Manufacturer of high-performance abrasive products on flexible backings – from its own abrasive grain to the finished sanding belt, Made in Germany
VSM · Vereinigte Schmirgel- und Maschinen-Fabriken AG
Hannover · O'Fallon (USA)New on Amplifa
About VSM
Vereinigte Schmirgel- und Maschinen-Fabriken AG (VSM) is a manufacturer of coated abrasives for industry, specialist trade and the crafts sector. The product range comprises more than 200 series: sanding belts from file belts to wide belts, fiber discs, grinding discs, rolls and sheets as well as abrasive fleece on paper and fabric backings. VSM is one of the few manufacturers worldwide that produce their own ceramic abrasive grain; backing fabrics (sizing) and synthetic resin bonds are also manufactured in-house. The grain technologies include VSM ACTIROX, CERAMICS and CERAMICS Plus, COMPACTGRAIN and COMPACTGRAIN Plus, XELERION, ILUMERON, aluminium oxide, zirconium alumina, silicon carbide as well as diamond/CBN. The abrasives are used for surface, cylindrical, roll and coil grinding, deburring, chamfering, weld seam treatment and fine grinding up to high-gloss finishes – among others on stainless steel, unalloyed steel, aluminium, non-ferrous metals, titanium and superalloys. Application engineers optimize grinding processes worldwide; the Competence Center in Hannover offers application tests and training. VSM supplies industries such as metal processing, plant and vessel construction, automotive, medical technology, shipbuilding, toolmaking and woodworking, and is active in more than 70 countries. Headquarters and production have been located in Hannover since the company's founding in 1864.
- Site
- Hannover
- Processes
- Surface grinding (wide belt grinding), Cylindrical grinding (external cylindrical/long belt grinding), Centerless grinding, Deburring, Weld seam treatment, Chamfering, Descaling / breaking of mill scale, Fine grinding up to high-gloss finish (XELERION)
- Materials
- Stainless steel, Unalloyed steel / carbon steel, St-52, Chromium vanadium steel, Titanium alloy, Aluminium alloy, Non-ferrous metals (bronze, copper, brass), Superalloys
- Certificates
- ISO 9001, oSa (membership/certification), AEO certification, ISO 9001 (TÜV Nord), oSa, FEPA, VDS, AEO
- Founded
- 1864
- Employees
- over 900 worldwide
- Industries
- Metal working/processing, Plant and vessel construction, Automotive, Medical technology, Shipbuilding, Furniture manufacturing/kitchen industry
- 01
Production of abrasive grain (including ceramic grain) in Hannover
- 02
Sizing of the backing fabrics
- 03
Coating with synthetic resin bond
- 04
Converting into belts, discs, rolls and sheets
- 05
Quality inspection according to EN standards
- 06
Application consulting and process optimization
Locations
Hannover
DEHeadquarters, production, Competence Center
- Materials
- Ceramic grain, aluminium oxide, silicon carbide, zirconium alumina, diamond/CBN
- Abrasive grain production
- Sizing plant
- Coating plants
- Belt converting
O'Fallon (MO)
USSubsidiary VSM Abrasives Corp. (US sales)
Products & Applications
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface grinding (wide belt grinding)Surface | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel, Unalloyed steel, Non-ferrous metals, Superalloys, Aluminium, Glass, Granite, Wood, Paint, Composite materials |
| Cylindrical grinding (external cylindrical/long belt grinding)Surface | – | – | – | – | Unalloyed steel, Stainless steel, Non-ferrous metals |
| Centerless grindingSurface | – | – | – | – | Chromium-nickel steel (1.4301) |
| DeburringSurface | – | – | – | – | Unalloyed steel, Stainless steel, Aluminium, Non-ferrous metals |
| Weld seam treatmentSurface | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel, Unalloyed steel, Aluminium alloy |
| ChamferingSurface | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel, Unalloyed steel |
| Descaling / breaking of mill scaleSurface | – | – | – | – | Chromium vanadium steel, S355JR |
| Fine grinding up to high-gloss finish (XELERION)Surface | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel (1.4301), Martensitic stainless steel, Non-ferrous metals |
| Grinding/polishing of medical instrumentsSurface | – | – | – | – | Martensitic stainless steel |
| Roll grindingSurface | – | – | – | – | St-52 |
| Coil grindingSurface | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel |
| Hand grinding / hand-held machines (angle grinders, eccentric sanders etc.)Surface | – | – | – | – | Aluminium, Non-ferrous metals, Stainless steel, Unalloyed steel, Wood, Paint |
6 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backstand grinding machine (stationary) | – | – | Sanding belts up to 70 × 3.500 mm | – | Application base (example on customer machine) |
| Centerless grinding system | – | – | Tubes Ø 104 mm outside diameter | – | Application base |
| Grinding head system | Farros Blatter | – | – | – | – |
| Orbital belt grinding machine | Garboli | – | – | – | – |
| Long belt grinding machine | – | – | Coil 1.200 m length | – | Application base |
| Angle grinder | – | – | Fiber discs Ø 100–180 mm | – | Application base |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
VSM manufactures according to certified quality management (ISO 9001, TÜV Nord) and performs regular production inspections in accordance with EN standards. As an oSa member, its products are fully traceable and comply with the tightened safety regulations for abrasive tools.
| Evidence | Hannover |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 (TÜV Nord) | |
| oSa | |
| FEPA | |
| VDS | |
| AEO |
History
- 1864
Foundation of the company S. Oppenheim & Co. in Hannover-Hainholz by Siegmund Oppenheim and Siegmund Seeligmann; production of glass and flint paper.
- 1875
Registration of the stag beetle as a trademark.
- 1880
Founding of the works fire brigade on 1 July – one of the oldest in-house fire brigades in Germany.
- 1888
Former VSM apprentice Ferdinand Sichel invents wallpaper paste.
- 1890er
Establishment of its own factory in England under the 'Atlas' brand (lost in 1918 as a result of the First World War).
- 1898
Merger with Schlesinger & Co. Harburg to form Vereinigte Schmirgel- und Maschinen-Fabriken Aktiengesellschaft.
- 1929/1930
Discontinuation of machine production as a result of the global economic crisis; focus on abrasives on flexible backings.
- 1932
New sizing plant significantly improves product quality.
- 2004/2005
Introduction of the ceramic grain technology VSM CERAMICS.
- 2018
Introduction of the VSM COMPACTGRAIN Plus series.
- 2024
World innovation VSM XELERION presented at EuroBLECH.
- 2025
XELERION receives the German Innovation Award and is nominated for the German Sustainability Award; 160 years of VSM.