Dust-free sanding solutions
Innovation and creativity have been at the forefront of its success. A focus on Research & Development (R&D) has allowed Mirka to develop a complete range of technically superior, high quality abrasives and supplementary products. Together they offer an innovative ‘total solution’ that delivers real benefits to customers in terms of speed, first-class efficiency, surface finish quality and cost effectiveness.
Along with the intensive R&D program, another cornerstone of Mirka’s growth has been the commitment of talented staff across all areas of the business. Mirka people are encouraged to continually challenge traditional concepts and apply creative thinking to develop unique solutions that give customers a clear edge. That’s not only resulted in the development of revolutionary abrasive technology but also the creation of ground-breaking new coating production techniques.
Mirka’s current range includes several patented and exclusive abrasive products that cannot be reproduced by any other manufacturer. For example, with its NETsanding™ concept, Mirka became the first abrasives manufacturer in the world to develop a dust-free sanding solution that actually achieved what it set out to do – sand without dust! This patented sanding material consists of a dense ‘net’ structure containing literally thousands of tiny holes that allow dust and other particles to be efficiently vacuumed away to prevent them clogging the disc surface. Two products use the NETsanding™ technology, Abranet® and Autonet™, and their dust-free surface finishing performance has proven so superior to traditional systems they have already changed many people’s perceptions of sanding!
Abranet® is a premium NETsanding™ product that offers more aggressivity, greater efficiency and a longer lifespan than conventional abrasives. At the same time it produces an extremely uniform sanding pattern and a perfectly smooth surface finish.
There are many reasons why it’s so popular for use in the modern production process. Every detail of these processes must be controlled and that requires a sanding material with consistent performance and reliability. In addition, sanding dust must be reduced to a minimum in order to prevent costly repair sanding. Take the entire production costs into consideration and Abranet® is a clear winner.
Autonet™ is a NETsanding™ product that was specifically developed for the automotive aftermarket. Because dust is so efficiently extracted away, it is always possible to see exactly what is happening at the sanded surface which gives the user greater control and avoids problems such as over sanding. Another major bonus is a cleaner and healthier working environment.
Because they offer a safe, environmentally friendly and cost efficient alternative to traditional paper abrasives, NETsanding™ products have revolutionised the abrasives market. Mirka’s long-term goal is to gradually replace all traditional abrasives with NETsanding™ products.
As well as producing unique abrasive products, Mirka also offers unique complementary products, such as sanding machines, backing pads and hand sanding blocks. Importantly, they have all been specially designed and developed for use with Mirka abrasive products and to achieve maximum performance in every sanding operation. For professionals, it’s vital to select a machine that’s comfortable and easy to use in everyday work which is why Mirka concentrated on user friendliness and ergonomics, as well as performance and efficiency, when developing its machines.
Mirka is also renowned for its outstanding customer support strategy. Training is provided for customers both in the company’s own product development department, as well as at the location where the products are actually used. This enables the sanding process to be optimised for each customer while also allowing Mirka staff to receive valuable feedback. No wonder Mirka’s technical support is regarded as a highly appreciated asset by customers.
The abrasives sector is a mature market with limited growth potential which makes it all the more remarkable that Mirka has reached the strong global position it has today. It’s thanks to the development of patented, groundbreaking products and a determination to stick to the company motto, ‘Quality from Start to Finish’, that Mirka is now regarded as the number one choice for outstanding abrasives performance.