The Toolots Inc. cross-border business development and public affairs team recently visited Haida Manufacturing's plastic injection molding machine factory  in Ningbo, China. Toolots is helping the state-of-the-art company develop a brand specifically for U.S. manufacturers customized to American specifications, introducing them to consumers later this year.

Haida showcased a robotic arm Tuesday that more than doubles the speed of the plastic injection molding process, reduces downtime and removes the need to pull each completed product from the mold by hand. The Toolots engineering team, based in California, traveled to China to train on the robotic arm and Haida's latest plastic injection molding machines to better serve the United States manufacturing industry.

Toolots provides industrial equipment, technology and tools to support global manufacturing. The company has a growing presence in the U.S. and Asia, and manufacturers on both sides of the Pacific use the Toolots online marketplace to sell their innovative, reliable and competitively priced equipment to industrial customers from around the world.

Haida Foreign Trade Executive Sean Xiao and Toolots Director of Commerce Services Grant Montgomery examine some of Haida's largest plastic injection molding machines

Stay tuned for more updates from our ongoing trade mission to China to establish connections with new suppliers of innovative, quality industrial equipment to support U.S. manufacturing.

Robert Zhang brings over 20 years of keen fiscal management to Toolots, Inc.

CERRITOS, Calif. - March 23, 2017 - A veteran financial services director has joined Toolots, Inc. as its new chief financial officer, the California-based company announced this week. Robert Zhang, who has more than 20 years of experience within the financial services industry in the United States and Asia, was selected to fill the position after careful consideration of his unique vision for Toolots including rapid yet sustainable growth, additional training and focus on fiscal operations to support the business model.

Mr. Zhang has a long history of bringing his expertise to wide-ranging enterprises and helping lead them toward greater financial success. He co-founded Pandtong Capital Limited, a qualitative portfolio-trading firm based in Hong Kong, and for nearly 20 years prior served as the managing director for Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan Chase as its head of Asia equity technology. At Morgan Stanley, Mr. Zhang was responsible for the development of technology for various trading markets and personally hired and trained over 300 developers over the course of 3 years to support sustained growth at the company.

As an integral member of the Toolots executive management team, Mr. Zhang will help to formulate the company’s future direction and put it into play through specific, tactical initiatives. Through implementation of best practices developed over his vast experience managing financial operations in multiple countries, he will help streamline the company’s internal functions to increase profitability and efficiency.

Mr. Zhang is a graduate of Shenzen University in China, where he earned his business degree,  and received a Bachelor’s in computer science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Stay tuned for additional updates in the coming days as the Toolots executive team continues to grow.

About Toolots

Toolots, headquartered in Cerritos, California, offers an online marketplace and international distribution channel for factory-direct industrial tools, machinery, and technology. The user-friendly platform provides fast, easy access to high-quality, affordable equipment to manufacturers. Toolots’ comprehensive services streamline the purchase, delivery, installation and warranty of industrial technology, machinery and components, and uphold the quality of important goods through a vetted network of vendors and service technicians. The company’s dedication to fostering international trade relations passes on cost savings to the consumer, contributes to reduced downtime, improves productivity and expands a manufacturer’s reach. Toolots has strategically located warehouses, showrooms, and offices across the United States, as well as in mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. For more information about Toolots, visit their website at www.toolots.com.

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Toolots is pleased to announce the addition of a new vendor, Garvin Tools., to our E-Commerce marketplace and Global Commerce Services initiative. Garvin Tools manufactures industrial precision tools and equipment. Garvin Tools’ products will be available on Toolots.com April 2017 for sale to customers located domestically in the U.S. and internationally in China.

Garvin Tools’ products include precision measuring tools, hand tools, jewelry tools, lubrication tools and equipment, lathe tools, rotary tables, boring heads and accessories. All products undergo a controlled heat treatment and rigorous inspection by experienced engineers to ensure quality, accuracy, and performance are up to Garvin Tools’ performance standards. Toolots is pleased to offer our domestic and international customers industrial tools and equipment through the inclusion of Garvin Tools. For purchasing information, visit Garvin Tools’ marketplace on Toolots.com.

Interested in breaking into the Chinese marketplace? Toolots can help

Join us on March 31, 2017 for a no-cost informational online seminar on the market conditions and outlook for innovative American products within China. The event will take place from 12:00pm PST to 1:00pm PST during the lunch hour for attendees' convenience. Additional webinars will be announced in the coming weeks. Toolots invites any interested companies to participate, or contact Director of Public Affairs Chris Foy at cfoy@toolots.com for a private consultation on how we can help you break into the lucrative Chinese market and elsewhere in the region.

