1950's
1952
J. Walter Company founded
by Walter J. Somers in
Pointe-Claire (Quebec) Canada.
1956
First 4 1/2" vertical grinder
introduced by J. Walter
Company.
1957
Introduction of the First
Jigsaw power tool.
1959
Introduction of Walter Machinery (1959-1984).
Introduction of High Performance Power Tools and the first cold saw
(metal cutting circular saw).
1960's
1960
Launch of the Saw Blade Sharpening Service.
1962
First 7" Angle Grinder
introduced to the market.
1967
First 4 1/2" angle grinder
"MINI-GRINDER".
1970's
1973
Introduction of the first flexible grinding wheels followed
by other unique high performance abrasives.
1980's
1986
Introduction to Walter's market leading ZIPCUT/ ZIPWHEEL
high performance cutting wheel.
1987
Introduction of Walter’s popular Safety Seminars. Since its inception,
it has reached over 55,000 metal fabrication personnel in Canada.
1989
Mr. Pierre Somers was appointed President
of the company in 1989.
1990's
1990
Start-up of U.S. operations,
with a base office in Windsor, Connecticut.
1996
Start-up of Brazilian operations in São Paulo
and the launch of the ENDURO-FLEX flap disc.
1999
Establishment of German operations through Joint-Venture
with CB-Chemie und Biotechnologie.
- ISO 9001 certification of Canadian operations.
- ISO 14 001 certification of German operations.
2000's
2000
Start-up of operations in Mexico.
Acquisition and conversion of Swiss operations.
Launch of Surfox, a safer and faster alternative for weld cleaning.
2001
Launch of Bio-Circle Parts
washing system using
bio-remediation.
2002
Celebration of 50th Anniversary
Walter J. Somers Chair at the
HEC Business School.
Bio-Circle certified by Environment.
Canada's Environmental Choice Program. -
Eco-Logo.
2006
Technology Innovation Award by the Wall Street Journal.
2008
ISO 14 001 certification
of Brazilian operations.
Bio-Circle L approved for the
NSF Non-food Compounds
Registration Program & EPA
approval process started.
2009
Launch of LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building
Rating System) building project for New International Headquarters in Pointe-Claire,
Quebec Canada.
2010's
2012
Building officially completed and certified LEED GOLD, in recognition performance
in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development,
water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection, indoor environmental quality.
2013
Launch of ZIP-ONE, the thinnest cutting wheel on the market.
Launch of family of Nature Boost products (GS 200, CB 100 and Bio-Circle L Ultra).
Launch of the Clean-Box concept.
2013
Walter inaugurates new state-of-the-art sustainable manufacturing facility for the Bio-Circle product line.
2015
ZIPCUTTER is launched as Walter's first cordless grinder. It's power and long battery life raise the bar in portable grinding operations.
2017
Walter eliminates the need for hazardous weld cleaning operations with the introduction of SURFOX - a family of highly engineered electrochemical weld cleaning and marking systems.
2018
ONCAP, in partnership with the existing management team, acquires a majority stake in Walter Surface Technologies – setting the stage for a new era of growth and expansion.
