SMC Acquires Tooling To Produce Omega Carabiner Line

Seattle Manufacturing Corporation (SMC) purchased the tooling and machinery to produce Omega Pacific’s top-selling carabiners — specifically, the ISO forged D’s, Ovals and select HMS models.

On January 20, Omega Pacific, one of the U.S.’s largest manufacturers of carabiners, announced that it would be winding down operations after 37 years in business stating the decision was based on economic factors and the owner’s decision to retire.

Along with the tooling and machinery, Omega Pacific is collaborating with SMC to transfer all the required intellectual capital, supply chain and customer contact information.

“I can’t overstate how cooperative the entire Omega Pacific team has been,” said John Evans, SMC’s sales and marketing director. “It’s obvious they are truly looking out for the needs of their customers and trying to make the transition as seamless as possible”.

Rob Nadeau, Omega Pacific’s CEO, commented “SMC was the obvious choice to continue Omega Pacific’s legacy of reliable, quality carabiners. Our closing was going to leave a huge void in the recreational climbing, industrial, OEM, rescue and military markets. This agreement ensures those key products that have become vital components in so many applications, will be available for decades to come.”

Evans noted that “for many of Omega Pacific’s existing customers, SMC’s product line, which includes pulleys, edge protection, and steel carabiners, will be a great compliment to their product assortment.”

While the transfer is still in its early stages, SMC hopes to begin deliveries in early June. The Omega name will be removed from the carabiners and the line will become SMC’s new “Force” series. All technical specifications, as well as the NSN numbers, will remain the same. Models will include both the locking and non-locking styles and will be offered in the same color options.

SMC produces Kobah ice axes and other mountaineering equipment and is also a leading supplier of technical rescue equipment for fire rescue and industrial safety.

Photo courtesy Omega Pacific