WEN Brand: Everything You Need To Know

Why Choose WEN?

WEN is a pioneer in the power tools industry. Since 1951, its research and development team has played an instrumental role in introducing a variety of modern construction devices. Some standard tools such as the chainsaw, electric jigsaw, electric soldering gun, electric engraver, and wet wheel sharpener are the brainchildren of WEN’s technicians.

This intuitive mindset is also manifested in many of the modern tools that the company designs for the value-conscious consumer. For instance, WEN power tools and generators are well-known for their reasonable price and quality. Except for some high-end items, almost all of the power tools produced by the company are geared toward DIYers and homeowners.

The seemingly endless variety of products ensures that buyers can find a desirable product within their budget. While there may be better options in the market, it’s generally agreed that WEN tools are extremely reliable if used properly. Many of these tools will last for many years.

Over the years, the brand has gained immense recognition due to its trademark black-and-orange-themed generators. If you love working outdoors or you’re in the construction industry, chances are that you can easily recognize WEN generators. They usually get very high ratings from their owners due to their reliability and user-friendly interface.

A typical WEN generator will likely cost less than similar-quality generators of rival brands. The cost differential is mainly attributed to their simple functions. The company sells these generators within a desirable price range because most WEN generators do not come with extra features and complicated functions.

Despite the brand’s simplicity, each generator is designed to carry a heavy workload. The brand is also popular because of its dual-fuel generators, which can easily shift between propane and gasoline. Similarly, WEN’s range of inverter generators has gained a lot of market share based on their reliable inverter mechanism. This allows generators to electronically throttle the engine up and down to meet the power consumption demand.

Another distinguishing feature of WEN generators is their solid frames. A glance at the outer body reveals that these machines are nicely welded, which ultimately protects small parts from loosening.

Overall, WEN generators start smoothly and run well. They also consume less fuel compared to competing models from other brands. For more energy, you can also use the parallel connection kit. Sold separately, the kit allows users to share wattage among multiple units.

History

WEN was founded by Nick Anton in 1951. Headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, it is a medium-size company that prides itself on introducing innovative power tools. Despite its smaller size compared to some of its multinational rivals, the brand competes favorably in multiple market segments.

The WEN 3921 16-Inch Two-Direction Variable Speed Scroll Saw

The success of the company is attributed to its in-house R&D department. Since 1951, the team has introduced many cutting-edge tools. These include chainsaws, electric jigsaws, electric soldering guns, electric engravers, and wet wheel sharpeners. WEN is also credited with inventing random orbital technology. The technology is used in automatic polishers, waxers, and buffers, giving cars the streak-free shine we’ve become accustomed to.

Initially, WEN specialized in only a few construction tools. As the business expanded across the United States, the company extended its range to include power equipment, machinery, and related accessories. Today, you can find more than 100 types of power tools. In recent decades, the product range has increased to include garden tools and generators.

In a short span of 50 years, WEN had outpaced most of its early rivals by selling more than 50 million consumer units. Considering that WEN only employs a few hundred people, this is an extraordinary achievement.

For quality assurance purposes, WEN sells its equipment only through large retail outlets. Besides these sales channels, you’re almost guaranteed to find the WEN product you’re looking for on its official website. The online store also sells accessories and parts related to the original equipment.

The brand’s newest product, the WEN Tie-Rod hydraulic cylinder, marks the entry of WEN into the commercial industry. These innovative hydraulic cylinders can exert pressure of up to 2500 PSI and come with a two-year warranty on parts.

Founding and Milestones

WEN 56203i Super Quiet 2000-Watt Generator

From a small footprint to a well-known American brand, here is a brief overview of WEN’s timeline and achievements:

In 1951, the company was founded by Nick Anton.
WEN started selling construction tools in the local market.
The brand set up an R&D team to introduce a range of new products.
The company expanded its operations across the United States by partnering with retail giants such as the Home Depot.
Outsourced manufacturing to China to meet excess demand.
WEN launched its website, WENProducts.com
The year 2001 marks the sale of the 50-millionth consumer unit.
WEN partners with Amazon.
In March 2021, WEN’s new headquarters in the Oakview Corporate Park in West Dundee, Illinois was completed.

Production and Manufacturing

WEN products are known for their performance and reliability. Read on to learn more about this brand’s products and manufacturing process.

Products

The WEN 4017 Electric Chainsaw with its 16-inch Oregon bar and chain

WEN products can be divided into four distinct categories: power tools, garden tools, generators, and hydraulic cylinders.

