Alfons Schmeier

What Alfons Schmeier does

Alfons Schmeier (legal entity: Schleifscheibenfabrik Alfons Schmeier GmbH & Co. KG) is a German family-owned manufacturer of high-precision superabrasive grinding and superfinishing tools, founded on June 27, 1946 in Helmbrechts, Upper Franconia, and now operated as a subsidiary of Swiss holding company Abraxos Holding AG alongside sister firm Meister Abrasives. The company specializes in ceramic- and Bakelite-bonded tools using cubic boron nitride (CBN), diamond, silicon carbide, and corundum grains, with internal grinding and superfinishing tools manufactured in sizes ranging from 0.8mm to 120mm. Differentiated products include the proprietary 410A Sulfur-Free honing system (delivering up to 3x tool life by replacing sulfur-based treatments with a wax coating) and SuperFine I/II binding systems for mirror-smooth finishing at low pressure.

The company serves enterprise customers across automotive (engine, transmission, fuel injection), e-mobility (electric motor and battery components), rolling bearings, medical technology, and tool/mold/aerospace verticals. Revenue is generated primarily through custom-designed tools (quote-based pricing with a EUR 300 minimum order value per position) plus standard stock products and accompanying process-optimization/application-engineering services. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales with regional managers covering Europe, the Americas (including a U.S. manufacturing plant), and Asia/Latin America/India, supported by named application engineers and inside sales. The firm holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and EMAS certifications, has received multiple Supplier of the Year awards from leading automotive and machine manufacturers, and operates with a small, named leadership team led by Managing Director Susanne Schörner-Richter.

Name

Alfons Schmeier

Legal name

Schleifscheibenfabrik Alfons Schmeier GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://a-schmeier.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alfons Schmeier is a German family-owned manufacturer of custom high-precision superabrasive grinding and superfinishing tools (CBN, diamond, silicon carbide, corundum) serving enterprise customers in automotive, e-mobility, bearings, medical technology, and aerospace industries worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Grinding and Superfinishing Tools

NAICS

Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing (333515), Abrasive Product Manufacturing (327910)

SIC

Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541), Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540)

akta.pro primary industry

Grinding, Honing & Superfinishing Equipment (IMAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Metal Cutting Tools, Tooling & Workholding (Cutters, Inserts, Chucks, Fixtures) (IMAHADAB), Grinding & Milling Equipment (IMAHAMAF)

Keywords

• Precision grinding tools
• Superfinishing tools
• Ceramic bonded abrasives
• CBN diamond grinding
• Honing stones pots

Headquarters

HQ city

Helmbrechts

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom High-Precision Grinding Tools: Custom-designed and manufactured superabrasive grinding and honing tools for internal grinding and superfinishing applications. Products include ceramic-bonded CBN, diamond, silicon carbide, and corundum tools ranging from 0.8mm to 120mm.
2. Standard Stock Products: Standard stock list products available for quicker delivery, complementing the custom product offerings.
3. Process Optimization and Technical Support: Application engineering and process optimization services to support tool implementation and maximize customer outcomes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Alfons Schmeier designs and manufactures custom high-precision ceramic-bonded grinding and superfinishing tools for internal grinding and ultra-fine machining applications. Products include CBN, diamond, silicon carbide, and corundum grinding tools ranging from 0.8mm to 120mm, as well as the proprietary 410A Sulfur-Free honing stones and pots. The company supports its tools with application engineering and process optimization services tailored to customer-specific manufacturing environments.

