The Top Abrasive Manufacturers in the Industry: From Sandpaper to Grinding Wheels

The Top Abrasive Manufacturers in the Industry: From Sandpaper to Grinding Wheels

3M

Market Position or History

In 2017, 3M inked a partnership deal with Avery Dennison to jointly develop advanced adhesive solutions for the automotive industry, including abrasives and other materials.

Business Overview and Strategy

The company was established in June 1902 by  Hermon Cable, William McGonagle, John Dwan, Danley Budd, and Henry Bryan. Its headquarters are located in Saint Paul,  Minnesota, United States. 3M develops nearly  60,000 products under numerous brands. Some of the most popular products manufactured by  the company are abrasives, adhesives, healthcare software, medical goods, personal protective equipment, laminates, passive fire protection, and electronic circuits, just to name a few.

The firm’s vision is to use science to improve lives and solve problems. It strives to create innovative solutions that address some of the world's most pressing challenges, from healthcare and transportation to workplace safety and sustainability.

Strengths-

• 3M is known for having a strong culture of innovation
• It has a diverse product pipeline
• It has a strong brand position
• 3M has a firm distribution network across the globe
• It has an immaculate financial strength and has been accumulating high revenue

Weaknesses

• 3M relies on a few major customers for revenue
• The company has been facing severe backlash for its harmful environmental practices
• It is highly vulnerable to legal issues pertaining to product liability

Asahi Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd.

Market Position or History

In 2017, Asahi Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd. acquired Best Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd., a Taiwanese manufacturer of diamond tools and abrasives.

Business Overview and Strategy

With its headquarters in 1937, the company was founded in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It is emerged as one of the world’s largest manufacturers of cubic boron nitride and super abrasive diamond. Its products cater to the needs of industries such as medical, automotive, construction, aerospace, and electronics, among others.

 Asahi Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd. is committed to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, and is constantly developing new technologies and products to meet the evolving needs of its customers.

Strengths

• The company’s commitment to produce high quality products is one of its major strengths
• Its focus on innovation has helped it to create high end entities
• Its global presence enables it to serve a diverse range of customers
• The company’s is known for formulating and practicing beneficial customer relationship strategies

Weaknesses

• The company relies on high quality raw materials like diamonds that are subject to continuous price volatility
• The firm solely depends on certain industries for revenue
• The company is highly vulnerable to economic volatility and price sensitivity since the industries and raw materials it relies on are susceptible to supply chain disruptions and other challenges.

Fujimi Corporation

Market Position or History

In 2018, Fujimi Corporation inked a partnership deal with Heraeus Group, a leading precious metal and material provider. The duo joined hands with an aim to create excellent polishing solutions for the electronics and semiconductor sectors.

Business Overview and Strategy

The company was established in 1984 with its headquarters in Tualatin, Oregon. It has emerged as a leading manufacturer of polishing materials, lapping, and abrasive. Fujimi Corporation offers a wide range of polishing materials, including abrasive grains, polishing compounds, and slurries, as well as equipment for polishing and surface finishing. These products are used for the precision polishing of various materials, including silicon wafers, optical lenses, and metal surfaces.

The company is committed to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, and is constantly developing new technologies and products to meet the evolving needs of its customers.

Strengths

• The company never compromises on quality which in turn has earned it a large customer base
• It has built a strong global presence along with a diversified distribution network
• It has always focussed on diversifying its product portfolio to stand out of its customers
• The firm has maintained strong relationship with its loyal customer base

Weaknesses

• The company is highly prone to economic fluctuations
• Its business relies on price sensitive raw materials like certain chemicals and abrasives
• The organization faces intense competition from other players in both domestic and international markets

KWH Group

Market Position or History

In September 2018, KWH Mirka announced the launch of two new abrasive range integrated with its advanced coating technology.

Business Overview and Strategy

The company was established in 1929 by Emil Höglund. Its headquarters are located in Vaasa, Finland. It is predominantly known for developing and marketing plastic products and abrasives. Apart from that, it also offers logistics and forwarding services. KWH Group has three primary business areas, KWH Logistics, KWH Freeze, KWH Mirka (abrasive manufacturing), KWH Pipe, and KWH Invest.

KWH Group has a strong focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility, with several of its companies specializing in eco-friendly technologies and services. The company also aims to reduce its carbon footprint and promote renewable energy solutions.

Strengths

• The company operates across a diverse range of industries
• KWH is environmentally responsible and is adopting eco-friendly manufacturing techniques
• The company has excellent expertise in a wide array of sectors
• It has a large consumer base spread across the globe

Weaknesses

• The company is solely managed by one family which limits its ability to make inclusive decisions
• The businesses operated by this firm are highly vulnerable to trade restrictions, economic downturns, and raw material price fluctuations.

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

Market Position or History

In 2017, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA announced the acquisition of Darex Packaging Technologies, a producer and supplier of high performance sealants and coatings.

Business Overview and Strategy

The company was established in 1876 by Friedrich Karl Henkel. Its headquarters are located in Dusseldorf, Germany. It has a diverse product range consisting of adhesives, beauty care, laundry and home care, along with sealants, among others.

Henkel is committed to provide the best quality products to its loyal consumer base. It is known for using advanced technologies to create high end products with complete focus on sustainability. 

Strengths

• The company’s commitment to sustainability is one of its major strengths. In fact, it presently aims for 75% reductions in its carbon emissions by 2030.
• It caters to a diverse range on businesses which in turn is enabling it to stay ahead of its competitors
• The company is known for creating strong brands by formulating firm brand positioning strategies.

Weaknesses

• The company has limited presence in some of the emerging markets
• It is highly dependent on a handful of key customers for revenue
• Its reliance on raw materials that regularly go through price fluctuations and supply chain disruptions.