Norton Company

at , Worcester , 01606 United States

1. Organization

Description

Norton Abrasives of Worcester, Massachusetts, USA is the world's largest manufacturer and supplier of abrasives for commercial applications, household, and automotive refinishing usage. In 1990 it was purchased by Saint-Gobain of France. Norton specializes in the manufacture of abrasive products for applications in the autobody, construction, welding/industry, and marine/composite markets as well as for contractors and DIY consumers.Origins and HistoryNorton Company was founded in 1885 by a group of ceramists and entrepreneurs from Worcester, Massachusetts. The group set out to manufacture the first mass-produced, precision-made grinding wheel to fulfill the burgeoning U.S. manufacturing industry's growing need for abrasives.In 1886, employing the help of student suveyors from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the partners built a new factory on the outskirts of Worcester. The factory was not only important to the company for its innovation but also for its proximity to two major railways for shipping. During the late the 1890s, corporate decision-making proved conservative until it was assured the company would succeed. Until that time, dividends were frequently forgone and many of the owners declined to draw a salary.Also pivotal to Norton's early growth was a focus on marketing. The company introduced a series of pamphlets and related literature, which detailed the intricacies of each wheel and advised users on benefits for desired applications. By the mid-1890s, Norton stocked the largest inventory of grinding wheels in the world, subsequently beginning distribution in Chicago (1887), New York (1904), and soon after, across Europe.

Company Rating

12 FB users likes Norton Company, set it to 20 position in Likes Rating for Worcester, Massachusetts in Organization category

Summary

Norton Company is Worcester based place and this enity listed in Organization category. 01606.