Rex-Cut has reached its 90th year in business! We owe this longevity to the dedicated employee owners, loyal distributors, and innovative end-users. So throughout 2018, we are celebrating our history, achievements, and partnerships!
HISTORY
In 1928 Edward Hurst, MIT graduate and Process Engineer, invented the technique of embedding abrasive grain in non-woven cotton-fiber while working for United Cotton Products in Boston, MA. United Cotton Products was a division of Rexall Drug and Chemical Company operating out of Fall River, MA. The original product was named “Fluff-Tex” and a patent was filed for the manufacturing process in 1935.
In 1960, Edward Hurst retired from United Cotton Products and his son, Robert H. Hurst, took over management. After this transition, the business changed hands several times before officially being called Rex-Cut Products in 1969.
Up until the early 1970’s, Rex-Cut manufactured and sold only bulk rolls of fabric for conversion to large abrasive companies. At this time Robert H. Hurst began purchasing equipment and converting the Rex-Cut abrasive material in-house. Rex-Cut’s first finish products were Type 27 Grinding wheels. Abrasive discs designed to sharpen gardening tools and lawn mower blades were second. Type 1 wheels followed and Mounted Points began being manufactured several years later. In 1978, Rex-Cut built a 60,000 square ft. facility located in the Fall River Industrial Park where it still operates today.
In 2008, Rex-Cut was sold to the employees as a 100% ESOP company, making it one of roughly 7,000 Employee Owned businesses in the United States today. In most recent news, the company began doing business as Rex-Cut Abrasives in 2011.
Edward Hurst, inventor of Rex-Cut’s abrasive material.
Rex-Cut catalog from early 1970’s
Rex-Cut’s building during construction in 1978ACHIEVEMENTS
Rex-Cut is the oldest and primary manufacturer of cotton-fiber abrasive grinding and finishing products in the world. Over the years the small line has expanded to serve metalworking industries globally. Rex-Cut’s first international account was set up in the late 1970’s, and we now ship to 54 countries.
The product line has grown and evolved to match cutting-edge applications and industries as well. Rex-Cut currently manufactures products for innovative applications such as jet engine turbine blade profiling, automotive braze blending, and 3D printing finish work.
Rex-Cut Abrasives team at Fabtech 2017PARTNERS
Rex-Cut began establishing its own network of industrial distributors to sell the Rex-Cut brand of finished abrasive products in the 1970’s. This network was and still is instrumental in spreading the Rex-Cut name and products throughout the United States and worldwide.
“At our 90 year mark we are reflecting on our history, dedicated team, and recognizing our loyal business partners,” said Bob Costa, President of Rex-Cut Abrasives. “We have a total of 228 Distributors that have been with us for over 20 years and we wouldn’t have reached this milestone without their help.”
To celebrate 9 decades in manufacturing, we will be selecting 9 of our long standing distributors to receive a gift. A celebration with all employee owners will take place in the fall.
“We want to thank our dedicated distributors and employees for their years of partnership and service,” said Bob Costa, President of Rex-Cut Abrasives. “We are looking forward to many more years of providing safe and efficient products for metalworking industries.”
REX-CUT DISTRIBUTORS FOR OVER 20 YEARS
AERO TOOL AND SUPPLY, INC.
AFI ALTERNATIVES FOR INDUSTRY
AIR STAR
AIRGAS
A-L WELDING SUPPLY
ALLIED FASTENER & TOOL, INC
ALRO INDUSTRIAL
AMERICAN ABRASIVE TOOL, INC
AMERICAN JEWELRY SUPPLY, INC
AMERICAN WELDING & CONSTRUCTION
ANDREW GAULT PTY LTD
APD INDUSTRIAL
APTEX, INC
ARC3 GASES
ASSOCIATED CHEMICALS & ABRASIVES
ATCO, INC
B C SALES SERVICE
BERKS INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY
BEST ENGINEERING, LLC
BIBB TOOL & CUTTER, INC
BITS BLESSENT IND TOOL SUPPLY
BLACK & CO
BLACKHAWK INDUSTRIAL
BONNEVILLE INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY
BORO SUPPLY CO, INC
BRAMMALL SUPPLY CO
BROWN STAR PRODUCTS
BURNS POWER TOOLS
C4, INC
CENTRAL TOOL SUPPLY, INC
CHANDLER & FARQUHAR CO
CHANDLER INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES
CHARLESTON TOOL CO
COLORADO DISTRIBUTING MRO
COLUMBUS SERVICE SUPPLY
CONRAD BLASIUS EQUIPMENT CO
CONWAY INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY
CRUMPTON WELDING SUPPLY &
EQUIPMENT
D.W. SALES, INC
DAMON & CO, INC
DB INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CO, INC
DEWITT TOOL CO, INC
DGI SUPPLY
