Saint-Gobain’s New Superabrasive Plant Opened

 Pierre-André de Chalendar head of Saint-Gobain’s UK delegation yesterday opened the company’s new Superabrasive plant on the periphery of Staverton airport.

Pierre-André de Chalendar (Left)      Scott C. Johnson (Right)

Site director, Mr Scott Johnson, indicated that the opening confirmed the companies commitment to the future of diamond and CBN product manufacture in Gloucester which goes back over 60 years. Saint-Gobain Abrasives Ltd, formerly known as Van Moppes and before that IDP (Impregnated Diamond Products), was previously based at Tuffley Crescent. Employing over 100 people, it is the leading manufacturer of Superabrasive truing and grinding products in the UK and has a proud history of excellence and customer service going back to the early years of the last century.

The opening was attended by some of the companies major customers and suppliers plus other senior executives of the organisation, including Mr Mike Tracy (CEO Industrial SA World), Mr David Allen (UK Abrasives CEO) and Dr Richard Hall (Superabrasives Technical Director World), all of whom started there careers in the business at Gloucester.

The new plant, which shares a site with Dowty Propellers and TBS Engineering Ltd, has factory and office space extending to 44,000sq ft, all under one roof. This alone makes for a much more cohesive unit and promises to make a big contribution to the companies future viability in a competitive and changing world market.

The move also included a small but well equipped R&D facility which, in addition to it’s support for the Gloucester based company, plays specialist roles supporting Superabrasive businesses Worldwide.