Founded in 1981 as Northern Hydraulics, the company was officially renamed to Northern Tool + Equipment and is the owner of several private label brands including NorthStar, Powerhorse, Klutch, Strongway, Ultra-Tow, Roughneck, Gravel Gear, Bannon and Ironton which make up a portion of its product line.

Northern Tool was founded by Don Kotula when he began selling log splitters out of his garage.

[1] He originally worked in heavy equipment sales at Ziegler, but left when the business began slumping during the 1981-82 recession.

In addition to log splitters, Kotula sold cylinders, valves, and hydraulics with his family members assisting in the sales and order fulfillment.

Northern manufactures tools such as log splitters, generators, pressure washers, sprayers, pumps, and air compressors.