For centuries, flexible backed abrasives have been used for a wide variety of tasks. The first sandpaper type products were created from sticky leaves with crushed sand or shells. These crude forerunners were used to shape and smooth items made of stone and marble in China and Greece. Since then, the manufacture and use of flexible backed abrasives has evolved to become a much more complex and important industrial process.

Today, Hermes research and product development teams produce Coasted Abrasives with highly complex components. Tear-resistant synthetic stitch backed cloth and extremely uniform films are examples of continued research for backing materials. Bonding agents, developed to create "intelligent" materials, reduce and eliminate undesired chemical and physical events, such as premature loading or unwanted static buildup in the sanding process. In the most important mineral types are aluminum oxide and silicon carbide. Hermes' research has led to the "Hermesit" hollow sphere abrasive and the introduction of our "Sapphire Blue" ceramic types, increasing durability and providing improved surface quality and consistency of finishes.

Our state-of-the-art "Maker" in Virginia Beach, Virginia, allows us to manufacture Coated Abrasives up to 64 inches wide, one of only a few "Makers" in the World capable of this width. This capacity enables us to manufacture cost effective products for specific requirements.

The semi-finished products are "Jumbo rolls" in production widths up to 64", with a maximum length of 3,300 yards, or a diameter of over 50" and a weight of 900 lbs.

After a flexing process to reduce the inherent rigidity of the material, these rolls are sent to the various "finished goods production" stages. These involve manufacture of endless abrasive belts with glued joints, widths of up to 126" for the processed wood board industry, or belts up to a length of 700" for machining stainless steel sheets.

The smallest belts have a width of 1/8" or a length of 2½". Apart from the main range of abrasive belt products, Hermes also manufactures abrasive discs, which are mainly used on portable grinders in the automotive and furniture industries. The range of products includes abrasive sheets in the standard dimensions 9" x 11" with many other size variants. Abrasive rolls and other speciality products complete the range.

Hermes ensures that customer quality expectations are met, with a worldwide certified quality management system to ISO 9001. Our work is attuned to the control loop of customer needs, development idea, product maturity, production within narrow tolerances, timely delivery, and ultimately increased customer benefit.

Hermes currently meets the markets' needs with over 150 product types available in an almost unlimited number of grit/size combinations while remaining an innovative producer of new products required for the ever increasing range of applications. Our extensive product line and worldwide distribution organization gives us a leading position in the United States as well as in the global market.