Brookfield, Wis.-based Milwaukee Tool announced it is opening a new vertically integrated manufacturing plant in West Bend, Wis. Located 20 minutes from Milwaukee Tool’s global headquarters, the facility will manufacture hand tools for professional electricians and utility linemen.

“With a focus on core users in the Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical trades, our strategy for hand tools from the beginning has been to disrupt the market with superior performance, quality, and user-driven feature sets,” said Tim Albrecht, president of hand tools at Milwaukee Tool. “As we continue with that strategy, we are thrilled to invest in state-of-the-art technology and equipment, and a skilled labor force, right in the heart of Wisconsin, to deliver the next wave of hand tool innovation to the industry.”

The company reports an initial investment of almost $26 million. Ground will be broken for the manufacturing plant in April. Mass production is expected to begin in 2021.

“We will continue to invest, we will continue to grow, and we will continue to change the game,” said Steve Richman, group president at Milwaukee Tool. “In 2020 alone, we will invest over $100 million, and create 350 jobs in the United States to diversify our operations and better serve the professional trades.”

Milwaukee Tool also has manufacturing and distribution operations in Greenwood, Olive Branch, and Jackson, Miss., Mukwonago and Sun Prairie, Wis. The company announced additional expansion plans in Cookeville, Tenn., for power tool manufacturing and assembly, Sun Prairie for accessories manufacturing and Olive Branch for a new 766,000-square-foot distribution facility.