I thought I should write a short piece to try to explain, and remove a few misconceptions, about Triton brand routers.
Firstly, perhaps the most interesting, and for some the most contentious, piece of information is the simple fact that they are manufactured in Taiwan. They are distributed by several distributors throughout the world under the Triton, and also the CMT brand names.
At the moment, Triton brand products are marketed by a company that is registered in Switzerland, but with the main sales force in Somerset, England - Powerbox. Now, far be it for me to suggest that the reason Powerbox is registered in Switzerland is to "help" their tax situation - but you get the general idea anyway.
However, you will also find that the routers that are branded as "Triton" are also sold under the CMT brand - the tool maker in Italy that I'm sure you are all familiar with. I say this to help those with fears that their "Triton" brand router may be under some sort of future cloud regarding the spare parts situation: just get the parts from CMT - simple.
It is interesting to see that the "Triton" branded routers seem to have greater horsepower than the CMT branded routers - despite identical motors and gearing. But, this is all part of the world of marketing, where white can really be sold as blue - if you look at it under a blue light, that is.
More to the point, perhaps, is the related fact that there are no small electric hand tools made in either Europe or the USA these days. They are ALL manufactured (although not marketed) in various Asian Pacific rim countries, including China (everyones bugbear these days), Korea (as the Triton/CMT routers), Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, etc.
So, relax a little when it comes to defending your own country's products - they aren't. Chose the best tool for the job you have in mind and try not to get sucked into the marketing lies told by salesmen who only want your money. And, yes, I realize that there will be several salesmen that will argue and defend their own products. But the proof of manufacture can only be a photograph of the actual production line showing the machine in process of manufacture - not just the attachment of the power cord and the boxing up of the product, yes?
Out of interest, I have a Triton branded router instead of the CMT equivalent - which is the router most seen here in Italian workshops. Why? I needed the ½"collet set, rather than just the 12mm set that is standard on the European models as I have quite a few ½" cutters and I am a tight-wad when it comes to spending even more of my hard-earned on adapters and converters - I also rather like my cutter to be held by the collet directly, rather than through more bits of metal that might 'let go' at very inopportune moments. Simple, eh?
Happy, and successful woodworking!
Firstly, perhaps the most interesting, and for some the most contentious, piece of information is the simple fact that they are manufactured in Taiwan. They are distributed by several distributors throughout the world under the Triton, and also the CMT brand names.
At the moment, Triton brand products are marketed by a company that is registered in Switzerland, but with the main sales force in Somerset, England - Powerbox. Now, far be it for me to suggest that the reason Powerbox is registered in Switzerland is to "help" their tax situation - but you get the general idea anyway.
However, you will also find that the routers that are branded as "Triton" are also sold under the CMT brand - the tool maker in Italy that I'm sure you are all familiar with. I say this to help those with fears that their "Triton" brand router may be under some sort of future cloud regarding the spare parts situation: just get the parts from CMT - simple.
It is interesting to see that the "Triton" branded routers seem to have greater horsepower than the CMT branded routers - despite identical motors and gearing. But, this is all part of the world of marketing, where white can really be sold as blue - if you look at it under a blue light, that is.
More to the point, perhaps, is the related fact that there are no small electric hand tools made in either Europe or the USA these days. They are ALL manufactured (although not marketed) in various Asian Pacific rim countries, including China (everyones bugbear these days), Korea (as the Triton/CMT routers), Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, etc.
So, relax a little when it comes to defending your own country's products - they aren't. Chose the best tool for the job you have in mind and try not to get sucked into the marketing lies told by salesmen who only want your money. And, yes, I realize that there will be several salesmen that will argue and defend their own products. But the proof of manufacture can only be a photograph of the actual production line showing the machine in process of manufacture - not just the attachment of the power cord and the boxing up of the product, yes?
Out of interest, I have a Triton branded router instead of the CMT equivalent - which is the router most seen here in Italian workshops. Why? I needed the ½"collet set, rather than just the 12mm set that is standard on the European models as I have quite a few ½" cutters and I am a tight-wad when it comes to spending even more of my hard-earned on adapters and converters - I also rather like my cutter to be held by the collet directly, rather than through more bits of metal that might 'let go' at very inopportune moments. Simple, eh?
Happy, and successful woodworking!