New Program Helps Determine Solutions to Grinding and Finishing Challenges

Saint-Gobain Abrasives has introduced the Norton Abrasive Process Solutions (APS) program, designed to help customers determine the optimal grinding or finishing solution for the application at hand. Solutions reportedly range from simple to complex, off-hand or automated, and for metal fabrication, production grinding and virtually any abrasives operation. The APS program draws upon the experience and knowledge of the Norton team along with access to 30 different machines, and a new state-of-the-art APS robotic automation cell (pictured). This cell forms the core of the new APS program, located at the Higgins Grinding Technology Center in Northborough, MA. Here, the APS team provides abrasive process development, optimization, automation and inhouse testing. APS services encompass the testing and optimization of new abrasives, improving quality and/ or throughput, and trying entirely new and customized processes.

Tests can be conducted so that customers do not have to re-assign limited inhouse resources and pause their own production.

“At a time when North American manufacturers need to deliver high-quality products faster, while stressed with labor shortages, the new APS Program can relieve some of their burden,” says Tony Landes, APS lead, Norton | Saint-Gobain Abrasives. “The APS program is set up to deliver a comprehensive array of services, including a quick response and short turnaround. The APS team can provide the broadest array of grinding and finishing process development solutions for any type of abrasive.”

In particular, the APS Automation Cell can deliver abrasive-to-part and part-to-abrasive applications as well as wet/dry processing, and uses a range of abrasives such as coated, non-woven, thin wheel, bonded and superabrasives. Equipped with a verified turnkey solution, manufacturers can then contact an automation system integrator to implement the solution to avoid costly trial and error at the integrator level.

See also: Saint Gobain Abrasives, Norton Abrasives

Technologies: Finishing

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