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A PROVEN ABRASIVE MET ITS TOUGHEST TEST  

At a Seattle marine transportation and container repair operation, an experienced operator believed the shop’s premium precision-shaped-grain bonded wheels were the right choice. We respected that experience—and invited him to test Tiger® Zirc under the same demanding conditions.

The result: longer wheel life, nearly 1,200 labor hours recovered and more than $108,000 in projected annual savings.

Operator-performing-a-grinding-wheel-test2-crop
AT A GLANCE

Proven Performance Under Pressure

We evaluated Tiger Zirc grinding and cutting wheels against premium competitive bonded abrasives during real container repair work. Through our Weiler Consumable Productivity program, we tested the products using the operation’s tools, material and operators.

$ 108 K
Projected annual savings
1,190
Labor hours recovered annually
7 X
Grinding wheel life
2 X
Cutting wheel life

Two product conversions. One fair test. An experienced operator became an advocate after seeing the performance and cost data firsthand.

THE CHALLENGE

Reduce Abrasive Cost Without Giving Up Proven Performance

A Seattle marine transportation and container repair operation wanted to reduce abrasive costs across its repair and rebuilding work. The current grinding and cutting wheels had earned the confidence of an experienced operator who had previously evaluated available options and helped establish the shop standard.

To earn the business, we needed to demonstrate that Tiger Zirc could deliver a measurable improvement under the same demanding conditions—not simply offer a lower purchase price.

respect the experienceRespect the Experience

We recognized the operator’s knowledge and the work already invested in selecting the incumbent product.

Test the workTest the Real Work

We tested with the same tool, material, application and operator technique used in daily production.

Measure the valueMeasure Total Value

We compared wheel life, working speed, labor impact and annual cost—not price alone.

Weilerexpert recording test results

THE APPROACH

Let the Operator Set the Standard

We did not criticize the current wheel or ask the operator to accept a marketing claim. We acknowledged that the incumbent was a strong product and proposed a straightforward evaluation.

  1. Establish the baseline.
    Run the current product first.

  2. Apply the same pressure.
    Push Tiger Zirc as hard as the work required.

  3. Review the data together.
    Measure performance and let the results decide.

“I told him it was a great wheel and that he had made a good choice. Then I asked him to run our wheel as hard as possible—but to run the current wheel first so we had a fair baseline.”

Jay Owings
District Sales Manager, Weiler Abrasives

THE RESULTS

Two Applications. Two Measurable Improvements.

This bonded grinding and cutting wheel comparison showed that our Tiger Zirc wheels delivered longer life and lower projected operating costs than the premium competitive products tested in the application. Together, the two conversions are projected to save $108,461 annually in material and labor costs.

 

Lg-10030-58070Tiger Zirc Grinding Wheel
Item # 58070
7X the life

The 4-1/2-inch Tiger zirconia grinding wheel was tested against a premium precision-shaped-grain competitive wheel on 1/2-inch channel.

Tiger Zirc g-ratio: 
20.6
 
Competitive wheel g-ratio: 
2.77

1,188 labor hours recovered

$41,580 in labor savings

$98,000 in combined material and labor savings

 

Lg-10000-58020Tiger Zirc Cutting Wheel
Item # 58020
2X the life

The 4-1/2-inch Tiger zirconia cutting wheel cut farther than the operation's 5-inch competitive wheel in a straight-line channel test.

Tiger Zirc distance cut: 
22 in.
 
Competitive wheel distance cut: 
19 in.

6% higher calculated cutting rate

1,151 fewer cutting wheels projected annually

$10,461 in combined material and labor savings

A Global Abrasives Partner Focused on Mutual Success

At Weiler Abrasives, our experience dates back to 1898 when Joseph E. Weiler began manufacturing brushes for the jewelry industry in Pforzheim, Germany. Since then, we’ve grown and evolved into a global manufacturer serving customers in over 80 countries with nearly 1,500 employees around the world.

“While the company has grown and expanded significantly since those humble beginnings, our commitment to developing long-term partnerships with customers, co-workers, and community hasn’t changed. We like to call that our 3C’s.” Chris Weiler, Executive Chairman.

Whether you are looking to improve your surface conditioning processes, optimize your consumable spend, or train your team on the safe and proper use of abrasives and brushes, Weiler has the people and expertise to help you achieve your goals.

Weiler: Your Competitive Edge

For those who want a competitive edge and value productivity-enhancing solutions for cleaning, grinding, cutting, deburring, and finishing, Weiler is a premier abrasives supplier who forges collaborative, problem-solving relationships with our customers. We work with you to solve your challenges, enabling your business to get more done and, ultimately, improve your top and bottom line. It’s not just about what we do; it’s about how we do it, we call it The Weiler Way. That’s the Weiler difference.

Product Innovations

weiler abrasives

Optimum Use Line

Patent pending Optimum Use Line provides a visual reference to help get the most out of the wheel. Using the wheel to its full life reduces change-overs, which helps users be more productive while reducing waste and abrasive spend.

weiler abrasives

Cut Back

PTiger Type 27 grinding wheels are designed with fiberglass cut back from the edge for aggressive grinding right out of the box.

weiler abrasives

Longer Life

Patent pending Optimum Use Line provides a visual reference to help get the most out of the wheel. Using the wheel to its full life reduces change-overs, which helps users be more productive while reducing waste and abrasive spend.

weiler abrasives

Optimum Use Line

Patent pending Optimum Use Line provides a visual reference to help get the most out of the wheel. Using the wheel to its full life reduces change-overs, which helps users be more productive while reducing waste and abrasive spend.

hp-whatsnew-tiger2.0-2024
NEW Tiger 2.0

Our new metal grinding and cut off wheels are designed to be more than just a better product. They were created to help you do your best work.

Learn More
hp-whatsnew-foundry
NEW Foundry Products

Our new foundry line delivers a superior combination of life and cut-rate for maximum productivity.

Learn More
hp-whatsnew-alu-flapdisc
NEW Flap Discs for Aluminum

These flap discs offer a paired flap design that delivers high performance grinding on aluminum.

Learn More

Weiler expert reviewing resutls with the user

 

MORE THAN A PRODUCT WIN 

From a Tough Evaluation to a Trusted Recommendation

As the results became clear, managers and employees from other areas gathered to watch, ask questions and understand the potential savings.

The operator remained central to the process. He ran the products, challenged their performance and reviewed the results firsthand. Once the data showed a clear improvement, he supported the change and became an advocate for evaluating our products in additional applications.

This was not about proving someone wrong. It was about respecting experience, creating a fair test and earning trust through performance.
BEYOND SHARP IN ACTION

Better Abrasives Are Only Part of the Answer

The people doing the work understand their applications better than anyone. That is why we work alongside operators, distributors and decision-makers to understand the process before recommending a solution.

Tiger Zirc earned the business through longer life and measurable savings. The greater win came from how we reached the answer: with respect for the operator, a fair process and results everyone could trust.

That's Beyond Sharp.

What Could a Fair Test Reveal in Your Operation?

Through a Weiler Consumable Productivity evaluation, we measure product life, working speed, labor requirements and total operating cost using your applications and production conditions.

The best results start with understanding the work. Talk to a Weiler expert about your application, current abrasive challenges and opportunities to improve performance.