COMPANY TIMELINE
Track SAIT's development over the decades
1953
Societa Abrasivi Industriali Torino (SAIT) was established. It opened its headquarters in Via Torino-Pianezza in the town of Collegno on the outskirts of Turin, Italy.
1953
SAIT produced and launched its first products, a range of flexible abrasive discs (fibre discs): RESINDISC (for metals), UNIVERSALDISC (for paint stripping) and MARMODISC (for marble and stone).
1955
SAIT became a founding member of FEPA (Federation of European Producers of Abrasives).
1958
The first SAITEX D cutting and grinding wheels were produced. In the same year, SAIT opened its first Italian branches to guarantee coverage for directly controlling the distribution network and providing after-sales service.
1960
SAIT's development accelerated at the height of the Italian economic miracle. Spacious, bright and efficient offices were opened alongside well-equipped research laboratories and modern facilities. Production increased and the company became one of the most important in Europe.
1960
Machinery was introduced for the large-scale production of flexible abrasives in the form of rolls, belts and sleeves. Off the back of this, the SAITBAND family of abrasive cloths was launched.
1961
With sales on the rise, the company looked to expand beyond national borders. SAIT France was the first office to be established as part of the company's European expansion.
1963
SAIT Abrasives UK was established in Leicester, England.
1970
Collaboration began with United Abrasives Inc, of Willimantic, Connecticut, to distribute SAIT products in North America and Canada.
1978
Flexible cloth and paper abrasives gained importance, alongside grinding wheels and fibre discs. Production increased and a factory dedicated to these products was required. Hence, the Piozzo plant in the province of Cuneo was opened.
1980s
The company underwent major changes in the 1980s, first and foremost with a change in identity - Societa Abrasivi Industriali Torino became SAIT Abrasivi S.p.A.
1981
As the company continued to grow, the need for a proper warehouse and shipping hub became essential. The central warehouse built in Settimo Torinese would soon become an efficient 8,500-square-metre logistics hub equipped with the most modern systems for storing and shipping SAIT products worldwide.
1990s
The decade of automation contributed to improvement of the production process. The first automated presses and disassembly plants were introduced.
2000
SAIT became one of the founding members of the OSA (Organisation for the Safety of Abrasives).
2004
Brazil was the next target for SAIT's expansion ambitions. The opening of SAIT Abrasivos LTDA set the stage for advancing operations in South America.
2005
In addition to improving production process efficiency by increasing the use of robots, laser cutting was introduced for fibre discs to guarantee extreme flexibility in cutting them to shape, unlike the previously employed mould-cutting methods.
2017
Co-operation with C-PARTS GmbH for the development of the German market began.
2020
A new, modern three-word pay-off "Safety, Performance & You" was paired with the SAIT logo to summarise the key concepts of SAIT products and the attention that the company dedicates to its customers.
2023
The SAIT group celebrated 70 years of providing professional abrasive solutions to industry.