Swift global expansion for abrasives market
It is no secret that abrasives are a pivotal part of every industry where cleaning, repairing or polishing is required. In the industrial sector, abrasives find applications across nearly all industries, earning them recognition as one of the rapidly expanding markets on a global scale. For retailers in the hardware industry, these statistics should encourage stocking up on more abrasive products for their customers.
According to a report by Market Intel Advisors, in 2022, the global abrasives market size was valued at $35.5bn and between the period 2024 and 2030, the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 4.5%.
The Expert Market Research report mentions that the global abrasives market attained a value of $49.74bn in 2023, driven by the thriving end user industries of the product. With further technological advancements in the aerospace industry, the market is also expected to witness further growth in the forecast period of 2024 to 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.90%. The market is projected to reach $76.34bn by 2032.
“Since abrasives find substantial application across the automotive industry for repairing engine parts, auto body, and interior and exterior cleaning, among other applications, their demand is hiking globally.”
The report mentions that some of the notable major markets for abrasives include North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.
Moreover, based on raw material, the abrasives market is divided into natural abrasives and synthetic abrasives. The synthetic abrasives segment is further divided based on type into metallic abrasives, aluminium oxide, silicon carbide and so forth. Further, based on the type of segment, the market is divided into bonded abrasives, coated abrasives, and super abrasives.
The significant applications of abrasive products include grinding, cutting, polishing, and drilling, among many other applications. The market segmentation based on end user industry includes metal manufacturing, electronics, construction, automotive, aerospace, medical, and oil and gas. The report also highlights that the abrasives market has shown a sizable degree of segmentation, including several market categories and geographical areas. The divisions provide insightful viewpoints into the opportunities and difficulties that shareholders face, illuminating shifts in abrasives market size, sales, profits, volume, and pricing, among other crucial metrics — all of which are advantageous for prospective investors.
Moreover, abrasives materials are also used for cleaning the insides of components like pipes, smooth welds, edges, and surfaces for fitting, oiling, polishing, or painting. Such applications further augment the demand for abrasives across the automotive industry and are the reason why the global abrasives market has shown exponential growth.
“Global Abrasives Market dynamics and competitive forces play a pivotal role in determining the prominence of industry participants. As new technologies emerge, consumer preferences evolve, and economic conditions fluctuate, companies must adapt swiftly to maintain their position in the market. Consequently, the specific list of leading players may undergo shifts and transformations, reflecting the industry’s dynamic nature,” says the report.
Emerging trends in the global abrasives market
The global abrasives market is witnessing several emerging trends. One such trend is the increasing demand for synthetic abrasives, driven by their superior performance and cost-effectiveness compared to natural abrasives. Furthermore, there is a growing emphasis on sustainability, with more manufacturers introducing eco-friendly abrasives that generate less waste and have a lower environmental impact. Additionally, the report mentions that the market has witnessed an increasing use of abrasives in the medical and healthcare sectors for applications such as dental procedures and surgical instruments. The market is also experiencing a shift towards the adoption of advanced abrasive technologies, including super abrasives and nanomaterial-based abrasives in efforts to meet the ever-evolving needs of various industries.
DIY and hardware market
The hardware and DIY segment has garnered significant attention due to its substantial growth. Many abrasives suppliers in the DIY segment have highlighted some notable trends relating to various products. DIY & Industrial Trade News reached out to a few suppliers, who provided updates on how the market has responded to their products.
Matus
Q: Abrasives are used across industries for various applications ensuring consistent market demand for products. In which markets has there been noticeable growth, which has resulted in an increase in demand for your abrasive products?
A: Matus have seen a dramatic increase in the demand for our Fox abrasive range across the retailer and especially in the contractor hardware industry. Our range’s quality has continuously proved itself in terms of quality, affordability and wide availability.
Q: What types of abrasives does your company specialise in, and what sets your products apart from others in the market?
A: Our range consists of diamond discs, bonded abrasive discs, power tool accessories and coated abrasives (paper). These products are crafted to meet the industry’s demand for affordable, high-quality cutting or grinding discs. What sets Fox discs apart from others is the adherence to rigorous manufacturing standards and the infusion of innovation into each disc, guaranteeing that every Fox product embodies the highest quality.
Q: Technology is ever evolving and new ways of completing projects and tasks are also changing. What are some of the plans you have in place to ensure that you stay ahead or at par with these changes in terms of services offered and improvement on your product offering?
A: In strategically partnering with our suppliers and ensuring a high level of investment into research and development, we ensure that the Fox offering is always one that brings about the newest and most innovative products to our customers.
