Manufacture of abrasive products

NACE code 23.91 covers the manufacture of abrasive products, a critical industry that plays a vital role in various manufacturing and construction sectors. Abrasive products, such as sandpaper, grinding wheels, and polishing stones, are essential tools used for shaping, smoothing, and finishing a wide range of materials, from metals and plastics to wood and stone. This industry's output is a key input for numerous other industries, contributing to the overall efficiency and quality of production processes across the economy.

The manufacture of abrasive products typically involves a multi-step process. First, the raw materials, which may include minerals, ceramics, or synthetic compounds, are crushed, graded, and blended to achieve the desired abrasive properties. These abrasive grains are then bonded to a backing material, such as paper, cloth, or resin, using adhesives or other binding agents. The resulting abrasive products are then shaped, cured, and finished to meet specific requirements for grit size, strength, and performance.

The main inputs for the manufacture of abrasive products include various mineral resources, such as 08.11 Quarrying of ornamental and building stone, limestone, gypsum, chalk and slate, 08.12 Operation of gravel and sand pits; mining of clays and kaolin, and 08.91 Mining of chemical and fertilizer minerals. Additionally, the industry requires specialized machinery and equipment for crushing, grinding, and bonding the abrasive materials, as well as adhesives, resins, and other binding agents.

The primary outputs of the abrasive products manufacturing industry are a wide range of abrasive tools and materials, including sandpaper, grinding wheels, polishing stones, and abrasive discs. These products are used in numerous other industries, such as 25.62 Machining), [nc_link(33.12)Repair of machinery, 41.20 Construction of residential and non-residential buildings, and 43.39 Other building completion and finishing.