DIEMOULD SERVICE CO
DILLON SUPPLY
DISTRIBUTION NOW
DMS ILLINOIS
DMS INDUSTRIAL, LLC
DAYTON SUPPLY & TOOL
DXP ENTERPRISES
EISON INDUSTRIAL SALES, INC
EMJ INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY, INC
EMPIRE MACHINERY & SUPPLY
ENDRIES INTERNATIONAL
ENGMAN TAYLOR CO, INC
F & M MAFCO, INC
F G QUALITY SUPPLY COMPANY
FASTENAL COMPANY
FAYJAN TOOL SALES CO
FLORIDA MARINE & IND’L ABRASIVES
FULLMER INDUSTRIAL SALES
FULTON SUPPLY COMPANY
G.F. LASSWELL CO, INCZ
GARD DISTRIBUTING CO
GAS & SUPPLY
GENERAL AIR SERVICE & SUPPLY
GENERAL FACTORY WD SUPPLY
GENERAL IND’L TOOL & SUPPLY
GENERAL WELDING SUPPLY
GLOBAL ABRASIVE PRODUCTS
GM ABRASIVES
GOLDEN INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CO
GRAINGER
GREENHILL SUPPLY, LLC
GULF SALES & SUPPLY, INC
H.D. CHASEN CO, INC
HACKETT TOOL, INC
HAGGARD & STOCKING ASSOCIATES, INC
HANES SUPPLY, INC
HATCH GRINDING WHEEL
HAUN WELDING SUPPLY, INC
HENDERSON INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY
HIGH PLAINS GAS & SUPPLY
HOLSTON GASES, INC
HORIZON SOLUTIONS LLC
HOUSTON TOOL & HOIST CO, INC
HUB INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY
IAC SUPPLY SOLUTION RCH
IMPERIAL TOOL CO
IMPORTATION UNITEC IMPORT
INDUSTRIAL DIAMOND PRODUCTS CO
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CENTER
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CO
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CO
IOWA MACHINERY & SUPPLY ITS, DIVISION OF A&M IND’L
JEWELRY TOOL & SUPPLY CO
JOHNSTON INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY
JONES WELDING & INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY
KAMAN INDUSTRIAL
TECHNOLOGIES
KAUFMAN COMPANY, INC
KBC TOOLS, INC
KEEN COMPRESSED GAS CO
KENTUCKIANA CONTRACTOR & INDUSTRIAL
KIPPER TOOL CO
KTEC EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
KTS TOOLING SUPPLY, INC
L & M TOOL & INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY
LANDA INTERNATIONAL, INC
LEADERS MANUFACTURING, INC
LIBERTY TOOL CO, INC
LUKEN SUPPLY CO, INC
M & H SUPPLY & EQUIPMENT
LEMIEUX, INC
MACHINE TOOL & SUPPLY CORP
MADSEN & HOWELL TOOL KRIB SUPPLY
MAGIC VALLEY ABRASIVES
MALLORY SAFETY & SUPPLY
MARTIN SUPPLY
MARTIN SUPPLY
MATHESON TRI-GAS
MATRIX ABRASIVES
MAXWELL PRODUCTS CORP
MCMASTER CARR SUPPLY CO
MEASURECUT 2000 PTY, LTD
METAALTECHNIEK
METAL FASTENER SUPPLY CO, INC
METAL FINISHING SYSTEMS
MIDWAY INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY
MIDWEST TOOL & SUPPLY
MILLER WELDING SUPPLY
MISSISSIPPI WELDERS SUPPLY CO
MOLD & DIE TECHNOLOGY
MORCON INDUSTRIAL SPECIALTY
MOTION INDUSTRIES
MSC INDUSTRIAL
MUENZ ENGINEERED SALES CO
NEILL LAVIELLE INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES
NEXAIR, LLC
NORCO, INC
OFIELD INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY, INC
OLIVER VAN HORN CO, LLC
OUTIL ULTRA TOOL
OXARC, INC
PACIFIC INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CO
PATCO, INC
PATHON CO
PERFORMANCE TOOL & ABRASIVES
PILOT P.B., INC
POWER TOOLS & ABRASIVES
PRAXAIR DISTRIBUTION
PRECISION ABRASIVES CORP
PRODUCTION TOOL SUPPLY
PRODUCTION TOOL SYSTEMS, INC
PROFESSIONAL PLATING SERVICES
QUALITY MILL SUPPLY CO, INC
QUALITY TOOL & EQUIPMENT CORP
R & B TOOLING & SUPPLIES, INC
R.G. BREWTON, INC
REMCO SUPPLY, INC
REPLENEX
RICHARDS SUPPLY CO
ROBERTS OXYGEN
ROMANOFF INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CORP
RONCO INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CO
RUTLAND TOOL & SUPPLY
S & S SUPPLIES & SOLUTIONS
SASSOUNIAN MACHINES & TOOLS
SHAW WELDING SUPPLY
SHIVELY BROTHERS, INC
SHOP TOOLS, INC
SKY TOOL & FASTENER
SPECTRUM ABRASIVES LTD
STATE INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY, INC
STEINER ELECTRIC CO
STELLAR INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY
STERLING SUPPLY CO
STICKS & STONES UNLIMITED, INC
SUMABRITE PRODUCTS PTY LTD
T & A INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTORS
TECH AIR COMPANIES
TECH SERVICE PRODUCTS, INC
TECK TOOL SUPPLY COMPANY
TEMPE ABRASIVES, INC
TERRY SUPPLY CO
TIEMANN INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY
TIP TOP SALES CO, INC
TODD TOOL & ABRASIVE SYSTEMS, INC
TOOLING UNLIMTED, INC
TURNER SUPPLY CO
TURTLE & HUGHES, INC
UNION INDUSTRIAL GASES GROUP
UNITED ABRASIVE
UNITED SURFACE PREPARATION
VALLEN DISTRIBUTION
VERMONT WELDING SUPPLY CO
VICTOR WELDING SUPPLY
VIRGINIA ABRASIVES & TOOLS
LEWIS SALES CO
WAITES ABRASIVES & TOOLS
WATERS INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY
WAYNE TOOL & SUPPLY CO, INC
WELDERS SUPPLY
WELDERS WAREHOUSE
WELDOR’S SUPPLY HOUSE, INC
WESCO GAS & WELDING SUPPLY
WESCO INTEGRATED SUPPLY
WESTERN TOOL & SUPPLY CO
WIL-CUT CO, INC
WOLSELEY INDUSTRIAL GROUP
WURTH INDUSTRIES
XODE, INC
