Key facts
Company history: from 1665 to the present
The history of Saint-Gobain Abrasives has two roots. The first dates back to 1665, when King Louis XIV of France founded the Compagnie de Saint-Gobain to manufacture mirrors to free France from its dependence on Venetian glass. The second is the Norton Company, founded in 1885 in Worcester, Massachusetts, which pioneered the manufacture of grinding discs and abrasives.
Norton Company quickly grew from a small workshop to a world leader in the abrasives industry. In 1906, the company opened its first overseas office, and by the mid-20th century, it had factories on several continents. In 1990, French conglomerate Saint-Gobain acquired Norton Company for a record sum of ~$1.9 billion, bringing together two powerful industrial legacies under one roof.
Key development milestones
The acquisition of Norton was a strategic move for Saint-Gobain, transforming the French glass group into a global leader in building materials and industrial solutions. Today, the abrasives division is one of the group's key businesses, generating billions of dollars in revenue annually.
The company today
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| Legal name | Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc. |
| Parent company | Compagnie de Saint-Gobain (Paris, France) |
| Key brands | Norton, Flexovit, Winter, Norton Quantum, Norton Blaze, Norton Norzon |
| Headquarters (abrasives) | One New Bond Street, Worcester, MA, USA |
| Group headquarters | Paris, France |
| Group CEO | Benoit Bazin |
| Company type | Public (Euronext Paris: SGO) |
| Workers (abrasives) | 10,000+ worldwide |
| Group employees | ~160,000 worldwide |
| Abrasive division turnover | ~$3-4 billion (estimate) |
| Group turnover | ~47 billion (2023) |
| Production sites | 60+ factories in ~30 countries |
| Sales geography | 30+ countries, all continents |
| Certifications | ISO 9001, ISO 14001, MPA, oSa, FEPA |
Production sites
Saint-Gobain Abrasives operates more than 60 production facilities in approximately 30 countries. It is one of the most extensive production networks of any abrasives company in the world. Each plant specializes in specific product groups and serves regional markets.
| Region | Key locations | Specialization |
|---|---|---|
| North America | Worcester, MA (headquarters); Jacksonville, FL (Blount Island); other plants in the US and Canada | Bonded abrasives, grinding discs, superabrasives, R&D center |
| Western Europe | France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Scandinavia | Bonded and flexible abrasives, diamond tools, thin cutting discs |
| Eastern Europe | Poland, Czech Republic, Romania | Bonded abrasives, flap discs, flexible abrasives |
| Latin America | Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia | Bonded abrasives, cutting and grinding discs |
| Asia | India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand | Bonded abrasives, flexible abrasives, non-woven material |
| Middle East and Africa | UAE, Turkey, South Africa | Bonded abrasives, thin cutting discs |
| Oceania | Australia, New Zealand | Distribution and conversion |
Product line
The Saint-Gobain Abrasives range is one of the broadest in the industry and covers virtually all categories of abrasive tools:
- Bonded Abrasives - grinding discs, cutting discs, segments, honing bars on ceramic, bakelite and rubber bonds
- Coated Abrasives - abrasive belts, sheets, rolls, discs on a fabric, paper and polymer base
- Thin Discs - cutting and grinding discs for angle grinders (grinders)
- Flap Discs - for grinding, cleaning welds and finishing
- Diamond Tools - diamond discs, drills, crowns for cutting concrete, stone, ceramics
- Superabrasives - grinding discs with CBN (cubic boron nitride) and diamond grain for precision grinding
- Non-Woven - Norton Vortex and Bear-Tex for cleaning, matting, finishing
- Sandpaper - for manual and machine sanding of wood, metal, and paint coatings
Key brands and series
| Brand / Series | Product type | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Norton Quantum | Bonded abrasives | Revolutionary ceramic grain with microcrystalline structure. Highest performance and long service life |
| Norton Blaze | Flexible and bonded abrasives | SG ceramic grain for heavy duty applications. Aggressive cutting with high metal removal rates |
| Norton Norzon | Bonded abrasives | Zirconia aluminum grain - optimal price-performance ratio for rough grinding |
| Norton Vortex | Non-woven material | For cleaning, matting, preparing surfaces. Does not clog, does not leave scratches |
| Norton TQX | Superabrasives | Precision grinding technology for bearings, auto parts, aerospace components |
| Flexovit | Full spectrum | European brand: cutting discs, grinding discs, flap discs, diamond tools |
| Winter | Diamond tool | Premium brand of diamond and CBN tools for precision grinding |
Technology and innovation
Saint-Gobain Abrasives is a technology leader in the industry with over 100 years of research history. Its Norton Research Laboratory, founded in 1916, continues to develop innovative materials and processing technologies. The company's R&D centers are located in the United States, Europe and Asia.
