Key facts
Company history: from 1943 to the present
The history of Mirka begins at the height of World War II. In 1943, Finnish engineer Onni Aulo founded the Mirka company in Helsinki with the aim of producing abrasives for the needs of Finnish industry. However, due to wartime conditions, actual production could not begin until 1946.
The name Mirka has become a symbol of Finnish quality and innovation in the field of sanding. From a small abrasives manufacturer, the company has evolved into a global leader that has changed the way sanding is done with its revolutionary mesh abrasive technology.
Key development milestones
A key moment in Mirka's history was in 2001, when the company introduced Abranet technology. This mesh abrasive with thousands of micro-holes revolutionized the sanding industry, making efficient dust-free sanding possible. Abranet has become one of the most successful innovations in the abrasive industry in recent decades.
The company today
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| Legal name | Mirka Oy (Mirka Ltd) |
| Brand | Mirka |
| Headquarters | Pensar Office, 66850 Jeppo (Jepua), Finland |
| Parent company | KWH Group (family-owned Finnish conglomerate, since 1963) |
| Company type | Private, part of KWH Group |
| Employees | ~1,600 worldwide |
| Turnover | ~350 million (2024) |
| Production sites | Finland, Italy, Belgium, USA |
| Subsidiaries | 18 worldwide |
| Sales geography | 100+ countries |
| Key brands | Abranet, Autonet, Galaxy, Iridium, Gold, Novastar, Abralon, DEOS, AIROS |
| Certifications | ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, FEPA |
Production sites
Mirka has production facilities in 4 countries, with the main production concentrated in Finland. The main production complex is located in the Ostrobothnia region, where the company has several factories in close proximity to each other.
| № | City | Country | Specialization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yeppo (Yeppo) | Finland | Headquarters, main abrasives production, R&D center |
| 2 | Oravais | Finland | Production of abrasive materials |
| 3 | Jakobstad | Finland | Production of abrasive products |
| 4 | Karyaa (Cattle) | Finland | Production of abrasive materials |
| 5 | Nurmijärvi | Finland | Production of abrasive products |
| 6 | Italy | Italy | Production of polishing agents and special products |
| 7 | Belgium | Belgium | Production of abrasive materials for the European market |
| 8 | USA | USA | Production and distribution for the North and South American market |
Product line
The Mirka range covers the full spectrum of grinding and polishing solutions - from abrasive materials to electric and robotic sanders and dust extraction systems.
- Net abrasives— Abranet, Abranet Ace, Abranet Max, Autonet — revolutionary dust-free grinding technology
- Coated abrasives— Gold, Iridium, Galaxy, Novastar — classic grinding discs, sheets, rolls
- Non-woven abrasives— Mirlon, Mirlon Total — for matting, finishing and surface preparation
- Polishing agents - polishing pastes, liquid polishing systems for automotive refinishing
- DEOS electric sanders - random orbital sanders with Bluetooth connection
- AIROS robotic systems - automated grinding for industrial lines
- Dust extraction systems - industrial vacuum cleaners and dust-free sanding systems
- Backing discs and accessories - plates, blocks, protective films
Key brands and series
| Brand / Series | Product type | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Abranet | Mesh abrasive | Patented mesh base - dust-free sanding. Flagship product since 2001. Presidential Innovation Award |
| Autonet | Mesh abrasive | Specialized mesh abrasive for automotive refinishing |
| Iridium | Film-based abrasive | Premium abrasive for the automotive industry with high performance and long service life |
| Galaxy | Film-based abrasive | Multi-hole abrasive with ceramic grain for heavy-duty work |
| Gold | Paper-based abrasive | Universal abrasive for woodworking and general sanding work |
| Novastar | Film-based abrasive | Multi-hole abrasive for finishing |
| Abralon | Foam-based abrasive | Flexible abrasive for grinding curved and complex surfaces |
| GODS | Electric grinders | Random orbital sanders with Bluetooth, integrated with dust extraction system |
| AIROS | Robotic grinding | Automated grinding system for industrial lines and cooperative robots |
Technology and innovation
Mirka is known for its innovative approach to developing abrasive solutions. The company invests heavily in R&D and has several patented technologies that have changed the standards of the sanding industry.
Abranet - mesh abrasive technology
Mirka's main innovation is the Abranet technology, patented in 2001. The abrasive grain is applied to a mesh polyamide base with thousands of microscopic holes. This ensures uniform dust extraction over the entire surface of the abrasive, and not just through the fixed holes in conventional discs. The result: up to 20 times less dust compared to traditional abrasives, a significantly longer service life and consistent surface quality throughout the entire service life.
DEOS — electric grinders
The DEOS (Direct Electric Orbital Sander) series is an electric random orbital sander developed by Mirka specifically for use with mesh abrasives and dust extraction systems. Key features include Bluetooth connectivity for controlling sanding parameters via a mobile app, compact design, low vibration and full integration with Mirka's dust-free sanding system.
AIROS — robotic grinding
AIROS (Automated Intelligent Robotic Sanding) is a robotic solution for the automation of sanding processes. AIROS can be integrated with collaborative robots (cobots) and industrial robots for automated sanding in series production. The system ensures consistent processing quality, increases productivity and reduces the workload on workers.
Certifications and standards
- ISO 9001— quality management system at all production sites
- ISO 14001— environmental management system
- ISO 45001— Occupational Health and Safety Management System
- FEPA— membership in the Federation of European Producers of Abrasives
Markets and distribution
Mirka is present in over 100 countries through a network of 18 subsidiaries in Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Asia. A global distribution network ensures that Mirka products are available almost anywhere in the world.
Mirka subsidiaries operate in the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Russia, UAE, USA, Canada, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Australia and other countries.
Target industries
- Automotive refinishing— surface preparation, ground grinding, polishing of paintwork
- Automotive OEM - body part grinding, composite processing
- Woodworking and furniture production - sanding of wood, MDF, plywood, varnished surfaces
- Composite materials - grinding of fiberglass, carbon fiber, polymer composites
- Marine and shipbuilding industry - processing of ship hulls, yachts, boats
- Construction and decoration - sanding walls, ceilings, putty, drywall
- Metalworking - grinding and polishing of metal products and structures
Latest news (2024–2026)
- 2024–2025— continued development of AIROS robotic solutions, expanding grinding automation capabilities for the automotive and industrial industries
- 2024— launch of new product lines and update of series of abrasives for automotive refinishing
- 2024— expansion of production capacity at factories in Finland
- 2025— introduction of new digital solutions for monitoring grinding processes via Bluetooth connection
- 2025–2026— expansion of the network of subsidiaries and distribution partners in the markets of Asia and Latin America