Ryobi Brand: What You Need To Know

Why Choose Ryobi?

Ryobi is a well-known brand among DIYers and homeowners due to its prices and quality. The brand’s tools are designed for an average person, and they’re generally less expensive than similar power tools on the market.

The company manufactures a huge variety of items that include battery-powered and cordless appliances. The variety of products and the ability of these tools to withstand rough working conditions complement their multi-year extended warranties.

Despite the positives, the versatility of its batteries is what makes the brand stand out among its competitors. A single Ryobi 18V battery can be used with hundreds of tools and accessories. Since batteries are usually expensive, it makes perfect sense to invest in only one battery. You can use a single 18V Ryobi battery to operate more than 265 Ryobi products.

Recently, the company has also introduced a 40V battery, which is compatible with lots of powerful products. For instance, buying a single 40V Ryobi battery enables the user to operate chainsaws, snowblowers, portable generators, and similar equipment.

Over the years, the company has gained a solid reputation for its portable generators. These generators are mainly designed for the outdoors. They often contain an inbuilt carbon monoxide detector, which automatically shuts down the generator when levels go beyond a certain safety limit. Their solid frame, folding handles, multiple outlets, and good value attracts both homeowners and professionals.

History

Established in 1943, Ryobi is a Japanese company headquartered in Hiroshima, Japan. At the time of its foundation, the company was a little-known trading company. The production only gained momentum when a local manager of Mitsubishi Electric’s Fukuyama Works proposed to start a die-casting plant.

According to the company’s official website, its founder, Yutaka Urakami, knew little about die-casting. The lack of knowledge didn’t prevent him from learning the basics. After reviewing the die-casting process, Yutaka Urakami and his team took orders for military projects.

Main entrance of the original Ryobi factory

After the end of World War II, the company started producing die-casting to meet civilian demands. The hard work paid off as Ryobi was listed on Hiroshima Stock Exchange in 1960. The initial success is partially attributed to the vertically integrated system that brought the post-processing manufacturing in-house to meet quality standards.

Gaining experience in die-casting, Yutaka and his team began producing cameras, door accessories, and power tools. The decision proved immensely successful as the company obtained a considerable market share in both die-casting and finished products sectors.

In the 1970s, the management decided to change the original name, Ryobi Seisakusho Co., to Ryobi Limited. The new name was chosen due to its simplicity, global outreach, and brand awareness. Accordingly, Ryobi Limited introduced a new corporate identity system, which solely focused on advertising and marketing.

As a part of a global advertising campaign, the company advertised its name by partnering with major Japanese baseball teams. Such marketing efforts yielded immediate results as the local brand transformed into a global brand within a span of a few years.

In 1985, it became the first overseas company to set up a die-casting manufacturing plant in the United States. The business growth and the successful brand awareness campaign resulted in a new logo and corporate color.

The path to global expansion was dealt a heavy blow when Japan succumbed to the Asian financial crisis. The late ’90s was a hard time for the management. Unlike many Japanese brands of the time, which failed to bounce back, the company management decided to tackle the problem by reforming its major business segments and concentrating resources on areas of strength. In fact, Ryobi was among the few large companies that came out unscathed without outside help or government assistance.

Since then, the company has expanded aggressively using a risk dispersion and balanced corporate management approach. Today, Ryobi is a profitable company that is among the market leaders in die-cast products, electric power tools, garden equipment, construction hardware, and printing items.

Founding and Milestones

Since its foundation, Ryobi has progressed from an unknown trading goods company to a global powerhouse. Here is a breakdown of its accomplishments:

1943: Starts manufacturing die-cast products for a local Mitsubishi plant
1961: Company is listed on the Tokyo stock exchange; existing operations are expanded to include the manufacturing of offset printing presses
1963: Sale of door closers marks the entry into the builder’s hardware segment
1968: Begins manufacturing small power tools for the general public
1973: Changes its name to Ryobi Limited; founded Ryobi Land Development Ltd. for golf coursemanagement
1983: Begins manufacturing and sales of golfing goods; as part of the corporate restructuring, the golfing goods segment was discontinued in 2002
1985: Establishes a die-casting plant in the United States; in the USA, the company operates as Ryobi Die Casting (USA), Inc1990: Starts Ryobi Aluminium Casting (UK), Limited in Northern Ireland
1994: Adapts a new logo and color scheme; the existing corporate identity system is revamped to meet global standards
1994 – 2000: Restructures its business to tackle the Japanese financial crisis; the slowdown resulted in job cuts and the closure of business segments
2000: Sells its power tools business to one of the top-ranking power tool brands, Techtronic Industries; these Ryobi power tools are made by Techtronic Industries, under the license of Ryobi Limited
2003: Establishes a Compliance Committee, which was followed by the inauguration of a non-profit organization, the Ryobi Social Contribution Foundation
2005: Launches operations in neighboring China; the Chinese company is based in the industrial city of Dalian
2007: Inaugurates RDCM, S. de R.L. de C.V., in Mexico, to outsource die-cast operations in North America
2011: Partners with RYOBI MHI Graphic Technology Ltd. to manufacture printing equipment on a global scale
2018: Kyocera Industrial Tools Corporations acquires 80% share of the power tools

Production and Manufacturing

The company manufactures a variety of different products. These include power tools, automotive accessories, die-casting products, and printing equipment. The vast experience in die-cast production has given the company extensive knowledge of producing such items. Here is an overview of its main products and the manufacturing details.

