Customer focus, innovation and exceptional human resources

In many areas, including precision grinding of ultra-hard materials, cutting and grinding of billets and slabs in the steel industry as well as the tool-making industry, where its products are indispensable for the production of ultra-hard tools, Winterthur is clearly the global market leader. Today, WTG unites four strong brands, the oldest, Rappold, was founded as Rappold Schleifmittel Industrie in Villach, Austria, back in 1876.

Before the four brands Rappold, SlipNaxos, Wendt and Winterthur merged, all four were strong, innovative companies, each having achieved significant success in its respective market over many decades. Although each has it own specific focus, the integration of all four in a single corporate entity is an absolute success, as the product portfolios are ideally complementary. In its past acquisitions, Winterthur had always had an eye on customer benefits, not just company profitability, and the merger of all four companies is definitely no exception. In spite of their different cultural heritages, the Austrian, Swiss, German and Swedish companies all have three key elements that make the merger such a resounding success: customer focus, innovative spirit and exceptional human resources.

Winterthur’s customers benefit from this and the complete WTG system which, apart from providing them with the optimum abrasive solution, guarantees them the highest availability and manufacturer proximity, thanks to the 14 production sites in Europe, America and Asia and numerous, carefully selected sales agents (see also 'Location'). All the manufacturing operations are compliant with international quality and environmental protection standards as per ISO 9001 and 1400