Founded in 2002, Abtec is a family-owned business spanning three generations, with offices across Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. The company was originally established as a local business, but has expanded its reach globally since the launch of its website in 2002.
As a family company, Abtec is committed to delivering a high level of personal service, a core value that defines its approach to customer relationships. Abtec's team of experts are dedicated to delivering a smooth, reliable experience from product selection to after-sales support for each of its customers.
Since the end of COVID, Abtec's customers are facing a challenging environment regardless of the industry they serve. Many are working with new materials, and they need to be able to access a suitable product to machine that material as quickly and efficiently as possible. Abtec has over 3000 different abrasive products that it keeps in stock in the UK. It is why the company has established relationships with leading worldwide manufacturers, including Norton, Tyrolit, Sait and Klingspor, to produce suitable abrasive products that can be specially manufactured and delivered in quick time.
Abtec's approach is to offer an abrasive product that may be a sanding belt, sanding disc, grinding wheel or cutting disc that utilises the very best in modern abrasive technology to enhance material removal, whilst providing a superb surface finish.
Recently, one of Abtec's customers in Hertfordshire was using conventional aluminium oxide abrasive sanding belts on a fixed linishing machine. He was working on various metal components but finding that the belts being used were clogging and had to be changed far too often. Abtec advised using a sharper long-lasting abrasive, Zirconia, that it could supply from stock. The result was an increase in cost per belt of 1.5 times but with an increase in life per belt of at least 2.5 times and less downtime for changing belts.
This also means Abtec has to supply a safe working product, which is why many of its customers take advantage of its ability to offer training in the practical and safe use of abrasive products. Abtec's training department has trained over 7000 delegates over 15 years, mainly on customer premises, where the company is able to utilise customers' machinery to show the benefits in a real-world application.
By doing this, Abtec can also offer advice on risk assessment and the importance of utilising correct PPE. Abtec actively encourages the use of the Organisation for Safety of Abrasives products along with Health & Safety Executive (HSE) guidance on PPE to produce a working environment that is as safe as possible for all machine operators. Perhaps a way of measuring the success of Abtec's training is the large number of companies that utilise its training services for new members of staff, or for refresher training.
Abtec specialises in supplying high-quality abrasives and related products to industries worldwide. It works with businesses of all sizes, focusing on developing the right abrasive solutions tailored to each customer’s unique needs.
