Rex-Cut Abrasives, an abrasives manufacturer, is celebrating its 90th year in business. Rex-Cut's specialty abrasive material was invented in 1928 and over the following nine decades the Massachusetts based company engineered, refined and customized cotton-fiber abrasive products for metalworking industries.
History
In 1928 Edward Hurst, MIT graduate and Process Engineer, invented the technique of embedding abrasive grain in non-woven cotton-fiber while working for United Cotton Products in Boston, MA. United Cotton Products was a division of Rexall Drug and Chemical Company operating out of Fall River, MA. The original product was named "Fluff-Tex" and a patent was filed for the manufacturing process in 1935.
In 1960, Edward Hurst retired from United Cotton Products and his son, Robert H. Hurst, took over management. After this transition, the business changed hands several times before officially being called Rex-Cut Products in 1969.
Up until the early 1970s, Rex-Cut manufactured and sold only bulk rolls of fabric for conversion to large abrasive companies. At this time, Robert H. Hurst began purchasing equipment and converting the Rex-Cut abrasive material in-house. Rex-Cut's first finish products were Type 27 Grinding wheels. Abrasive discs designed to sharpen gardening tools and lawn mower blades were second. Type 1 wheels followed and Mounted Points began being manufactured several years later. In 1978, Rex-Cut built a 60,000-sq. ft. facility located in the Fall River Industrial Park where it still operates today.
In 2008, Rex-Cut was sold to the employees as a 100% ESOP company, making it one of roughly 7,000 Employee Owned businesses in the U.S. today. In most recent news, the company began doing business as Rex-Cut Abrasives in 2011.
Achievements
Over the years, the cotton-fiber abrasive grinding and finishing products line has expanded to serve metalworking industries globally. Rex-Cut's first international account was set up in the late 1970s, and now the company ships to 54 countries.
Rex-Cut currently manufactures products for innovative applications such as jet engine turbine blade profiling, automotive braze blending and 3-D printing finish work.
Partners
Rex-Cut began establishing its own network of industrial distributors to sell the Rex-Cut brand of finished abrasive products in the 1970s. This network was and still is instrumental in spreading the Rex-Cut name and products throughout the U.S. and worldwide.
"At our 90-year mark we are reflecting on our history, dedicated team and recognizing our loyal business partners," said Bob Costa, President of Rex-Cut Abrasives. "We have a total of 228 distributors that have been with us for over 20 years and we would not have reached this milestone without their help."
To celebrate nine decades in manufacturing, Rex-Cut will be selecting nine of its long standing distributors to receive a gift. A celebration with all employee owners will take place in the fall.
"We want to thank our dedicated distributors and employees for their years of partnership and service," said Bob Costa, President of Rex-Cut Abrasives. "We are looking forward to many more years of providing safe and efficient products for metalworking industries."
A list of Rex-Cut distributors is available on its website.
For more information contact:
Rex-Cut
960 Airport Road
Fall River, MA 02720
800-225-8182
info@rexcut.com
www.rexcut.com