ZeMing M. Gao and Peter Wei join Toolots executive team to assist the company's growth and future endeavors

CERRITOS, Calif. - March 13, 2017 - With the end of Q1 2017 rapidly approaching, Toolots announced Wednesday that two new executive officers have been hired to assist with business development endeavors. ZeMing M. Gao, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), and Peter Wei, Board of Directors Executive Adviser, collectively have over 50 years of professional experience in a variety of industries, and will begin work immediately at Toolots’ headquarters located in Southern California.

ZeMing M. Gao graduated from University of Wisconsin Law School, received a Masters of Science in Biophysical Chemistry from University of Washington, and a Masters of Science in Quantum Chemistry from University of Jilin. With over 30 years of experience in business development, Mr. Gao has successfully fostered business growth by providing U.S. companies with specific industry knowledge on investments, education, and technology to ensure each business’ individual needs are met. In addition, Mr. Gao possesses vast experience in intellectual property (IP) protection, legal counseling, development, and commercialization, managing and protecting valuable assets.

Peter Wei graduated from Beijing University with a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and received his MBA in Business and Management from Pepperdine University before obtaining a Ph.D in Computer Science from the University of Michigan. Mr. Wei, also a software architect and rules expert, possesses more than two decades of senior management experience in the technology and software industries. In previous positions, Mr. Wei has successfully implemented software solutions and dynamic rule-based decisioning systems to simultaneously improve efficiency, productivity, and growth for businesses in an array of industries.

“We’re excited to have such distinguished gentlemen with vast industry experience joining Toolots,” Raymond Cheng, Toolots Chief Operating Officer said. “We’ve experienced a lot of growth during Q1, and expect it to continue throughout the year."

This news follows Toolots’ recent announcement of plans to hire an estimated 20 additional employees, the successful launch of its ongoing Global Commerce Services initiative, and the upcoming US-China Medical Device Summit in June 2017.

About Toolots

Toolots, headquartered in Cerritos, California, offers an online marketplace and international distribution channel for factory-direct industrial tools, machinery, and technology. The user-friendly platform provides fast, easy access to high-quality, affordable equipment to manufacturers. Toolots’ comprehensive services streamline the purchase, delivery, installation and warranty of industrial technology, machinery and components, and uphold the quality of important goods through a vetted network of vendors and service technicians. The company’s dedication to fostering international trade relations passes on cost savings to the consumer, contributes to reduced downtime, improves productivity and expands a manufacturer’s reach. Toolots has strategically located warehouses, showrooms, and offices across the United States and China. For more information about Toolots, visit their website at www.toolots.com.

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T18 Capital, Inc. to invest significant capital following successful fundraising venture

CERRITOS, Calif. – March 7, 2017 – Toolots, Inc., a California-based online distributor of industrial machinery, tools and technology, entered an agreement with an investment firm Tuesday to inject capital into the enterprise following completion of a successful fundraising campaign. Members of the Toolots Board of Directors, including Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Board Chairman Jason Fu, were on hand to sign the agreement, which injects a significant yet undisclosed amount of capital into the enterprise.

Toolots partnered with T18 Capital, Inc. for the fundraising venture, which will help support the company’s initiative to enter sales agreements with more than 100 American manufacturing companies by the year’s end. So far in 2017, Toolots has achieved over 20 percent of that goal, partnering with small to medium-sized manufacturers based in the United States to distribute their products both domestically and internationally.

About Toolots

Toolots, headquartered in Cerritos, California, offers an online marketplace and international distribution channel for factory-direct industrial tools, machinery, and technology. The user-friendly platform provides fast, easy access to high-quality, affordable equipment to manufacturers. Toolots’ comprehensive services streamline the purchase, delivery, installation and warranty of industrial technology, machinery and components, and uphold the quality of important goods through a vetted network of vendors and service technicians. The company’s dedication to fostering international trade relations passes on cost savings to the consumer, contributes to reduced downtime, improves productivity and expands a manufacturer’s reach. Toolots has strategically located warehouses, showrooms, and offices across the United States and China. For more information about Toolots, visit their website at www.toolots.com.

Free expo, put on by Cerritos College, SELACO and hosted by Toolots, connected young women pursuing trades with successful tradeswomen, organizations seeking to expand educated workforce

CERRITOS, Calif. – Feb. 23, 2017 – More than 100 middle and high school students converged at Toolots headquarters in Cerritos Wednesday for the Women in the Trades, Logistics, Manufacturing and Engineering Expo. The event was an opportunity for dozens of young women from a range of school districts in Los Angeles County already pursuing the trades through their current coursework to interact directly with female engineers, construction workers and tradeswomen already successfully integrated in the industry. The expo was offered by the Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board (SELACO) and Cerritos College.