Norton Quantum — a new generation of ceramic grain
Launched in 2011, Norton Quantum technology has been a breakthrough in the abrasive industry. Quantum ceramic grain has a unique microcrystalline structure that provides controlled micro-fracture during grinding. This means that the grain constantly renews its cutting edges, maintaining consistent performance throughout its life. The result: significantly higher cutting speeds, longer tool life and reduced thermal impact on the workpiece.
Norton Blaze - aggressive cutting for heavy-duty applications
Launched in 2017, the Norton Blaze series uses SG (seeded gel) ceramic grain, a self-sharpening technology that delivers aggressive cutting performance on even the hardest materials. Blaze is ideal for high-volume metal removal, stainless steel and exotic alloys in the aerospace industry.
Norton Norzon — zirconium-aluminum grain
Norzon technology uses zirconium aluminum grain, which is characterized by high strength and self-sharpening properties. Norzon provides the best price-performance ratio for rough grinding and weld cleaning in metal construction and shipbuilding.
Norton Vortex - nonwoven material
The Vortex line is a non-woven abrasive material for surface preparation, cleaning and finishing. It is characterized by non-clogging, adapts to complex part geometries and does not leave deep scratches. It is widely used in the automotive, food and pharmaceutical industries.
Certifications and standards
- ISO 9001— quality management system (all production sites)
- ISO 14001— environmental management system
- MPA— certification by Materialprufungsanstalt Hannover (Germany) for abrasive tools
- oSa is a member of the Organization for the Safety of Abrasives
- FEPA is a member of the Federation of European Abrasives Manufacturers
- Compliance with standards EN 12413 (bonded abrasives), EN 13236 (diamond tools)
Markets and distribution
Saint-Gobain Abrasives is present in more than 30 countries on all continents through a network of its own subsidiaries, distributors and authorized partners. The global presence of the parent group Saint-Gobain in 75+ countries provides a strong logistics and service infrastructure.
The company operates through several regional hubs: North America (headquartered in Worcester), Europe (key markets are France, Germany, UK, Scandinavia), Latin America (Brazil as a major market), Asia (India, China, Japan) and the Middle East/Africa.
Target industries
- Metalworking - grinding, cutting, polishing, finishing of metals
- Automotive industry - precision grinding of engine parts, transmissions, bearings
- Aerospace industry - processing of titanium, nickel alloys, composite materials
- Construction - cutting concrete, stone, brick; floor preparation
- Energy - processing of turbine blades, pipelines, welded structures
- Shipbuilding - hull cleaning, weld treatment, surface preparation
- Bearing production - precision grinding with micron tolerances
- Woodworking - sanding wood, MDF, plywood
- Paint and varnish industry - surface preparation, sanding of primer and varnish
Latest news (2024-2025)
- 2024— Construction begins on new administration building in Worcester, MA — Norton Company headquarters since 1885
- 2024— Norton Quantum Prime line expansion — an improved version of Quantum ceramic grain for industrial grinding
- 2024-2025— investments in precision grinding for the electric vehicle industry (processing of electric motor components)
- 2024-2025— continuation of the sustainable development strategy: reducing the carbon footprint of production, introducing energy-efficient technologies at factories
- 2025— Norton Blaze and Flexovit product lines updated for European and Asian markets
- 2025— 140th Anniversary of Norton Company (1885-2025) — the company continues to lead the global abrasives industry