James Hamilton(Stumpy nubs) posted on FB that saw stop has been sold to Festool. Sorry if this has already been posted elsewhere.

 

Steve

I just saw that as well......guess the haters won't have Steve Gass to kick around any more. That does not bode well for the price of SS saws in the future, methinks. But on the bright side, it isn't a Chinese company buying them. Here's the source..... or one source, maybe of many. Another thing I was thinking of is that our style saws generally aren't sold in Europe because they don't meet  a long list of safety design features (as I understand it). I wonder of Festool will try to sell this saw over there, it should be interesting to watch what happens.

Edited June 26, 20178 yr by Fred W. Hargis Jr

2 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

I just saw that as well......guess the haters won't have Steve Gass to kick around any more. That does not bode well for the price of SS saws in the future, methinks. But on the bright side, it isn't a Chinese company buying them. Here's the source..... or one source, maybe of many. Another thing I was thinking of is that our style saws generally aren't sold in Europe because they don't meet  a long list of safety design features (as I understand it). I wonder of Festool will try to sell this saw over there, it should be interesting to watch what happens.

 

I suspect that it will continue just as it has in North America. I just don't see it as meeting the European taste and standards.

 

As for Gass, I bet he didn't give up the patents when he sold the company. Now all he has to do is, sit back and collect royalties. Meanwhile, he avoids all of the legal issues.

This was the press release on Sawstop's Web Site:

 

SawStop to be Acquired by TTS Tooltechnic Systems

06.26.2017

Tualatin, Oregon – June 26, 2017: SawStop today announced the acquisition of SawStop, LLC by TTS Tooltechnic Systems, a third-generation family-owned company based in Wendlingen, Germany. The TTS family of companies includes Festool, Tanos, Cleantec and others, and employs more than 2,500 people around the globe.

“We are proud to join a company with a shared passion for customer safety, product quality and meticulous engineering,” said SawStop’s President, Dr. Stephen Gass. “Speaking for our entire team in Tualatin, Oregon and across North America, we are excited to join with TTS to bring safer woodworking to more people through new tools and in new markets around the world. With a family like TTS at our side, I can’t wait to see what we will accomplish together.”

The acquisition is expected to be completed in July 2017. SawStop’s current management team will continue to operate the company out of its Oregon headquarters.

Yep, German.

 

http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/sawstop-be-acquired-tts-tooltechnic-systems?utm_source=Real_Magnet&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=byhammerandhand@yahoo.com&utm_content=BREAKING NEWS&utm_campaign=Breaking%3A SawStop acquired by TTS Tooltechnic

It will be interesting to see if they will still be made in Taiwan.

"We are proud to join a company with a shared passion for customer safety" . A quote from Steven Gass, the man who worked so hard to prohibit other manufacturers from selling their improved safety designs in the USA.  Since customers won't buy the sawstop under his ownership, I guess he figures they will buy it under different management, even though he will be the big winner. HIs greed is written all over the sale.

Will the real inventor of the SawStop technology please stand up.  I still don't believe it was Gass.

 

 

Edited June 27, 20178 yr by HandyDan

Good enough reason for me not to buy Festool products now...of course me being struck by lightning was a greater likelihood prior to their purchase of SS.

 

My guess the sale was contingent on Gass remaining at the helm for at least one year. I can't imagine FT not having their own team driving the bus for very long.

 

I experienced a few acquisitions from the bottom of the pile.  I learnt some lessons:

1.  Stress kills:  really; killed at least three, maybe more in the transitions I lived

2.  New buyer makes old management stay for two years minimum to glean their experience

3.  Old management suffers greatly in the second year, especially when the buyer ignores their advice

4.  Entrepreneurs can't stand wearing the collar (slave collar); drives 'em nuts.  Slave collars are an acquired taste.

5.  Operations never seem to live up to the expectations of the buy: psychologically, it's due to buyers and sellers operating from Fantasy Land

6.  Once you understand that all employment (Life, too!) is a temp thing, it gets easier

So, this Festool/SawStop thing will be interesting, from the outside.  I'm curious to see what Bosch is doing in Europe.

18 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

 Guess the haters won't have Steve Gass to kick around any more. 

 Sorry Fred, but I just have a hard time with a business owner in this country that does not want to support the American worker, and then attempts to force the American consumer to do the same.   

Edited June 27, 20178 yr by CharlieL

18 hours ago, Steve Krumanaker said:

James Hamilton(Stumpy nubs) posted on FB that saw stop has been sold to Festool.

Stumpy Nubs, brought to you by SawStop. Imagine that.

59 minutes ago, CharlieL said:

 Sorry Fred, but I just have a hard time with a business owner in this country that does not want to support the American worker, and then attempts to force the American consumer to do the same.   

 

That's the point...he is apparently no longer a business owner in this country.