But products must be selected carefully to satisfy a company's growing need for better productivity and higher quality. The abrasives market is confused by numerous reports of mergers, consolidations, and company closings over the last decade that have affected nearly every manufacturer in the industry. Deriving meaning from such reports is difficult because this highly competitive industry is shrouded with secrecy, and clear technical information is often difficult to find. The abrasives industry is a complex array of companies and technologies. Some uses of abrasives are as old as manufacturing itself, and there is a large number of products and applications that compete with one another in a common marketplace.
Many products have unique uses in small niche markets.
Each of these two components encompasses a number of independent companies and technologies. The abrasives market is a melding of products and technologies from several other markets. Most of the materials used to make abrasives products are also used for other purposes, with abrasives having a secondary importance. One purpose of this report is isolate production and consumption data related specifically to abrasives. Another purpose is to provide a framework for understanding the abrasives marketplace and the companies, products, and events that set the stage for future growth of the industry.