---
title: "Rex-Cut Abrasives: 90 Years in Manufacturing"
description: Rex-Cut has reached its 90th year in business! We owe this longevity to the dedicated employee owners, loyal distributors, and innovative end-users.
image: https://www.rexcut.com/hubfs/rex-cut_90_year_logo.png
---

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# Rex-Cut Abrasives: 90 Years in Manufacturing

April 18, 2018

![rex-cut_90_year_logo](https://www.rexcut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rex-cut_90_year_logo.png?width=300&name=rex-cut_90_year_logo.png)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-798x1024](https://www.rexcut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/edward_hurst-798x1024.jpg?width=400&name=edward_hurst-798x1024.jpg)Edward Hurst, inventor of Rex-Cut’s abrasive material.

![rex-cut_catalog-798x1024](https://www.rexcut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rex-cut_catalog-798x1024.jpg?width=400&name=rex-cut_catalog-798x1024.jpg)Rex-Cut catalog from early 1970’s

![building_1978-798x1024](https://www.rexcut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/building_1978-798x1024.jpg?width=400&name=building_1978-798x1024.jpg)Rex-Cut’s building during construction in 1978

**ACHIEVEMENTS  
**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.

![fabtech_2017-1024x769](https://www.rexcut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/fabtech_2017-1024x769.jpg?width=1024&name=fabtech_2017-1024x769.jpg)Rex-Cut Abrasives team at Fabtech 2017

**PARTNERS  
**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**

ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY  
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

 

 

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