WHERE IT STARTED

Superior Tool Company was founded in 1946 in Cleveland, Ohio, initially as a distributor of U.S. Government surplus hand tools following World War II. Over the next five decades, the company evolved into a manufacturer of tubing and pipe tools and hex key wrenches, building a reputation for reliability among hardware distributors across the country.

BUILT FOR THE TRADE

In the late 1980s, Superior shifted its focus to developing American-made plumbing tools designed specifically for the plumbing aisle, first at big box retailers and then at hardware stores and home centers nationwide. Professional plumbers and serious do-it-yourselfers alike took notice, and Superior's reputation for professional quality tools grew steadily with them.

By the late 1990s, Superior doubled down on innovation, developing tools purpose-built for the needs of working plumbers. The 2000s brought a wave of proprietary products that solved real problems on the job, including the SinkDrain Wrench®, Drain Stick™, ShutOff Wrench™, BasinBuddy™, and more. That commitment to practical innovation drove significant company growth and earned Superior a spot on the Weatherhead 100 list as one of the fastest-growing companies in Northeast Ohio, three years running.

JOINED THE C.H. HANSON FAMILY

In August 2020, C.H. Hanson acquired Superior Tool, bringing it into a family of brands built on shared values of quality, customer service, and continuous innovation. The fit was a natural one. Superior's decades-long focus on professional plumbing tools aligned directly with C.H. Hanson's commitment to building products that tradespeople can depend on. Since the acquisition, C.H. Hanson has continued to invest in Superior's research, development, and marketing to keep advancing the brand's mission: plumbing tools for professionals.

STILL STANDING BEHIND EVERY TOOL

Nearly 80 years after its founding, Superior Tool remains the dependable choice for innovative plumbing tools that help professionals get the job done faster and with less frustration. Every tool carries a lifetime guarantee, and every customer can reach a knowledgeable, full-time company representative by phone when they need support. That level of care is not an afterthought. It is part of what it means to be Superior Tool.
Superior Tool. Make it Happen.

A HISTORY OF RECOGNITION

Superior Tool has earned consistent recognition for innovation throughout its history. Some highlights are noted below.

• 2026 - C.H. Hanson acquire EasyCAM® Sewer Inspection Cameras
• 2020 - C.H. Hanson acquires Superior Tool, investing in R&D and marketing to advance innovation and production of plumbing tools for professionals
• 2007 - eVolution in Manufacturing Award from Cleveland-based MAGNET (Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network) and Smart Business magazine
• 2007 - Dealer Design Silver Award in the Tool Category from Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration News magazine
• 2007 - Power of Partnerships Award with Tecate Industries, a division of the Tecate Group and San Diego-based Maxwell Technologies
• 2007 - Recognized by the American Hardware Manufacturers Association for 60 years in business
• 2002 - Nortech Innovation Award for the DrainStick™
• 2001 - Outstanding Partnership Initiatives recognition from Lowe's
• 2001 - The Handyman Club of America's Member-Tested Seal of Approval for the DrainStick™
• 2001 - Retailer's Choice Award from Do-It-Yourself Retailing magazine for the DrainStick™
• 2001 - Nortech Innovation Award for Bayonet Threadless Tubular™
• 2000 - Finalist in the Innovators in Customer Service category of the Inc./Cisco Growing with Technology Awards
• 1998 - Outstanding Growth Company, Weatherhead 100 List of the fastest growing firms in Northeast Ohio
• 1997 - Outstanding Growth Company, Weatherhead 100 List of the fastest growing firms in Northeast Ohio
• 1996 - Outstanding Growth Company, Weatherhead 100 List of the fastest growing firms in Northeast Ohio