Founded in 1938 by a visionary high schooler, J. Allen Carmien, NUPLA® began as a humble plastics company. Fueled by wartime demand, Carmien transformed the business with groundbreaking innovations like pultrusion technology, turning fiberglass into professional-grade tool handles that set industry standards.

Post-WWII, NUPLA® reinvented itself, evolving from crafting aircraft parts to producing over 1,200 types of tools relied upon by professionals worldwide. Carmien’s fearless creativity earned him over 75 patents and a place in the Western Plastics Pioneers Hall of Fame.

Eight decades later, our tools are the gold standard for striking, cutting, digging, and fire applications. We don’t just build tools; we create solutions for the world’s most demanding jobs. But NUPLA®’s legacy isn’t just about products—it’s about people and progress. From pioneering sustainable practices decades before they were trendy to personally helping employees buy homes and achieve their dreams, NUPLA® is a company that has shaped industries and changed lives.

NUPLA®’s story is a testament to bold ideas, relentless innovation, and a passion for building a better future—one tool, one breakthrough, one person at a time.