Power Tools: These items are mainly used for construction purposes. They include rotary tools, sanders, bench grinders, drill presses, and dust management items. Unlike its competitors, WEN does not produce a huge variety of construction equipment. Instead, they exclusively focus on manufacturing specific tools, and they do it well.

Generators: Just like power tools, the company only produces inverters and dual-fuel generators. The dual-fuel generators can run both on propane and gas. Similarly, these inverters are extremely fuel-efficient, and they’re environmentally friendly, too.

Lawn & Garden: The brand is also well-known for its 40V cordless series of lawnmowers. They often come with two batteries. You can use the same batteries to power other garden equipment in the series including chainsaws, hedge trimmers, and leaf blowers. Besides these items, the 40V battery also supports pole saws, log splitters, plate compactors, pressure washers, and snow blowers.

Hydraulic Cylinders: WEN hydraulic cylinders are used in many offshore and marine engineering applications. The segment includes tie-rod hydraulic cylinders, cross-tube hydraulic cylinders, and clevis hydraulic cylinders. The trademark product is a tie-rod cylinder, which produces 2500 PSI. It also includes a reinforced O-ring tube seal, a cold-drawn tube to maximize seal life, a 1-inch diameter zinc-plated steel pin, a high-tensile ground, and a polished chrome-plated rod.

You can buy these items from the online store. If they’re sold out, look for a similar product at Amazon or the Home Depot, WEN’s official partners. For generators and a few other items, the warranty will ensure the availability of replacement parts.

Manufacturing

The WEN 2307 Variable Speed Rotary Tool with 100-piece accessories kit

WEN products are mostly produced in a controlled environment in factories across China. The company headquarters is in Illinois, but it only oversees the distribution of products from China to retail outlets in the United States and Canada.

Despite the mass production in China, it’s generally agreed that WEN produces high-quality products. Its R&D team, based in the United States, collaborates closely with the production team in China. After clearance from the U.S. ports, these products are transferred to the warehouses of Amazon, the Home Depot, and other retailers.

The company also oversees storage facilities in Illinois. It sells a large proportion of its equipment online. Meaning, you can order replacement parts directly from its website.

Key Facts

Despite the company’s relatively small size, WEN has produced a fair share of innovative products. Its commitment to innovation is complemented by consumer-friendly items that are easy to operate.

By focusing on existing trends and market demands, the company competes favorably with much larger rivals in the market. Recently, it has started WEN Merch, the brand awareness program. The program allows customers to show their commitment by purchasing WEN-inspired hats, backpacks, and banner flags.

Warranty Information

WEN offers a two-year warranty on all its products. The warranty is backed by a network of skilled service technicians. In addition, it ensures that all consumer products are free from defects in material or workmanship.

Any mechanical faults, within two years of purchase or 500 hours of use, are fixed free of cost. If the product is bought for commercial use, the warranty extends to 90 days. In this case, the buyer has up to 30 days to report problems, missing parts, and damage.

Products sold in California are also subject to California Proposition 65, which contains warnings regarding certain chemicals used in manufacturing. Under these circumstances, the consumer has the right to return the item according to state law.

Check Out More WEN Content From GeneratorTools

Our website offers plenty of information on WEN generators and related products. The following resources can assist you in your search.

WEN Generator Reviews

We regularly publish impartial product reviews of WEN generators and related power tools. Take a quick look at our recent publications and generator review. It will help you decide if WEN is the right product.

Despite WEN generators’ positive attributes, some consumers have complained about their noise levels. Large WEN portable generators produce noise in the range of 66 and 82 dB, which can disturb some house occupants. For comparison’s sake, 65 dB is the rating for moderate traffic or acoustic piano music, 80 dB is as loud as a hairdryer, and 85 dB is as noisy as a garbage disposal.

If you’re concerned about noise levels, consider placing these electric-start generators at some distance from the main living areas. To reduce noise, you can also place the generators on sound-absorbing mats or put them inside a soundproof box. Before using these suggestions, remember that these techniques will only reduce noise levels by 10 to 20 dB. This should suffice for most users, though.

Although it is rare, users sometimes complain about oil leakage. The defect is mainly prevalent in inverter models, which use energy-efficient systems to save fuel.

WEN Generator Roundups

Our blog and articles are a great source of information on WEN generators. These product roundups let readers compare new WEN models with the existing products in the market. We also answer readers’ queries such as how to choose the right generator, why buy a generator, and much more.

WEN Generator Releases

You can get the latest updates and information on WEN generators right here on our website. We carefully monitor press releases and important information related to popular generator brands.