Los Angeles area schools from the ABC, Paramount, Downey and Whittier Unified school districts sent busloads of students to learn about real-world career opportunities directly from those who have successfully entered the industry during the free expo. A majority of students were from the high school level, but students from one Whittier middle school also attended.

Five panelists, including female senior engineers, an apprenticeship instructor and others involved in the trades as part of their day jobs, gave informative presentations on what it is like to actually work in a trades-related career. Students seized the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists, some who were in the same place as these middle and high school students years ago, inspiring many to pursue their careers of choice – whether through continuing education, pure dedication or an effective combination of both.

Toolots hosted the expo at its headquarters in Cerritos – a facility that includes a sprawling warehouse and various high-tech machines, ranging from the latest plastic injection molding machines and CNC automated devices to ever-popular cold cut saws, mills and lathes. The company agreed to host the expo after discussions with SELACO, the area workforce development group that strives to invigorate the region’s workforce and make direct connections with employers in a wide range of industries for young people, the unemployed and underemployed.

“We were more than happy to support SELACO and Cerritos College in promoting the entrance of women into the trades, a career path in increasingly high demand,” said Toolots Chief Operating Officer Raymond Cheng, calling the expo an absolute success. Toolots plans on having future discussions with multiple area school districts about setting up internships, job shadowing and/or educational programming to continue helping young women enter the industrial, manufacturing and engineering-related job space.

The expo was developed to help local female students have a better understanding of the industry, and it gave them a unique opportunity to meet one-on-one and connect with women who have successfully entered the trades. The expo organizers partnered with area school districts and their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs, as well as individual instructors and their classes, to draw a real-world connection between what they learn in the classroom and effective skills they can later put to use in a career.

Cheng and other speakers at the event referenced reports that industrial careers are some of the fastest growing occupations in the country – and some of the highest paying. Industrial and materials engineers, for example, earn an average hourly wage of more than $40 (between $84,000 and $91,000 annually), based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics findings from 2015. Deloitte, a UK-based multinational professional services firm that tracks and projects the outlook for a wide range of industries, is optimistic about United States manufacturing; according to their latest projection, American manufacturing “is likely to experience stronger growth in 2017 following multiple years of positive, but a subdued, rate of growth.”

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the number of available STEM jobs is on track to increase by an average of 14 percent by 2020. Some STEM-related careers, like biomedical engineers for example, are projected to grow by as much as 62 percent during the same time frame.

During the panel presentation and Q&A session, students heard personal stories from speakers on how the women entered the trades in the first place. Panelists described taking classes where they worked with their hands, and how satisfying it is to do what they love and get paid to do it. After the panels, students attended presentations reinforcing the girls’ self-esteem through a variety of group activities.  

“All young people should be prepared to think deeply and to think well so that they have the chance to become the innovators, educators, researchers and leaders who can solve the most pressing challenges facing our nation and our world,” the Department of Education stated. Los Angeles area STEM programs are working hard to ensure young women and men feel they have equal access to this growing field, inspiring them to pursue continuing education and secure a career within the industry that demands more and more educated workers each year.

For photos taken during the event, visit our online photo gallery via Dropbox folder available here. If you’d like to download, share or publish these photos, feel free to do so and please credit Toolots Public Affairs.

Panel participants and speakers included:

• Ashley Davitt, senior design engineer with ACCO Engineered Systems in Orange County, whose work focuses on heating, ventilating and air conditioning design within commercial buildings. She oversees design, construction and commissioning of projects in offices, laboratories, schools and manufacturing centers. She graduated from California State Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and is a state-registered mechanical engineer in California.

• Jeanne Carnegie, a senior quality assurance engineer with Arconic Fastening Systems and Rings, deals with supplier management and works with IT programmers. She previously developed procedures with the Shimadzu Corporation for the manufacture of landing gears for planes, writing the manual for their operation. She has also worked in loss control engineering and developed an electronic system to collect information in the refinery and drilling industry.

• Lisette Cruz, a pre-apprenticeship instructor with the Bridging Outstanding Opportunities with Tradeswomen Skills and a member of The Sisters in the Brotherhood, works to help women enter into successful careers in the union carpentry trades. Through The Sisters of the Brotherhood, she conducts outreach to mentor women considering carpentry as a career, and men who have the same interest. Since 1990, Cruz has been a member of The Sisters of the Brotherhood and Joiners of America. She received diplomas in carpentry home building maintenance and welding.

