The Hand Safety Tool Company LLC was on a mission to grow its product line while managing production costs. To scale efficiently while managing expenses and supply chain risks, it utilized Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»â€™s overseas and domestic injection molding capabilities.
Flexible Sourcing
Cost-Effective Scaling
Streamlined Inventory Management
Challenge //
Balancing Cost-Effective Scaling with Domestic Reshoring
The Hand Safety Tool Company’s flagship product, the ShoveIt® Hand Safety Tool, is a push/pull pole with a V-shaped plastic head design that enables users to guide loads, move and position objects, as well as grab slings and taglines without physically placing hands on the item. The part’s design required glass-filled nylon injection molding and heat staking of multiple threaded inserts—making it both material-intensive and technically demanding.
Initially, overseas production of this part was the most affordable route. However, with a small internal team and limited logistics resources, The Hand Safety Tool Company’s ultimate goal was to transition all production to 100% U.S.-based manufacturing.
Solution //
Start Global, Scale Local with Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»
The Hand Safety Tool Company selected ICOMold by Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» for its competitive pricing, excellent customer support and the ability to transition to domestic production as production volume increased. Key benefits of working with ICOMold by Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» included:
Real-Time Collaboration // An online communication portal connected the Hand Safety Tool team directly with the ICOMold factory both internationally and domestically.
Dedicated Account Oversight // A dedicated U.S. project manager kept overseas production on track and offered guidance on design and tooling improvements.
Simplified Operations // ICOMold by Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»â€™s U.S. staff managed all aspects of invoicing, logistics and customs.
This level of tailored support allowed The Hand Safety Tool Company team to stay focused on product innovation while gradually reshaping its supply chain.
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»â€™s Hybrid Model //
Paving the Way to Domestic Manufacturing
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» provided a phased manufacturing solution that aligned with The Hand Safety Tool Company’s objectives:
Overseas Tooling & Initial Production
ICOMold by Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» developed rapid tooling to produce initial injection-molded part runs overseas, quickly and affordably.
Hybrid Production Transition
To begin reshoring, ICOMold by Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» built export tools and shipped them to Summit by Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» in McHenry, Illinois. ICOMold worked closely with both teams to ensure this transition went smoothly. Summit now exclusively produces 11 parts for The Hand Safety Tool Company in quantities from 1,000-10,000 parts per year.
Domestic Tooling & Long-Term Vision
As part of its reshoring strategy, working with the ICOMold by Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» team, The Hand Safety Tool Company achieved its long-term objective of shifting all mold tooling and production operations from overseas to U.S. production. All new tools will be built by Summit.
Results //
More Control, Faster Response, Scalable Growth
Since 2018, The Hand Safety Tool Company has grown from a single product to a line of nine specialized tools. With ICOMold by Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»â€™s tailored manufacturing support, the company has been able to:
- Successfully manage its per-part production costs through flexible sourcing.
- Cost-effectively scale part production so it could expand its product line.
- Streamline its inventory management and fulfillment times by transitioning from overseas to 100% domestic sourcing.
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Manufacturing // The Manufacturing Partner That Scales with You—Domestic or International
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» gives you the flexibility to choose the manufacturing option that best fits your needs—whether domestic or outsourced international production. We’re uniquely positioned to offer both, providing side-by-side cost comparisons, lead time estimates and a breakdown of shipping, duties and tariffs.
For example, if you have a part to manufacture, we’ll present transparent quotes for both options, detailing materials, production and logistics. With Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³», you have all the information you need to make the right decision for your project.
The Hand Safety Tool Company’s success showcases how Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»â€™s end-to-end manufacturing solutions help companies scale efficiently. With a one-stop-shop approach and white-glove service, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» supports businesses at every stage of their manufacturing journey, from concept through production.
Ready to future-proof your part production?
Partner with Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» today.