Product overview

Alfons Schmeier offers a comprehensive portfolio of high-precision grinding and superfinishing solutions for internal grinding applications. The core product line consists of ceramic-bonded CBN, diamond, silicon carbide, and corundum grinding tools designed for internal round grinding and ultra-fine machining in high-tech key industries. The product portfolio centers on custom-designed internal grinding tools and the 410A Sulfur Free honing solutions, supported by proprietary SuperFine I and SuperFine II binding technologies. Products range from 0.8mm to 120mm in size depending on customer-specific design requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ceramic-Bonded CBN Grinding Tools High-precision ceramic-bonded cubic boron nitride (CBN) grinding tools for internal grinding applications, delivering maximum cutting performance and extreme dimensional accuracy for hardened steels and difficult-to-machine materials.
• Ceramic-Bonded Diamond Grinding Tools High-precision ceramic-bonded diamond grinding tools for internal grinding applications, providing superior hardness and wear resistance for grinding carbides, ceramics, and composites.
• Conventional Grinding Tools (Silicon Carbide and Corundum) Ceramic-bonded silicon carbide (SiC) and sintered corundum grinding tools for conventional internal grinding applications requiring high stock removal rates.
• 410A Sulfur Free Honing Stones and Pots Revolutionary sulfur-free honing stones and pots using a proprietary 410A sintered corundum mixture, achieving up to three times longer tool life with improved performance. Available in SuperFine I (SF I) and SuperFine II (SF II) bonds.
• Superfinish Solutions (CBN, Diamond, Sintered Corundum, Corundum, SiC) High-precision ceramic-bonded superfinishing/honing tools available in CBN, diamond, sintered corundum, corundum, and silicon carbide abrasives. Honing stones available in block sizes up to approximately 165x65x30mm; honing pots with outer diameters up to approximately 150mm and bridge widths from approximately 1mm to 10mm.
• Application Engineering and Process Optimization Services Process optimization and technical support services delivered by application engineers to support tool implementation and maximize customer productivity across automotive, bearing, medical, and tool/mold manufacturing environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 3x longer tool life with 410A Sulfur-Free technology compared to conventional sulfur-based solutions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Meister AbrasivescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company within the Abraxos Holding AG group. Close collaboration on technology development, shared research initiatives, and joint market presence. Both companies focus on precision grinding and superfinishing solutions.
• Abraxos Holding AGcoreOthersParent company headquartered in Thayngen, Switzerland. Alfons Schmeier operates as a subsidiary with intercompany agreements for data processing and shared corporate services.
• Universities and Research InstitutesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration with academic institutions for research and development in grinding technology applications.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Element Six (De Beers): Element Six is a leading global producer of synthetic industrial diamond and cubic boron nitride (CBN) superabrasive materials used in grinding tool manufacturing. While not a direct grinder competitor, it is a key upstream supplier of the abrasive grains that Alfons Schmeier incorporates into its ceramic-bonded tools.

Broad incumbents

• Tyrolit - Schleifmittelwerke Swarovski KGaG: Part of the Swarovski Group, Tyrolit is one of the world's largest manufacturers of bonded abrasives, including superabrasive (CBN and diamond) grinding tools serving automotive, bearing, and tool-and-die customers globally. A broad incumbent overlapping with Alfons Schmeier in superabrasive grinding but operating across a much wider product portfolio.
• Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning (former Winterthur): Saint-Gobain's surface conditioning division encompasses legacy Winterthur Technology and other bonded/superabrasive grinding brands serving automotive and industrial customers worldwide. A broad incumbent in the precision grinding tool market with significant overlap in CBN, diamond, and conventional abrasive product categories.
• 3M Abrasives: 3M is a major global abrasive products manufacturer with bonded and superabrasive grinding solutions sold to industrial customers including automotive and machinery OEMs. A broad incumbent overlapping with Alfons Schmeier in precision bonded abrasive grinding, with substantially greater scale and channel reach.
• Saint-Gobain (Norton Abrasives): Saint-Gobain's Norton brand is a global leader in bonded and superabrasive products, including grinding wheels, honing stones, and superfinishing tools serving the same automotive, bearing, and industrial customers as Alfons Schmeier. A broad incumbent competing across a much larger portfolio and global footprint.

Direct peers

• Asahi Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd. Japanese manufacturer of diamond and CBN grinding wheels, honing stones, and precision cutting tools for automotive, electronics, and industrial applications. Directly comparable to Alfons Schmeier in ceramic- and metal-bonded superabrasive internal grinding and superfinishing, with strong presence in Asian markets where Alfons Schmeier is expanding.
• Meister Abrasives AG: Sister company within the Abraxos Holding AG group, offering a closely overlapping portfolio of ceramic-bonded CBN and diamond grinding tools for internal grinding, superfinishing, and dressing. Direct peer given shared customers, technology platforms, and parent group, with the most comparable product set in the market.
• Radiac Abrasives (Tyrolit/Saint-Gobain group): Radiac manufactures bonded abrasive and superabrasive grinding wheels, including CBN and diamond products, serving automotive, aerospace, and industrial OEM customers in North America and globally. A direct comparable in precision superabrasive grinding with overlapping customer base and product format.
• Wendt (Bosch) India / Wendt Grinding Technologies: Specialist manufacturer of superabrasive grinding wheels (CBN and diamond) and dressing tools for automotive, engineering, and tooling industries. Directly comparable as a precision superabrasive grinding specialist serving similar customer applications in internal and surface grinding.
• Krebs & Riedel Schleiftechnik: German specialist in precision grinding wheels and superabrasive (CBN/diamond) tools for industrial customers, including automotive and bearing applications. A direct peer with overlapping product technology and customer base, and a similar German Mittelstand industrial profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alfons Schmeier