T.R. Thomas was established in 1981 by Tom Guimont, to serve the metalworking industry. Our philosophy has always been to specialize in cutting tools, and become experts in our field. Handle too many different types of product lines, and it makes it difficult to manage. To keep us on track, our slogan THE CUTTING TOOL SPECIALIST was added.
Also, our goal has been to associate ourselves with quality people and products. We represent only the major cutting tool manufacturers and work with the ones who will support us and our customers.
With the introduction of the internet, in 1999 we set up our web presence online. In keeping with our commitment to stay specialists in our field, cuttingtoolsonline.com was established.
Personal Resume
Tom Guimont started his career in the industrial supply business in 1972, in shipping and receiving, and as a driver for a local supply company, at age nineteen.
1973-1978, he worked for another supply company in inside sales and eventually outside sales, starting to work more with cutting tools.
1978-1981, he was hired by a corporation to combine two supply companies, one full line industrial supply which was being purchased, and a more specialized sales company. Tom was hired as general manager, at age twenty-five.
In 1981, Tom started T.R. Thomas, at age twenty-seven.
No one knows what the future will hold, but you can be assured, we will stay committed to the values, we started almost thirty years ago.
GREM MACHINING DIVISION
Grem Machining was established in 1987, as a job shop to service manufacturing and service companies.
Today, Grem Machining provides machined parts for many industries including: furnace parts and flanges for the steel mill industry and tubesheets for the heat exchanger business, for companies like U.S. Steel, Inland Steel, ISG Group, Anheuser Busch, Commonwealth Edison, Midwest Generation.
Other industries serviced include parts for the medical sterilizing field, government radiation detectors, and HVAC testing components.
Along with these customers, Grem provides the manufacturing for Machining Technology products including: Tru-Spot Center Drill Machine, Easy-Set Vise Jaws, and the Concrete Leveling Bar.
Easy-Set was established in 1994, prototype work was started on the Easy-Set Vise Jaws with built in adjustable parallels. These jaws fit Kurt style milling vises.
In 2004, U.S. Patent No. 6,783,123 was issued.
Established in October 2000, Machining Technology was set up to bring together all of our companies and combine the strengths of each company under one management team.
Today our product base is broader with the addition in 2004 of the Concrete Leveling Bar.
With the growth and expansion goals for the future, our capabilities to service our industry will be met more effectively.