Evolving to Serve More Customers

Throughout the 1990s, Snap-on continued to expand product lines globally to better serve professionals in critical industries. To deliver a more comprehensive total shop solution for repair shop owners and managers, well known brands such as Sun®, Mitchell1®, John Bean® and Hofmann® expanded the product portfolio in diagnostics, repair information, alignment and undercar equipment.

The Sioux® and Williams® brands were acquired to extend our offering in power tools and hand tools for critical industry segments such as aviation and oil and gas. To expand our tool offering for professional tradesmen internationally, Snap-on purchased Eurotools in 1995, which included established European brands such as Irimo®, Irazola®, Palmera® and Acesa®.

In 1999, Sandvik Saws and Tools, a division of Swedish based Sandvik AB, became a part of the Snap-on family, not only adding a full range of saws and accessories, but also a global manufacturing base. With this, Snap-on acquired the Bahco® brand with its iconic fish and hook logo. This design is one of the world’s oldest trademarks still in use, registered on January 28, 1879, and remains a key element for the Bahco® brand identification. In total, more than two dozen companies were acquired during the decade, increasing Snap-on’s capabilities to reach more customers.