A & E Incorporated, a privately held Racine, WI-based company, recently announced that they have purchased the operating assets of the Zim Manufacturing Company of Chicago.
Zim Manufacturing, established in 1919, is a manufacturer of automotive specialty tools, including piston ring compressors and valve spring compressors. Products are sold to automotive tool OEMs, major tool distributors, industrial distributors and major fleet maintenance/repair operations. The company manufactures under its own brand name (ZIM), and on a private-label basis.
“This acquisition will give A & E additional product categories to add to its line of proprietary hand tools,” said Ian Lang, A & E’s executive vice president.
A & E produces hand tools for professional automotive technicians under private label to all the large tool companies in the United States and overseas. A & E’s tools are also distributed to the consumer, industrial and OEM markets under its own trade name of Lang Tools.
Lang also announced that A & E Incorporated would be moving the Zim business into its manufacturing plant located in Racine.