MADE IN ILLINOIS: The tools that make the products we use everyday

Throughout this series, we have highlighted finished products made here in Illinois. But before those finished products can head to the marketplace, someone has to build the tools and machines that make them possible. In Mt. Pulaski, that someone is the Inland Tool Company.

Founded in 1974, Inland Tool has been in a constant state of growth. They began with an 11,000 square foot tool and die facility, which was expanded to 25,000 square feet in the early 1980s. As the business grew and diversified into welding and stamping, a new 40,000 square foot facility opened in 2000. The addition of a larger stamping facility in 2007 and more production space in 2010 brought Inland Tool’s facility to its current size.

Inland Tool isn’t a company whose products you will see at the grocery store or the shopping center. But it plays a vital role in the operations of many of Illinois’ manufacturers. In fact, Inland Tool got one of its first big breaks back in 1988 when Mitsubishi opened its plant just up in the road in Normal. Today, Inland Tool provides parts for diverse industries from lawn and garden, to appliances to computers.

“Inland Tool is one of those behind-the-scenes builders that makes the rest of the economy go,” said Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) who represents Mt. Pulaski in the House. “Their machines and tools make possible the products that we rely on every day.”

Today, Inland Tool offers services such as welding and assembly, stamping, tool design and they continue to make tools for its own machine parts, which is where it all began back in 1974. Products from Inland Tool, and the goods they helped to build, can be found across the country and around the world. But they all started with tools and machines that were Made in Illinois.