VULKAN INOX celebrates 40 years of success – From pioneer in Hattingen to global market leader for stainless steel abrasives

VULKAN INOX celebrates 40 years of success – From pioneer in Hattingen to global market leader for stainless steel abrasives

Hattingen, September 2025 – VULKAN INOX GmbH is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Since its founding in 1985, the company has grown from a regional production site in Hattingen to become a leading international supplier of stainless steel abrasives – writing a success story characterized by innovation, growth, and sustainability.

From the beginnings to international success

VULKAN Strahlverfahrenstechnik GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft was founded in 1985 and established its abrasive production facility in Hattingen. Just four years later, the company entered the North American market with the founding of its subsidiary Vulkan Blast Shot in Canada – marking the beginning of an international expansion that continues to this day.

In the 1990s, the company invested in expanding its production and converted its melting operations to modern induction furnaces. This paved the way for the reliable manufacture of high-quality stainless steel products.

Milestone in development: world's first stainless steel angular abrasive

A technological milestone was set in 2000: With GRITTAL®, the world's first stainless, angular abrasive, VULKAN INOX presented an industry innovation that was later patented. Its success led to investments in new production facilities, buildings, and a hardening plant (2003).

In 2004, the company became part of INDUS Holding AG, setting the course for further growth and internationalization. In the following years, VULKAN INOX established a global distribution network in Europe, Asia, North, Central, and South America.

Steady growth and technological investmentslar abrasive

In 2005, there was a generational change in management: Reinhard Sänger, the company's first managing director, handed over to Wilfried Brands, the long-standing sales manager.

The company's infrastructure was significantly expanded with the construction and commissioning of a modern logistics and technology center, including a technical center for process optimization, in 2014, as well as a new administration building (2017). Under the leadership of Managing Director Marc Hidde from 2017, the company's own laboratory was modernized (2019) to enable precise and comprehensive testing of the quality of the blasting media.

The founding of VULKAN INOX Italy (2021) and VULKAN INOX Mexico (2023) mark further steps in the company's global expansion.

Sustainability as a key success factor

Between 2020 and 2024, VULKAN INOX implemented an ambitious sustainability initiative: By using a modern exhaust air system with heat recovery, a resource-saving adiabatic cooling system, switching to recycled packaging, and using 100% green electricity, the company was able to reduce its CO₂ emissions by well over 90% - a unique achievement in the industry.

VULKAN INOX was awarded the Top 100 Innovator Prize in 2024 for this innovative strength.

40 years of VULKAN INOX – a celebration for employees and families

To mark its 40th anniversary, the company is hosting a big celebration to thank its employees and their families. At the same time, VULKAN INOX 2025 has once again been recognized by an independent panel as a global market leader and one of Germany's top companies – proof of VULKAN INOX's leading role in the global market.

Today, VULKAN INOX is the global market leader in cast stainless steel abrasives. Headquartered in Hattingen, with subsidiaries in North America, Italy, and Mexico, and a global network of distributors, the company stands for innovation, quality, and sustainability.