manufacturing Company trademarks tan color - it’s the second company ever to do so, after Owens Corning’s pink
* 1981 - Pioneered powder-coating testing, including salt spray
* 2005 - Extreme Protection Lock System introduced
* 2008 - winner of Professional Builder 100 Best New Products
* 2010 - 50th Anniversary

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