It only takes an image sometimes to cause much doubt in the minds of long-time Triton supporters, and this one as first mentioned on the Woodworking Forums was one of those.
Discovered on the CMT website is this:
What do we make of it? Did the patent ball get dropped so anyone can make Triton routers, or was the patent sold to CMT? In any case, it looks that the Triton router, regarded as one of the best table-mounted routers anywhere is no longer the (sole?) property of an Australian company.
CMT have already added and subtracted some minor mods to the original design – they have stayed with the original dial selector for free plunge vs geared height modes, but have added the through-table winder from the MOF001. Wonder if they stayed with the nylon threads for the microadjuster?
They look to have gone with the Triton US collet.
There is something different at the back of the cap that holds the plunge spring – perhaps removing the need for a screwdriver to remove the cap?
Manufacturing is claimed to be in Italy (the Triton was manufactured in Taiwan), and the motor is 2000W, not 2400W
But the biggest difference is it no longer says “Triton” – it is now branded CMT Orange Tools. What in the world has happened? How can Triton’s router – one of the pinnacles, one of their greatest successes have been given up? The original 2400W saw went, replaced with a Chinese model – is the same happening with the router?
Filed under: Manufactures and Suppliers, Tools | Tagged: CMT, CMT7E, Router, TRA001, Triton |
Stu's Shed 
Have a look at this Stuart,
Click to access 548_cmt7e_english.pdf
Made in Taiwan, won the same Taunton Fine Woodworking awards as the Triton, and goes into what looks like a “Triton router table”. Hmmmm.
Isn’t it amazing what you can find without looking hard …. and still nothing from the new owners of Triton?? Done and sky writing for them Stu,
All the best, Chris
I think CMT makes high quality router bits and such. Did they buy Triton?
Also, it is interesting the companies they have aligned themselves with. I was at a woodworking show in spring, and Mark Eaton (who used to work for freud) was working at the Kreg booth and was strongly pushing CMT and Triton. I wonder if all these companies are the same company at the end of the day?
No – they didn’t, but they may have bought (from Peter Hosking – ex CEO GMC, and one of the new owners of Triton) the router. Just speculation.
Actually, it is also worth noting that the Triton spindle sander is exactly the same as the Mastercraft Maximum one. I suspect Triton was just having this made for them.
Perhaps Triton had an exclusive deal with a manufacturer for the router, and that exclusivity deal ran out? Now the manufacturing companies are free to make them for others.
I suspect this is the same reason why there are many companies selling exactly the same spindle sander, exactly the same router table.
Looking at the Miter Saw, it seems to be the same thing.
Perhaps Triton, in order to secure some funds, has given a limited licence to CMT to sell the router until they sort themselves out?
This would seem to be the case – based on analysis of the website and the limited market (Italy) that it is being provided to.
Stuart … there’s movement at the station … er .. I mean the Triton Website. Have a gander here
http://www.triton.com.au/contact.php
Parts Contacts For Australia
– Bairnsadale Electrics
– Carba-Tec Pty Ltd
Time to do some more sign writing in the sky 🙂
Its pretty funny that the company who is now making these routers is also an orange one!
I wonder if the CMT collets, brushes, whatever will fit on my triton?
No reason why not – they seem one in the same – at least spares will be available for ages yet, and in Oz through Carbatec (stocking CMT).
Not only orange, but previously they always branded themselves as “The Only Orange One” or something like that.
[…] be able to purchase new brushes for my triton from CMT – who are now making the Triton router! A Bodyblow to Triton Stu’s Shed The trade marks, patents etc were sold to a swiss company, who are probably selling the Triton […]
[…] […]
Cmt has only leased the licence for the routers. Triton still is going strong.
Triton is still going – wouldn’t say “strong” is how I’d describe it these days!!
Where do we get parts for the router table RTA300? My rear guard has a broken lip (a rather flimsy design). I found a part number for it RTA396 but no Australian supplier. Can anyone help me?
Marcus: http://www.toolsparesonline.com/category/937-triton-precision-router-table.aspx