• Mary Wall, director of operations at JMC2, where she provides clients with practical, innovative solution as a civil engineer. She began her career in structural engineering with Grossman & Speer Associates. She also managed numerous residential subdivision developments as a project manager for CTA Inc. and Lewis Homes, which was later acquired by KB Home. She managed the operations as 50 percent owner of DW Wall Construction Inc. and additionally, has conceived, designed, built and successfully run a restaurant, which she later sold. She has experience overseas coordinating the startup of a special needs school in China. She received a B.S. in Civil Engineering and a Master’s of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Southern California.

• Viridiana Hernandez, a graduate student in Cerritos College’s Engineering Design and Plastic/Composite Tool Design programs, and is finishing up her last year at California State University, Los Angeles to earn a degree in Industrial Technology. She works for Con-Tech Plastics, a plastic injection molding company located in Brea, and attends school full-time.

• Anais Maseda, seminar and training coordinator for Polishing the Professional, inspires young women to take on the challenge of fine-tuning their own personal drive towards their dreams. Polishing the Professional provides leadership, imaging direction and personal branding services to a variety of clients – from designing programs, hiring and evaluating staff to monitoring fiscal operations, according to its website.
• Carolyn Hines, a business owner, entrepreneur, career development program instructor and advisory board member for the Minority Worker Training Program, serves on various boards of directors in the Los Angeles area including as Vice President of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources Board of Directors, Vice President of the New Image Emergency Shelter for the Homeless Board of Directors. Hines has been at the helm of her own company, the Hines Hospitality Group, since June of 1992 and more than 23 years of experience in the industry.

About Toolots

Toolots, headquartered in Cerritos, California, offers an online marketplace and international distribution channel for factory-direct industrial tools, machinery, and technology. The user-friendly platform provides fast, easy access to high-quality, affordable equipment to manufacturers. Toolots’ comprehensive services streamline the purchase, delivery, installation and warranty of industrial technology, machinery and components, and uphold the quality of important goods through a vetted network of vendors and service technicians. The company’s dedication to fostering international trade relations passes on cost savings to the consumer, contributes to reduced downtime, improves productivity and expands a manufacturer’s reach. Toolots has strategically located warehouses, showrooms, and offices across the United States, as well as in mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. For more information about Toolots, visit their website at www.toolots.com.

Toolots Hosts Free Expo Feb. 22 to Promote the Role of Women in U.S. Manufacturing, Trades and Related Industries

Toolots, an online distributor of factory-direct industrial machinery, equipment and technology, is hosting a free expo Feb. 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., “Women in the Trades, Logistics, Manufacturing and Engineering.” The expo is a great opportunity for students to meet successful women who already work in the trades – a field that is growing nationally and is in need of a dedicated, educated workforce to bolster U.S. manufacturing.

The event is offered by the Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board (SELACO), Cerritos College and the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Linked Learning Consortium (AMETLL). Toolots is hosting the event at its headquarters, located at 16300 Shoemaker Ave. in Cerritos, Calif. 90703.

“We are happy to support SELACO and other partners in promoting the entrance of women into the trades, a career path that is in increasingly high demand,” said Raymond Cheng, Toolots chief operating officer. “The event was designed to help students better understand the industry, and give them a unique opportunity to meet one-on-one and connect with women who have successfully entered the trades.”

Student registration for the expo begins at 9:30 a.m. Toolots representatives will welcome the group of more than 100 students expected to attend. The day’s panel discussions, involving five women who serve as engineers, instructors, designers and more within the trades, start at 10:15 a.m.

Panel participants include:

• Ashley Davitt, senior design engineer with ACCO Engineered Systems in Orange County, whose work focuses on heating, ventilating and air conditioning design within commercial buildings. She oversees design, construction and commissioning of projects in offices, laboratories, schools and manufacturing centers. She graduated from California State Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and is a state-registered mechanical engineer in California.
• Jeanne Carnegie, a senior quality assurance engineer with Arconic Fastening Systems and Rings, deals with supplier management and works with IT programmers. She previously developed procedures with the Shimadzu Corporation for the manufacture of landing gears for planes, writing the manual for their operation. She has also worked in loss control engineering and developed an electronic system to collect information in the refinery and drilling industry.
• Lisette Cruz, a pre-apprenticeship instructor with the Bridging Outstanding Opportunities with Tradeswomen Skills and a member of The Sisters in the Brotherhood, works to help women enter into successful careers in the union carpentry trades. Through The Sisters of the Brotherhood, she conducts outreach to mentor women considering carpentry as a career, and men who have the same interest. Since 1990, Cruz has been a member of The Sisters of the Brotherhood and Joiners of America. She received diplomas in carpentry home building maintenance and welding.
• Mary Wall, director of operations at JMC2, where she provides clients with practical, innovative solution as a civil engineer. She began her career in structural engineering with Grossman & Speer Associates. She also managed numerous residential subdivision developments as a project manager for CTA Inc. and Lewis Homes, which was later acquired by KB Home. She managed the operations as 50 percent owner of DW Wall Construction Inc. and additionally, has conceived, designed, built and successfully run a restaurant, which she later sold. She has experience overseas coordinating the startup of a special needs school in China. She received a B.S. in Civil Engineering and a Master’s of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Southern California.
• Viridiana Hernandez, a graduate student in Cerritos College’s Engineering Design and Plastic/Composite Tool Design programs, and is finishing up her last year at California State University, Los Angeles to earn a degree in Industrial Technology. She works for Con-Tech Plastics, a plastic injection molding company located in Brea, and attends school full-time.

