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Kaiser Tool Co. is celebrating its 55th anniversary. The company was founded in 1964 by William Kaiser with the purpose of supplying small cutting tools for lathes. He decided to make tools starting at 0.004 inch and available in 0.001 inch increments. Because these thin lathe tools were known as “bits,” Thinbit was chosen as the product name.

The first production of Thinbit was done at the home of William and Hazel Kaiser in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Manufacturing was done in the garage, employees used the bathroom and kitchen of the house, and the sales office was in the attic. 

In 1980, Kaiser Tool Co. moved to a site along the St. Mary’s river but in 1982, flooding threatened to destroy the business. The efforts of the employees, along with sand bags from President Ronald Regan, saved the factory.

In 1994, the company built an energy-efficient manufacturing facility. In 2018, Kaiser Tool Co. expanded its facility, adding additional manufacturing space. This year, the original manufacturing floor is being remodeled to improve efficiency and working conditions. This facility includes geothermal heating and cooling, LED lighting and waste recycling.