Welcome to Bates Abrasives' new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility! This brand new climate-controlled plant has helped us increase capacity, handle our continued growth, and provides a better working atmosphere for our employees. This plant reflects our commitment to continuous improvement and dedication to our customers. Whether you're a current or prospective customer, we'd like you to see the plant in operation, and in the process, see how top quality resin bonded cut-off and grinding wheels are made.

Bates Abrasives has a reputation for excellent customer service, and many of our customers say we're the easiest company in our industry to do business with. The main reason is people like Robyn, whose knowledge and experience make dealing with us fast, efficient and enjoyable. Call us any time to place an order, get quick answers and accurate order status, or to find out more information about our extensive product line and private label program. Or call us for your local factory representative. You'll find they are among the top professionals in the industry.

In our business, continuous improvement is the name of the game. Here in the lab our engineers test new abrasive grains and bonding systems, and formulate new abrasive combinations. They also work with customers on challenging new applications. Our engineering staff has over 80 years of combined experience in the grinding wheel industry.

Bates engineers perform extensive factory and field testing on all of our products. They conduct tests for product life and wheel efficiency, and do destructive speed tests for safety analysis. If you have demanding applications, contact your sales representative, or call us here at the factory.

The Bates machine shop is a busy place stocked with precision machinery. We're proud of our highly skilled tool and die makers: they make new molds, develop new production capabilities, meet customer needs for unique products, and even fabricate custom machinery. They also keep our wheel molds in good repair-- one of the many ways we maintain a steady flow of consistent, high quality products.

Bates Abrasives uses only the highest quality materials from certified suppliers, and our long-term supplier relationships mean we're assured reliable, on-time material deliveries.

Mixing is a critical step in the manufacturing process. Here we mix together abrasive grains, resins, and other ingredients. At Bates it's a tightly controlled process that involves accurate weighing, carefully timed mixing, and a number of quality and process control steps.

Fiberglass reinforcement is used to strengthen cut-off wheels and other wheels types to make them safer and stronger. We start by buying only the best material, and unlike most other manufacturers, we die-cut our own fiberglass, guaranteeing an uninterrupted supply for faster deliveries to our customers.

The pressroom is where all the elements of a grinding wheel come together. This photo shows part of our pressroom, where we maintain a large number of calibrated presses. Backup presses give us extra capacity for a wide range of wheel sizes and shapes - important when customers need high-volume production in a hurry.

Bates' highly skilled operators carefully weigh each mix then pour it into a well-maintained mold. After pressing, they check for thickness and balance. Regular preventive maintenance on these machines ensures exact pressures - an important ingredient in product consistency.

After the wheels are mixed, formed and pressed, they're baked at precise temperatures. This heating-and-cooling process is actually a carefully engineered cycle that ensures proper resin flow and bonding in the wheel. The baking process is carefully monitored and the ovens themselves are regularly inspected to maintain calibration.

Many wheels require finishing after they are baked. This can involve a number of steps including reaming the arbors, checking the balance, "truing" the wheels, speed testing, and other quality inspections. This is also where Bates' innovative rough cut surface treatment, which gives certain wheels their "instant start" feature, is applied.

In the shipping department wheels are given their final quality inspection. Then they're labeled, marked, packaged in specially engineered boxes, and shipped. Proper packaging is very important to ensure the wheels reach their destinations safely. Bates does a large volume in private labeling, which is also done here.