Walter Celebrates 60 Years of Surface Treatment Technologies

The evolution of knowledge and methods by Walter Surface Technologies has led to productivity increases in Canada, the Americas and Europe.

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Walter . . .

When Walter J. Somers and a few colleagues opened the first office in the Montreal region in 1952, they took the first steps on a new and unfamiliar path that eventually became Walter Surface Technologies International (Pointe-Claire, QC), and from there they followed three major phases of transformation and growth:

Performance
Somers laid the company foundation during the 1950s and 1960s. Emphasizing “total performance”, he concentrated on bringing the best tools to Canada, the ones offering the best productivity – first by importing them from Europe, then developing and manufacturing their own brand throughout the years.

Safety
During the 1970s and 1980s, Somers added another dimension to the company philosophy: work safety, for both its employees and its customers. This idea provided the grounds to establish new objectives for product development: the company must create products that would not only improve productivity, but improve health and safety in the workplace as well.

Globalization and Sustainable Development
The 1990s and 2000s witnessed an ambitious international expansion program which began in 1989, when Pierre Somers succeeded his father as director of the company. The Walter Company quickly made an impact in the South American and European markets, as illustrated by notable increases in sales and profitability. The first environmentally-friendly “green products” (branded as Bio-Circle Environmental Solutions) were also launched at this time, long before the phrase “sustainable development” found its way into popular business usage.

Ready for Tomorrow, Today
Walter faithfully fosters its core corporate values. Increasing efficiency, accelerating cost reduction, and improving processes that favor the well-being of workers will drive all future technical innovations. Sustainable development is more than a priority – it clearly is an integral part of the company’s DNA – and will continue to guide Research & Development in the coming years.

Walter’s new international headquarters and industrial center in Pointe-Claire visually and in every sense exemplifies this. Built according to LEED standards, the complex is the ultimate expression of Walter’s commitment to sustainable development. This center was designed to follow the best engineering and management practices: optimized energy efficiency, ideal working conditions that favor the health and well-being of employees along with ultra-efficient logistics and warehouse systems. The new building serves as the world center for management and research. This is where Walter’s future will take shape – one innovation at a time.

Innovation at the Core
Innovation is at the heart of Walter’s business – it drives the introduction of truly ground-breaking products and services as well as enabling swift responses to market requirements. Many Walter products are the fastest and most efficient in the market (Zipcut, Combo Zip, Coolcut XX, Enduro-Flex Turbo, Air Force, Bio-Rust, etc.) and are all designed to improve productivity and help Walter customers work better.

Walter Surface Technologies is a privately-held company with its U.S. headquarters in Windsor, CT, has been a leader in surface treatment technologies for 60 years, and has been providing high productivity abrasives, power tools, tooling, chemical tools and environmental solutions for the metal working industry. Founded in Montreal in 1952, the company is now established in seven countries in North America, South America and Europe. www.walter.com