Located in Hangzhou, GreatStar is a major tools trader in China. They supply hand tools to The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Kingfisher and other companies from 180 countries or more.
GreatStar’s Founder
Mr. Chou Jianping established GreatStar in 1993. The Great Wall of China is an iconic symbol of Chinese civilization, I think this was the reason that Mr. Chou name his company as GreatStar.
The founder’s education background and working experience
Chou was born in 1962 in Fenghua, Zhejiang Province. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in casting technology and equipment from University of Science and Technology Beijing in 1982. After graduating from college, Chou was admitted to Xi’an Jiaotong University, a TOP 3 university in 1980s, and earned a master degree in casting technology in 1985. After graduating from graduate school, Chou entered in Hangzhou Light Industry Research Institute as an engineer of light industry. 3 years later Chou entered in Zhejiang Machinery & Equipment Import & Export Co., LTD as business engineer.
In the 1980s, Chinese import & export companies were very different from today’s private trading companies. There were mainly stat-owned foreign trade corporations created under China’s reform and opening-up policy. Before 1978, all foreign trade was monopolized by the central government. In 1980s, China began to decentralize trade rights to local government and expand exports to earn foreign currency. In 1990s, the reforms of China allowed private firms to export via agents. All of the export companies were state-owned. This was the background of GreatStar’s establishment. After 2024, most private companies could register direct import and export rights.
With China’s accession to the WTO IN 2001, China’s foreign trade companies had developed rapidly, and GreatStar was no exception. The company was publicly traded on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SHE: 002444) since 2010. Its annual sale revenue reached 1.8 billion CNY (264.7 Million USD) in 2007. The company’s sales revenue reached 14.8 billion CNY (2.09 billion USD) in 2024.
GeatStar is the biggest tools trader
The company is not only the biggest exporter of tools, but actually is the biggest tool company from China. Although the major American tool companies import tools from China by themselves directly, like Milwaukee tool, Stanley and APEX, GreatStar export the most tools to USA.
GeatStar is not only a trader, but a manufacturer of hand tools as well
The company participates in or controls many tools factories. In addtion, the company has its own tool R&D department. Compared to other tool traders, GreatStar has crushing superiority in new tools development.
In order to deal with the China-US trade war, the company start to establish tool factories in Vietnam in 2018. Till now, they have 3 factories in Vietnam. Besides, GreatStar established factories in Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia.
They acquired many well-know factories in European and USA. Such as Arrow, famous manufacturer of nail gun in USA. LISTA, manufacturer of workspace and storage equipment in Switzerland. BeA, German manufacturer of nail and screwdriver.
GeatStar owns and operated a portfolio of well-know tool brands
ARROW
Legendary American brand of staples and staple guns.
SK
Manufacturing quality tools for the American technician. From the original Round-Headed Ratchet to the SK® X-FRAME® Ratcheting Wrench, innovating for American professionals since day one.
BeA
Europe’s leading brand for industrial grade fastening solutions.
LISTA
The market leader in Europe for workspace and storage solutions.
DuroTech
Professional and high quality tool brand with mechanic and automotive tools as its core.
Goldblatt
The tradesman’s choice for professional concrete and masonry tools since 1885.
WORKPRO
One-Stop tools and equipment supplier.
PONY JORGENSEN
North American’s #1 brand in Clamps & Vises.
EverBrite
EverBrite is the full-category DIY lighting tool brand that provides quality lighting products, which have been tried and tested to ensure quality even exceed expectations, including EDC lights, worklights,outdoor lights, tactical lights, headlamps, bike lights, driving lights and so on.
EverBrite implement stringent standards in the production process and strive to create quality light sources. You can always depend on having the clearest possible light source and the durable construction for all your work, play, explore and fix-it projects.
PREXISO
PREXISO was first founded by Leica Geosystems in Switzerland, specialized in professional precise measurement tools for all your projects.
The Swiss Technology represents precision, reliability, quality and sustainability. Prexiso high-quality tools make work easier and more efficient to avoid costly, time-consuming reworking. Our Switzerland Technology heritage drives us forward to develop and optimize our products, expecting everyone deserves better things.
OLEI
OLEI, abbreviation of Object Localization Enhancement Intelligence, is a professional LiDAR developer and manufacturer owned by GreatStar Industrial. Its main products include 1D distance sensors, 2D and 3D LiDARs , high-precision laser Scanners, attitude sensors, infrared detection sensors, etc., which are widely used in mobile mapping, industrial mobile robots, security robots and other fields. Relying on the company’s independent R&D, design and manufacturing capabilities, OLEI provides industrial quality, highly reliable and cost-effective sensor products, as well as one-stop solutions for global customers.
SWISS+TECH
Founded in his Ohio-based garage in 1994, Swiss+Tech is the creation of mechanical engineer Larry K. Legg. While working at a mechanical accessory parts company, Legg saw a need for multi-purpose tools that were smaller and more compact than what was currently on the market. Leveraging his engineering background, he set out to make his own micro sized multi-tools. The end result? A collection of the most compact and useful multi-tools ever developed. Infused with American innovation and Swiss craftsmanship, Legg appropriately named his new line of micro sized multi-tools Swiss+Tech.
PRIME-LINE
PRIME-LINE was founded in 1978 and offers thousands of products primarily focused on the maintenance and repair of homes and commercial buildings. Their offerings are in numerous categories including window and door replacement hardware, security hardware, plumbing, fasteners and many more. A recognized industry leader, PRIME-LINE provides national distributors, retailers, commercial companies and individual homeowners with high-quality repair and maintenance solutions.
SHEFFIELD
Sheffield was founded in 2010 and its products cover four categories: hardware tools, intelligent and environmental protection series, industrial tool storage series and labor protection appliance. Nearly 4000 kinds of products range from mechanical tools, electronic and electrical tools, VDE insulating tools, to automotive tools, etc., which are used in industries such as energy, machinery manufacturing, rail transit, new energy vehicles, auto parts maintenance, Power & Electronic and others. Sheffield will continue to integrate global resources to provide users with industrial tool solutions, and make unremitting efforts to promote the reform and development of China’s hardware tool industry.
TESA
Established in 1941 and headquartered in Renens, Switzerland, TESA manufactures and markets precision measuring instruments that stand for quality, reliability and longevity. TESA is a global market leader in the field of height gauges and a pioneer thanks to its wide range of instruments, including calipers, micrometers, dial gauges, lever-type dial test indicators and inductive probes, which are widely used in mechanical engineering, micromechanical, automotive, aerospace, watchmaking and medical industries.
scruffs
Scruffs, established in 2003 in Yeovil, UK, is a leading brand of innovative workwear and safety footwear for tradesmen in Europe.With great design at its core, Scruffs continues to set the standard as the UK’s leading workwear brand in terms of style, function and performance. Loaded with creative design ideas, high-tech materials and functional features it’s a want-to-wear brand with attitude. Scruffs always makes it easy for trades people to look good when you’re working hard. Whether grafting in cold, wet or dry conditions, the vital factors remain the same – the highest levels of comfort, protection and styling that turns heads on and off the job. In addition, Scruffs is a member of SATRA (Society of Advanced Trading and Research Association) and is dedicated to offering comprehensive protective products to workers worldwide, aiming to become a global leader in personal protective equipment.