Following the panel discussions, two representatives from Manhattan Beach-based organization Polishing the Professional will lead a presentation, “Breaking Down the Barriers.” Davina Douthard, chief executive officer of Polishing the Professional, and her seminar and training coordinator, Anais Maseda, will lead the discussion at 11:30 a.m.

Polishing the Professional provides leadership, imaging direction and personal branding services to a variety of clients – from designing programs, hiring and evaluating staff to monitoring fiscal operations, according to its website. Douthard also leads the Davina Douthard Foundation, a 501c3 public benefit corporation.

From noon to 2 p.m., students will have an opportunity to meet individually with a wide range of companies within the trades. Students are free to ask company representatives questions, get to know more about what their organizations do, and make a lasting impression.

Find more information and the schedule of events for the Women in the Trades, Logistics, Manufacturing and Engineering Expo. Parking is available in the lots to the north and south of Toolots headquarters. This event was made possible with the support of SELACO, AMETLL California Career Pathway Trust Fund Grant and Cerritos College.

About Toolots

Toolots, headquartered in Cerritos, California, offers an online marketplace and international distribution channel for factory-direct industrial tools, machinery, and technology. The user-friendly platform provides fast, easy access to high-quality, affordable equipment to manufacturers. Toolots’ comprehensive services streamline the purchase, delivery, installation and warranty of industrial technology, machinery and components, and uphold the quality of important goods through a vetted network of vendors and service technicians. The company’s dedication to fostering international trade relations passes on cost savings to the consumer, contributes to reduced downtime, improves productivity and expands a manufacturer’s reach. Toolots has strategically located warehouses, showrooms, and offices across the United States, as well as in mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. For more information about Toolots, visit their website at www.toolots.com.

Toolots is pleased to announce the addition of a new vendor, Gorilla Concrete Tools, to our E-Commerce marketplace and Global Commerce Services initiative.

Based in Ohio, Gorilla Concrete Tools manufactures dustless concrete saws and crack chasers. Gorilla Concrete Tools’ products adhere to the latest OSHA rules and regulations. Additionally, all products manufactured by Gorilla Concrete Tools are made in the U.S.,and military tested and approved.Gorilla Concrete Tools’ products will be available on Toolots.com mid February 2017 for sale to customers located domestically in the U.S. and internationally in China.

Gorilla Concrete Tools’ concrete saws and crack chasers are electric powered to reduce fuel emission and cost, and specially manufactured to include a two inch dust portal to optimize dust control. All concrete saws and crack chasers are built with a heavy duty frame, handles with vibration dampeners, and easily adjustable depth knobs. Toolots is excited to offer our domestic and international customers dustless concrete saws, crack chasers, and accessories through the inclusion of Gorilla Concrete Tools. For purchasing information, visit Gorilla Concrete Tools’ marketplace on Toolots.com.

Toolots is pleased to announce the addition of  a new vendor, TK Equipment, to our E-Commerce marketplace and Global Commerce Services initiative. Based in Texas, TK Equipment manufactures concrete and mortar mixers alongside complementary light construction equipment. TK Equipment’s products will be available on Toolots.com mid February 2017 for sale to customers located domestically in the U.S. and internationally in China.

TK Equipment’s products include concrete saws and mixers, mortar mixers, surface preparation equipment, handling materials and more.TK Equipment’s motorized products are available with either gasoline, electric, or diesel motors, and currently have over 70 service dealerships where authorized warranty repair and maintenance can occur. All products manufactured by TK Equipment are made to match industrial high quality standards at competitive prices including customer services and digital copies of how to, parts breakdown, and operator manuals. Toolots is pleased to offer our domestic and international customers concrete and mortar mixers through the inclusion of TK Equipment. For purchasing information, visit TK Equipment’s marketplace on Toolots.com.