About Us

History

Discover Walter Surface Technologies' Milestones

Chapter 01

1950's

1952

J. Walter Company founded
by Walter J. Somers in
Pointe-Claire (Quebec) Canada.

1956

First 4 1/2" vertical grinder
introduced by J. Walter
Company.

1957

Introduction of the First
Jigsaw power tool.

1959

Introduction of Walter Machinery (1959-1984).
Introduction of High Performance Power Tools and the first cold saw
(metal cutting circular saw).

1959 - Introduction of Walter Machinery for straightening, cutting and nibbling
Chapter 02

1960's

1960

Launch of the Saw Blade Sharpening Service.

1960-saw service

1962

First 7" Angle Grinder
introduced to the market.

1967

First 4 1/2" angle grinder
"MINI-GRINDER".

Chapter 03

1970's

1973

Introduction of the first flexible grinding wheels followed
by other unique high performance abrasives.

1973- first flexcut wheel
Chapter 04

1980's

1986

Introduction to Walter's market leading ZIPCUT/ ZIPWHEEL
high performance cutting wheel.

1986- first zip cut wheel

1987

Introduction of Walter’s popular Safety Seminars. Since its inception,
it has reached over 55,000 metal fabrication personnel in Canada.

1989

Mr. Pierre Somers was appointed President
of the company in 1989.

Chapter 05

1990's

1990

Start-up of U.S. operations,
with a base office in Windsor, Connecticut.

1996

Start-up of Brazilian operations in São Paulo
and the launch of the ENDURO-FLEX flap disc.

1999

Establishment of German operations through Joint-Venture
with CB-Chemie und Biotechnologie.

  • ISO 9001 certification of Canadian operations.
  • ISO 14 001 certification of German operations.
Chapter 06

2000's

2000

Start-up of operations in Mexico.
Acquisition and conversion of Swiss operations.
Launch of Surfox, a safer and faster alternative for weld cleaning.

2001

Launch of Bio-Circle Parts
washing system using
bio-remediation.

2002

Celebration of 50th Anniversary

Walter J. Somers Chair at the
HEC Business School.

Bio-Circle certified by Environment.
Canada's Environmental Choice Program. -
Eco-Logo.

2006

Technology Innovation Award by the Wall Street Journal.

2008

ISO 14 001 certification
of Brazilian operations.

Bio-Circle L approved for the
NSF Non-food Compounds
Registration Program & EPA
approval process started.

2009

Launch of LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building
Rating System) building project for New International Headquarters in Pointe-Claire,
Quebec Canada.

Chapter 07

2010's

2012

Building officially completed and certified LEED GOLD, in recognition performance
in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development,
water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection, indoor environmental quality.

2013

Launch of ZIP-ONE, the thinnest cutting wheel on the market.
Launch of family of Nature Boost products (GS 200, CB 100 and Bio-Circle L Ultra).
Launch of the Clean-Box concept.

2013 - zip one cutting wheel

2013

Walter inaugurates new state-of-the-art sustainable manufacturing facility for the Bio-Circle product line.

2013 - zip one cutting wheel

2015

ZIPCUTTER is launched as Walter's first cordless grinder. It's power and long battery life raise the bar in portable grinding operations.

2013 - zip one cutting wheel

2017

Walter eliminates the need for hazardous weld cleaning operations with the introduction of SURFOX - a family of highly engineered electrochemical weld cleaning and marking systems.

2013 - zip one cutting wheel

2018

ONCAP, the middle-market private equity platform of Onex Corporation, acquires a majority stake in Walter Surface Technologies in partnership with the existing management team.