Norton abrasives Made in China?

[1982fxr]

I was in a Lowe's a couple weeks ago and walking through the tool section I was shocked to see some Norton products hanging on the wall.

Of course they were made in china. Most or all of the Norton stuff I'd seen before was either US or Canada. Have thet also had chinese products for a long time or is this a new move to get cheaper products into the big box stores?

 

[neophyte]

Norton moved some part of their Oilstone production down to Mexico, the current products are labeled “Made in Mexico”, so it’s possible the company is just trying to cut production costs.

 

[four.cycle]

My old supplier, Econabrasives in Garland, Texas, was just liquidated two months ago.

I just put a call in to Econaway in Grand Haven, Michigan.

I'm looking for a sleeve of 80-grit for some projects I have here.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

When it comes to abrasives, often times the processing (making the rolls and cutting them) is done in CN but the abrasive is sourced elsewhere, for instance we use England, Germany and Italy for belts and surface prep discs. Looking at the back of the material itself usually tells you more than the packaging.

 

[four.cycle]

Got a call back from Econaway

Ordered a sleeve of 9" x 12" 80-grit open-coat paper - 100 sheets. Hecho en Mexico.
$58.25 delivered.