March 2020 Issue
Be it automation or better abrasives, fabricators have affordable options to overcome labor issues
Comfortable Costs
Industry News
Weiler Abrasives Expands Flap Discs
Weiler Abrasives expanded its Tiger and Wolverine flap disc offering to include 4.5-in. high-density discs in a conical style (Type 29) and more options for metal fabricators using 5-in. and 6-in. grinders. Composed of ceramic alumina and zirconia alumina grains, the 6-in. Tiger X standard-density, conical flap discs offer maximum performance and aggressive grinding on flat steel and stainless steel surfaces. These Type 29 discs feature X3 technology that combines an advanced anchoring system, dual flap design and engineered backing for long life and greater productivity.
Kalamazoo Adds Fabrication Center
Kalamazoo Industries added a 5,000-sq.-ft. custom fabrication center to its facility to eliminate the backlog of the company’s standard products. The new center can easily accommodate large units of parts plus the additional space enables the company to develop new technology, like the TruArc oscillation system, which improves cutting speed. In addition to custom products, Kalamazoo fabricates standard abrasive cutoff saws, abrasive belt grinders and sanders, vibratory finishers, and other machining tools and equipment.
Lawson Products Releases New Catalog
Lawson Products’ new catalog has updated content focused on the company range of products, including abrasives and cutting tools. About 650 new SKUs have been added to the catalog, along with private-labeled product spotlight pages and maintenance engineered icons that identify high-performing products exclusive to Lawson. To browse the online catalog, users click “View Catalog” on the website homepage or footer or select the catalog page number links on the product detail pages. The catalog is available in digital and print, and may be downloaded for offline viewing.
Chicago Pneumatic Releases New Tools
Chicago Pneumatic expanded its CP3550 series of grinders and sanders, which are for high-output work environments like foundries, casting plants, fabrication shops and shipyards. The new tools include: a 6-in. angle grinder; two standard and two extended die grinders that come complete with an Erickson 200 collet for attachments of 1/4- in. and 6-mm mounted points and carbide burrs; two new tools for use with 7-in. abrasive pads; and a low-speed sander with a gearbox that generates high torque with reduced speed (3,000 rpm) for polishing or delicate applications.
Rex-cut’s Abrasive Wheels for Pipe
Rex-Cut Abrasives launched a line of alumina zirconia grinding wheels for pipe welding applications. The Velocity Pipeliner withstands the pressures of pipe beveling, smoothing flame cut edges and root pass grinding in the oil and gas pipeline industry. The grain and hard bond blend provide long wheel life and good performance on stainless steel and high-tensile alloys. The Velocity Grinding Wheel is a 1/4-in.-thick version available for general fabrication applications such as heavy weld grinding, beveling hard steels, grinding casting parting lines and removing weld deposits.
Weiler Abrasives Partners With Pacesetter
Weiler Abrasives partnered with Pacesetter Sales & Associates of McKellar, Ontario. Through this partnership, Pacesetter Sales & Associates represents Weiler products and services in the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. David Harrison, Weiler’s Eastern Canada sales manager will maintain his role, while also providing oversight and product training to Pacesetter team members.
Pferd Adds to Flap Disc Lineup
Pferd Inc. added to its SG Polifan Z SG Power Steelox flap disc line with a 6-in. (Type 29) disc in 40 and 60 grit in 7/8 in. arbor and 5/8-11 hub versions. Offering consistent performance throughout the entire life of the flap disc, the zirconia alumina Z abrasive handles demanding grinding work, delivering good stock removal on high- power angle grinders even at higher contact pressures. The flap discs are specified for use on steel and stainless steel. They are for work on weld seams, chamfering, blending and deburring.
Mini Angle Sanders From Norton
Norton | Saint-Gobain Abrasives’ Mini Angle Sanders are for hard-to-reach areas and powerful enough to finish jobs fast and efficiently. The sanders are compatible with Norton quick-change discs and mini flap discs, and are available as a 2-in. or 3-in. standalone tool or as part of a kit. They feature a double-bearing spindle that reduces vibrations and results in longer use and finer finishes. The sanders are well-suited for deburring, sanding, blending and finishing applications in industries including metal fabrication, welding, transportation and aerospace.