VSM Vereinigte Schmirgel- und Maschinen-Fabriken AG

VSM Vereinigte Schmirgel- und Maschinen-Fabriken AG is a German manufacturer of flexible abrasives on backing, headquartered in Hanover-Hainholz. Founded in 1864 as S. Oppenheim & Co., the company is one of Europe's oldest abrasive manufacturers. It develops and produces abrasives for grinding operations on metal, wood and other materials, offering more than 1,400 different abrasive products. The company exports to approximately 70 countries and operates eight wholly owned subsidiaries (in the USA, Canada, England, Hungary, Spain, France and Colombia) as well as holdings in four companies in Poland, Sweden, Turkey and Switzerland. It also maintains sales representations in China, Thailand and Russia, and works with around 60 export partners across all continents, with a focus on Europe and Southeast Asia. Majority shareholders are Starcke GmbH & Co. KG in Melle and August Rüggeberg GmbH & Co. KG in Marienheide. VSM's product range includes high-tech series such as VSM CERAMICS, VSM CERAMICS Plus, VSM ACTIROX, VSM XELERION, VSM COMPACTGRAIN and VSM ILUMERON, as well as high-quality series based on aluminium oxide, silicon carbide and non-woven abrasives. The company emphasizes individual customer consultation and application-oriented optimization of grinding processes. Its abrasives are used in a wide range of industrial applications, including surface processing of bent, stamped and sheet metal parts, turbine blades, sanitary fittings, tools, pipes, sheets and containers, in general mechanical engineering, medical technology, the automotive industry, and industrial wood and glass processing. VSM is one of only three manufacturers worldwide capable of producing ceramic grain itself, marketed under the VSM CERAMICS and VSM CERAMICS Plus brands.

VSM Vereinigte Schmirgel- und Maschinen-Fabriken AG was founded in the mid-19th century by Siegmund Oppenheim and Siegmund Seeligmann and is one of Europe's oldest abrasive manufacturers. The company initially produced glass paper by hand in a barn in Hanover-Hainholz. It was entered in the commercial register in 1864. Towards the end of the 19th century, the company began building a machine factory in addition to abrasive production. Initially, grinding machines for use with grinding wheels were designed, later moulding and foundry machines were added. In 1898, S. Oppenheim & Co. in Hainholz merged with Schlesinger & Co. in Harburg and the British branch to form Vereinigte Schmirgel- und Maschinen-Fabriken AG. During World War I, the London branch was expropriated. As a result of the global economic crisis that began in 1929, machine manufacturing was shut down in 1930 and the Harburg plant in 1931. The company specialized in abrasives on flexible backing with Hanover-Hainholz as the main production site. Although a large part of the production facilities in Hanover was destroyed towards the end of World War II, they were rebuilt with the company's own funds from retained earnings, and the first production facility was back in operation as early as October 1945. In the following years, the company expanded through the founding of several subsidiaries, starting in 1955 with VSM Abrasives Ltd. in the United Kingdom, and through joint ventures. Buildings were expanded to include laboratories, pilot plants, warehouses, production lines, and a dedicated grinding technology training centre was established. In the following ten years, VSM invested in new grain production and further expansion, and opened a modern training centre for the further education of employees and customers. In 2014, the company celebrated its 150th anniversary, and in 2024 it marked 160 years of abrasives expertise from Hanover. Today, VSM is an internationally established manufacturer of flexible abrasives on backing, headquartered in Hanover-Hainholz, exporting to approximately 70 countries.

• 2024

  160th anniversary: 160 years of abrasives expertise from Hanover.

• 2014

  150th anniversary of the company.

• 1955

  Founding of VSM Abrasives Ltd. in the United Kingdom, the first subsidiary.

• 1945

  First production facility restarted in October after World War II.

• 1931

  Harburg plant closed.

• 1930

  Machine manufacturing shut down due to the global economic crisis.

• 1898

  Merger of S. Oppenheim & Co. with Schlesinger & Co. and the British branch to form Vereinigte Schmirgel- und Maschinen-Fabriken AG.

• 1864

  Foundation of S. Oppenheim & Co. in Hainholz, Hanover; entry in the commercial register.

High-tech precision abrasives 'Made in Germany' with focus on individual customer consultation and application-oriented optimization of grinding processes.

• VSM ACTIROX

  Abrasive belts with ceramic grain for high stock removal.

• VSM XELERION

  Abrasive belts with innovative XELERION dots for finish grinding, achieving flawless surfaces up to high gloss.

• VSM CERAMICS

  Versatile and powerful ceramic grain abrasives made by VSM.

• VSM CERAMICS Plus

  Advanced ceramic grain abrasives for demanding applications.

• VSM COMPACTGRAIN

  Abrasives with compact grain for fewer tool changes and longer grinding.

• VSM ILUMERON

  Abrasives for perfect surfaces with the highest gloss levels.

• VSM NON-WOVEN

  Non-woven abrasives for surface finishing.

• 160 years VSM anniversary campaign

1. 1VSM industrial abrasives | Abrasive belts | Abrasive discs - VSM AGvsmabrasives.com
2. 2Company portrait – VSM Vereinigte Schmirgel- und Maschinen-Fabriken AG - VSM AGvsmabrasives.com
3. 3XELERION: Finish grinding – right on point - VSM AGvsmabrasives.com
4. 4Abrasive belts for industry | Flat surface grinding | Cylindrical grinding - VSM AGvsmabrasives.com
5. 5VSM Vereinigte Schmirgel- und Maschinen-Fabriken AG - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6VSM Vereinigte Schmirgel- und Maschinen-Fabriken - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org