Video Transcript

Narrator: This video is brought to you by Norton, an industry leader in abrasives for 130 years and counting. If you're looking for real-world insights, tips from leading industry experts, and the latest trends in products and technology, you've come to the right place. From MSC Industrial Supply, this is Tooling Up.

TONI NEARY: Hi everyone, and welcome to Tooling Up. I'm your host, Toni Neary, and I'm so glad that you've joined us here today. Before we get started, please take a moment to click those like and subscribe buttons so you never miss an episode from MSC and our industry partners. All right. Everybody signed up? Great. Today, we're taking a closer look at abrasive performance and how the right fiber disc can really impact efficiency on the shop floor.

Specifically, we're focusing on Norton's RazorStar® FS1190 Fiber discs and what sets them apart when it comes to performance and longevity. Joining me is Jeremy Spencer, the Product Manager for Coated Abrasives at Norton. Jeremy, thanks so much for being here, and welcome to Tooling Up.

JEREMY SPENCER: Thanks, Toni. Glad to be here.

TONI NEARY: So before we get into RazorStar Jeremy, I would love to start with a little bit of a background. Tell us a little bit about your role at Norton and how you got into the world of abrasives.

JEREMY SPENCER: I started around almost 34 years ago. I was hired as a forklift operator. I've moved through my career. I've moved up to machine operator supervision quality. A few years ago, I had an opportunity to be an application engineer, then a product engineer, and then after that, I became the Product Manager for Coated Abrasives.

TONI NEARY: And one little detail you didn't share about your story is I lov the educational pathway that Norton's been a part of with you, not just earning your bachelor's, but also your master's degree.

JEREMY SPENCER: That's correct. Saint Gobain is very good about continuing to help their employees continue their education. So at the age of 40, I went back to school and finished up my bachelor's. And then I went on to grad school and got my master's.

TONI NEARY: So let's get into it. Today, we are talking about the RazorStar FS1190 Fiber Disc, and from what I understand, this particular disc is designed specifically for carbon steel applications and features a patented, engineered-shaped ceramic grain that's really focused on high-pressure metal removal and longer life. So at a high level, what were you looking to improve upon from a traditional fiber disc?

JEREMY SPENCER: Yes. So for FS1190, we were looking for a longer life, higher-performing disc over traditional fiber disc. With RazorStar, we have the highest grain orientation there is in the market. The chemistry and the shape of the product allow for a longer life, sharper cut, faster removal rate than traditional discs that are currently out there.

TONI NEARY: And I think it's not just about cutting faster anymore, it's about consistency as well. So let's talk about maintaining that performance over time, which ultimately means better efficiency and less time spent changing discs or reworking parts as well.

JEREMY SPENCER: Correct. Yes. If we can give the customer a product that lasts longer and performs at a higher rate, they're not necessarily changing discs out quickly. They, you know, they're not having to rework the product. The operators can get through grinding and get back to more productive work that needs to be done.

TONI NEARY: So it's not just about starting strong, it's also about holding that performance all the way through. And I know there's even a visual difference between the new product and how some of these other discs wear over time. What should people be looking for there?

JEREMY SPENCER: Yeah. So our current product, F990S, was developed it so that it's made for hard-to-grind metals. And we developed FS1190 for carbon steel applications. So we want to definitely see a color difference for that. So people know that yellow's for hard to grind and green would be for carbon steel applications. However, we did enhance the color of green.

We used green so that it doesn't necessarily have a faded look over time. You'll start the disc out, you're grinding, and some people might go, oh it faded a little bit. Fade doesn't tie in with wear if the disc is worn out. So we did definitely want a difference that the operators on the floor and our customers could see, you know, the disc and the differences of how they act and perform in different applications and different metals.

TONI NEARY: And when you start to see that kind of consistent performance, I imagine there has to be a pretty direct impact on overall efficiency. So how does something like the FS1190 translate to cost savings or productivity gains on the shop floor?

JEREMY SPENCER: RazorStar we developed this. You know, we talked to lots of customers. We went out and field tested this. We listened to what our sales reps were telling us, the feedback they're getting from our customers. And we've designed a disc so that it's easier to use. You could put it on. You're not fighting the grinder. You can let the disc do the work.

You don't have to put great amounts of force on things to remove it, or the grinders trying to come out of your hands... it allows the operators, especially in today's, you know, where maybe the workforce didn't quite have as much training as the previous generations. So, or a lot of turnover. You're dealing with newer employees. So this disc is easy to use.

It removes a lot of material. You're not having to worry about changing the disc, like, oh, we got to change this disc every five minutes. You know, the extended life because of the shaped grain and the overall chemistry of what we've done with the FS1190 has definitely improved downtime since changing the disc lasts longer. You know, instead of having to maybe buy three to, you know, 3 to 5 discs, you can get it done with one disc.

So definitely it all adds up to cost and time, because labor and time wasted is also a cost besides just the material itself.

TONI NEARY: Absolutely. So, between looking at the longer life, fewer changeovers, and that consistent cut, you're really seeing gains on both the productivity and overall cost aspect as well.

JEREMY SPENCER: Yes, that is correct.

TONI NEARY: All right. So we've talked a lot about performance and productivity. But what about the operator experience? What does this actually feel like to use day to day?

JEREMY SPENCER: So I touched on it briefly earlier. But it's just like you know, smooth as butter. It... A lot of the feedback we've gotten out in the field with customers, with operators, is they just love the way it feels when it's grinding. It's no tugging, it's no fighting it. You just put it on there, apply just a little force, you know, slightly more than what the grinder is.

And it removes metal like it's butter. It just removes it. A lot of operators have given us positive feedback, and it's also a lot easier on the grinder. If you're using grinders and you're putting a whole lot of pressure or fighting it, and amperage is going up, you're wearing out grinders. So a lot of positive feedback.

TONI NEARY: All right. So, where are you really seeing this FS1190 used and other certain industries or applications where you're seeing this disc is really standing out for your customers?

JEREMY SPENCER: Pretty much, you know, a lot of right-angle grinding. That could be shipyards. It can be people, you know, building structures and oil and gas, energy, you know, MRO applications. You know, anything that's right-angle grinding could definitely be using a fiber disc. We've even had some sales reps out in the field at thin wheel applications where they're using a grinding wheel or something like that.

And grinding wheels are definitely a great product, but they're able to say, "Hey, how about this fiber disc?” So it's definitely this leading technology that we have, it can widely be used in any right-angle grinding application.

TONI NEARY: Jeremy, this has been such a great conversation. It's clear there's been so much thought and intention behind the RazorStar FS1190, from the performance and consistency to how it actually shows up on the shop floor. Thanks so much for joining us today on Tooling Up.

JEREMY SPENCER: Thank you, Toni. It's a pleasure to be here.

TONI NEARY: It was great to have Jeremy with us today to learn more about the Norton RazorStar FS1190 fiber discs, visit www.mscdirect.com/products/razorstar-fs1190

And don't forget to subscribe to our channel so you never miss an episode. Thanks, and we'll see you next time on Tooling Up.

Narrator: Want more insights and ideas to improve the efficiency and productivity of your operations? Check out the Tooling Up video playlist to hear tips that can take your company to the next level, and subscribe to our channel so you won't miss out.