Metalworking without interruptions — efficient grinding with VSM long-term abrasives

In industrial surface grinding, quality and efficiency are paramount, especially when grinding coils where large quantities of material are processed continuously and process stability and service life are crucial factors. Each tool change not only means a production stop but can also leave visible marks on the surface—an undesirable effect that must be avoided.

The COMPACTGRAIN series offers the optimal solution for this. Since the 1970s, this product range has been valued for its exceptionally long service life, constant stock removal rates, and consistent surface quality over the entire service life. Thanks to the high performance of these products, the metalworking industry has relied on this technology for decades for efficient, uninterrupted grinding without any noticeable quality fluctuations.

Reliable grinding processes with VSM COMPACTGRAIN

Efficient grinding processes require reliable abrasives with constant performance and a long service life. And the VSM COMPACTGRAIN series has been fulfilling this need since 1978.

The multi-layer long-term abrasives are made up of a granulate that contains numerous abrasive grains. Used grains are broken out by the grinding forces to expose sharp, unused grain tips. As a result, the stock removal remains constant and the surface quality uniform throughout nearly the entire service life. The extended service life also reduces the frequency of belt changes, minimizing downtime and optimizing the production process.

Optimized performance with VSM COMPACTGRAIN

Launched in 2018, the VSM COMPACTGRAIN Plus series goes one step further. An optimized grain reserve and improved bonding properties ensure more even wear. The granulate in the multi-layer abrasive is utilized completely, which further extends the service life.

Compared to the COMPACTGRAIN series, COMPACTGRAIN Plus is more aggressive, which increases stock removal. The higher stock removal rate allows for increased feed rates. Throughput times are reduced, and defects can be ground out more quickly. This reduces the need for rework and increases productivity.

VSM offers a large portfolio with various series that differ in flexibility, stock removal rate, wear properties, and coating density. Within the COMPACTGRAIN and COMPACTGRAIN Plus product families, there are a total of 24 variants to choose from, most with a fabric backing and some with paper backings or vulcanized fiber. They are available in grit sizes 60–1200, making them ideal for a wide range of applications, including wet grinding.

Maximum productivity and consistent quality in cylindrical grinding

Efficient grinding processes require high-performance abrasives with constant stock removal rates and a long service life. This is precisely where KK790Y -  VSM COMPACTGRAIN Plus comes in. This long-term abrasive has a particularly large grain reserve and a continuous self-sharpening effect, which keeps stock removal constant and the surface quality uniform over the entire service life.

KK790Y has been specially developed for applications with high contact pressures, such as centerless grinding of tubes and rods or wire grinding on planetary grinding machines. Improved bonding ensures full utilization of the granulate, while the significantly larger granulate further extends the service life of the belts.

KK790Y has demonstrated its performance impressively in practice: When grinding stainless steel tubes on a four-station grinding machine with grit sizes 120, 180, 240 and 320, the results were double those of the previous competing product, with 460 tubes ground instead of only 230.

The ability to increase the feed rate optimizes production processes. Fewer belt changes reduce grinding costs and ensure higher process stability. With KK790Y, VSM offers a powerful solution for precise cylindrical grinding applications where consistent quality and efficiency are crucial.

Glossy surfaces with CK772T

In a field test, VSM COMPACTGRAIN CK772T in grit size 400 was used to grind a stainless-steel container. The result: a consistent and glossy surface.

CK772T uses easily broken-down grain reserves made of silicon carbide. This results in a long service life and uniform surface roughness. Compared to conventional abrasives, CK772T needs significantly fewer abrasive belt changes. This increases efficiency and reduces operating costs.

CK772T also achieves excellent results in applications with soft contact elements or low contact pressure. The continuous self-sharpening ensures stable stock removal and extends the service life of the abrasive.

Practical tests show that CK772T is very well-suited for grinding stainless-steel containers. Compared to conventional abrasives, a uniform and glossy surface was achieved despite the reduction in grinding passes.

Precision, efficiency and many years of expertise – Made in Germany

For more than 160 years, the Hanover facility has stood for innovative abrasive technology – Made in Germany. VSM develops high-performance abrasive solutions to meet the most stringent demands in industrial metalworking. Since the market launch of the COMPACTGRAIN series in the 1970s, abrasive technology has developed steadily and also been shaped by close communication with our customers.

Constant stock removal, a long service life, and uniform roughness over the entire service life: these properties have made long-term abrasives indispensable for decades.

Expertise for your processes

In addition to high-performance products, tailored advice is also important. Application engineers analyze processes directly on-site and develop customized solutions. Abrasives, machines and auxiliary materials are tailored precisely to the customer’s requirements. Optimized processes lead to higher efficiency and tangible cost savings.

Leverage our expertise and technology to take your grinding processes to the next level. Together we will find the ideal solution for your application—efficient, precise and economical.