Q: How is your company addressing sustainability concerns in the production and disposal of abrasive products? Do you offer environmentally friendly or recyclable options in your product line?
A: As a socially aware and responsible business, Matus has taken extreme steps, including. partnering up with strategic partners that specialise in the production and / or disposal of any products, including, however, not limited to the Fox range.
Five important tips to note when using abrasives as a DIYer:
1. Always put your safety first. Please use the correct PPE (safety glasses, gloves etc).
2. Ensure that you use the correct product for the correct application ie, use the correct cutting disc for the grinder and material you are using.
3. Ensure that the expiry date is still valid on a cutting disc.
4: Ensure that the disc is properly fitted onto the grinder.
5: Do not remove the guard from a grinder.
Grinding Techniques
Q: Abrasives are used across various industries for various applications, this means that there is always a market for your products. In which markets has there been noticeable growth, which in turn has resulted in an increase in demand for your abrasive products?
A: We have been supplying abrasive products to various industries for over 40 years and we are considered a household brand by many, however we are very fortunate to have penetrated new industrial markets in recent times. However, retail markets remain a key market sector for us as we continuously bring new innovative products to this sector to assist our DIY customers with their projects such as our non-woven range of products.
Q: What types of abrasives does your company specialise in and what sets your products apart from others in the market?
A: Apart from being a local manufacturer, Grinding Techniques supply an extensive range of abrasive products ranging from hand programmes – cutting and grinding discs suitable for handheld grinders to specialised cut off wheels for applications such as rail cutting to specialised abrasive grinding wheels in our Andor brand. We also supply a wide variety of coated products including belts, velcro and fibre discs to mention a few. We can provide bespoke solutions across a range of industries; our Technical team are ready and able to provide support to meet customer application demands.
Q: Technology is ever evolving and new ways of completing projects and tasks are also changing. What are some of the plans you have in place to ensure that you stay ahead or at par with these changes in terms of services offered and improvement on your product offering?
A: We strive to implement the best manufacturing practices to provide all industries with the best and highest quality of abrasives they are accustomed to from Grinding Techniques. We have an experienced business development team working together with our research and development team constantly analysing market demands and trends and continually doing product development to ensure we stay at the forefront of innovation.
Q: How is your company addressing sustainability concerns in the production and disposal of abrasive products? Do you offer environmentally friendly or recyclable options in your product line?
A: We follow strict environmental measures to ensure we comply with all regulations, we assist large volume customers with safe disposal plans, however we welcome anyone to contact us should they require advise on safe disposal of abrasives.
Five important tips to note when using abrasives as a DIYer:
- Always make use of the appropriate PPE when working with abrasives.
- Adhere to label indications of suitable material and maximum rpm’s on application.
- Make sure you consider the final finish when choosing abrasives, our Superflex range caters for a wide range of applications that allow different products for different surface finish requirements.
- Avoid cross-contamination by choosing abrasives suited to the workpiece as indicated on the product label.
- When using power tools, ensure that the recommended tool is paired with the abrasive to ensure optimum performance.
Academy Brushware
Q: Abrasives are used across various industries for various applications, this means that there is always a market for your products. In which markets has there been noticeable growth, which in turn has resulted in an increase in demand for your abrasive products?
A: The Hardware & DIY market.
Q: What types of abrasives does your company specialise in and what sets your products apart from others in the market?
A: We specialise in water and cabinet paper sheets, floor rolls with cost effective pricing and easy to choose colours.
Q: Technology is ever evolving and new ways of completing projects and tasks are also changing. What are some of the plans you have in place to ensure that you stay ahead or at par with these changes in terms of services offered and improvement on your product offering?
A: Our products are manufactured to international specs and are manufactured by a local company that not only distributes exclusively to Academy Brushware but also supplies the rest of the world with superior sandpaper. Our range is ever evolving with new technologies that are offered internationally which ensures that we are always ahead of the innovation curve for offerings into the South African market.
Five important tips to note when using abrasives as a DIYer:
- To determine the suitability of the product for its intended use.
- 40-60 grit Coarse stripping
- 80 grit Medium levelling and smoothing
- 100 grit Fine finishing.
- Start with the coarsest recommended grit and work progressively through the next finer grades.
- When sanding wood, always sand with the grain – never against it. Do not press too hard. Use gentle, swift movements. Utilise a sanding block, using a hand (fingers) leaves an uneven surface.
- Tap dust and debris out of the sandpaper at regular intervals to prevent premature clogging.
- Observe basic safety precautions – wear a dust mask and goggles. Always work in a well-ventilated area.
Sources:
www.marknteladvisors.com