Products

Power tools: The company produces a variety of power tools for construction, home renovation, and typical household jobs. These items are mostly used for drilling, fastening, cutting, woodworking, and maintenance work. You can use its trademark 18V battery to power most of these items.

Generator and power solutions: The product line includes inverter generators, automotive inverters, standard generators, battery inverters, Bluetooth inverter generators, gas generators, and related accessories.

Outdoor equipment: The brand also offers an extensive range of lighting, lifestyle, and recreation products. Audio equipment, inflators, fans, misters, and lighting are just some of the main items.

Cleaning solutions: The company also sells an extensive range of powerful cleaning tools. These easy-to-use and ergonomic items constitute a variety of vacuums, scrubbers, and electrostatic sprayers.

Depending on your preference and individual style, you can also buy these products based on the underlying operating platform. Each platform offers a versatile solution that can power multiple Ryobi products. Following is a brief overview of such platforms.

RYOBI 18V ONE+ System: The system is based on an 18V cordless lithium-ion battery that can power more than 260 innovative products.
RYOBI 40V HP tools: The 40V system constitutes over 75 outdoor power products. You can use a single battery to operate all of them.
80V HP Lithium Electric Riding Mowers: This category consists of 80V-powered batteries. Five brushless motors and 42 horsepower are powered by one of the world’s most innovative technologies that use the one-handed joystick to control the machine.

Manufacturing

The company started manufacturing power tools in 1968. Today, these power tools and generators are manufactured in 12 state-of-the-art facilities across six countries. Each of these plants can produce a vast range of equipment, including automobile parts and electronics.

The manufacturing process is handled by two different corporate entities. Ryobi Limited is an independent company that manufactures die castings, printing equipment, automobiles, and electronics components. On the other hand, the power tool business is handled exclusively by Techtronic Industries under the license of Ryobi Limited. Recently, the production of power tools has been transferred to Kyocera Industrial Tools Corporations.

Initially, power tools were manufactured in Japan and the United States. Since the partnership with Techtronic Industries, the manufacturing process has been delegated to plants in China. The U.S. plant is mainly used for producing parts and accessories. Despite the change, the brand ensures that each of its products meets strict quality-control standards.

Sometimes, customers confuse Milwaukee and Ryobi brands thinking that Ryobi is made by Milwaukee, a U.S. company. This is not true because Milwaukee is a distinct brand of Techtronic Industries. TAI, Techtronic Industries, manufactures both Ryobi and Milwaukee.

Similarly, people often attribute Ryobi products to Home Depot. However, Home Depot does not own the brand, and it is only a prime distributor of the Ryobi product range.

Key Facts

The company is the world’s leading die-cast manufacturer. It has extensive operations in Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Mexico, and Thailand. Numerous partnerships and affiliations with other brands have extended the network to more than 100 countries around the world.

It is known as an employee-friendly company that uses its manpower to enhance the quality of life of all its stakeholders and fulfill its social responsibility. Since its inception, the management has also taken important steps to streamline efforts related to regulatory compliance, environment, customer disclosures, and social contribution.

Warranty Information

All of the new Ryobi tools, generators, and related equipment are covered by a warranty. The type of warranty will vary due to the extensive range of products.

For instance, the 18V One+ product range is covered by a three-year limited warranty. In contrast, 40V products are sold with a five-year limited warranty on parts and a three-year limited warranty on battery and charger. Similarly, Link Modular Storage products are covered by a limited lifetime warranty.

Ryobi Generator Parts

You can visit the official website to buy genuine parts and accessories. Once you’re on the main page, click “order parts” under the service and support page link.

To order the OEM part, you need to search for the part using its part number. The system will also allow users to enter the model number of the unit so they can select a part from the list generated by the system.

If you’re not sure about the replacement part, it’s better to call the company at 1-877-634-5704. For assistance, it’s advisable to visit the respective country-specific website.

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Ryobi Generator Releases

Our website provides up-to-date information on product launches and the newest Ryobi power tools. You can also read about the latest press release, promotions, and deals.

Ryobi Recalls

This section covers the Ryobi product recall. If there is something wrong with a product, you’re sure to find it here.

Where to Buy

Home Depot is the official partner of Ryobi products. You can order them online or visit your nearest retailer.

Similar Brands

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Ryobi