KGS DIAMOND
KGS DIAMOND is the world’s leading manufacturer of flexible diamond abrasives and electrolytically metallised fabrics. Founded in Switzerland in 1906, manufacturing abrasives since 1952. KGS has more than 20 sales and distribution offices in Europe, North America, Middle East, Singapore, India, China and Australia as well as six manufacturing sites located in Switzerland, The Netherlands, Hungary, Portugal, United Arab Emirates and India.
KGS is a technology driven company regularly applying for patents and bringing innovations to the abrasives world. The control of complex technologies such as metallisation of fabrics, electroplating, metal bond and resin bond sintering, moulded resin expertise, spray coating and standard coated abrasives technologies allows for technological synergies and truly unique innovations.
KGS’s business success is rooted in a traditional set of core values which link back directly to its founders many years ago... While products and markets continue to change, the KGS core values have remained the same.
HISTORY
1906 - KGS DIAMOND GROUP SA is a family-owned business with
strong roots that reach back to 1906 in Lugano/Switzerland,
where Giovanni Ferronato founded his business of manufacturing
moulded products.
1952 - Natale Ferronato founds Natale Ferronato & Co. with the
purpose of producing cold bonded quality abrasives near
Zürich, Switzerland mainly for grinding and polishing
applications on stone and cast iron.
From the very first days of operation, Natale Ferronato
continuously questioned existing methods and relentlessly
pursued new and innovative processes and products.
This mind-set and commitment to innovation added value for customers and created
customer satisfaction that became the heart of the company activity… this
philosophy continues to drive KGS today.
1962 - Introduction of sintering production methods.
1964 - Sales of first sintered diamond cutting blades in Switzerland.
1970 - Natale Ferronato passes the management responsibility to his
wife Maryse Ferronato for health reasons
1980 - Sandro Ferronato, today‘s President and CEO, joins the company.
1985 - Rebranding of the company to KGS DIAMOND deriving from the
German description: “Diamantwerkzeuge für Keramik, Glas und Stein”.
Diamond Tools for ceramics, glass and stone.
Distribution of the first Flexible Diamond Abrasives.
1988 - 1997: KGS subsidiaries are founded in The Netherlands, Hungary, France and Spain.
1991 - Acquisition of a diamond tool factory in Budapest / Hungary.
1993 - Creation of a specialised factory for flexible diamond abrasives in Elburg / The Netherlands.
First patent for a unique flexible diamond abrasive for wet and dry grinding and polishing
applications. Applications on metal and high-tech materials are being developed.
1998 - Acquisition of a fabrics metallisation plant in Châtel-Saint-Denis / Switzerland.
1999 - KGS subsidiary founded in the United Kingdom.
2002 - KGS subsidiary founded in Guangzhou / China.
2004 - Acquisition of WINTER Diamond Tools & Machines Ltd., Germany.
2005 - KGS subsidiary founded in Sydney / Australia.
2006 - Acquisition of Alfred Ernst Müller GmbH in Germany.
2008 - KGS manufacturing plant created in Lanheses / Portugal.
2011 - KGS branch office opened in Stans / Switzerland.
2012 - KGS DIAMOND subsidiary founded in Columbia / SC – USA.
2015 - Specially aimed at the Middle East and North African market, a new branch office opened in Dubai.
2017 - KGS branch offices opened in Bangalore, India and Singapore
2020 - KGS brand office opened in Nanjing / China.
2021 - Today, the KGS Group has 21 branches in 15 countries worldwide and is renowned as one of the
worlds leading abrasives technology groups.
Our values
In the daily work and in our customer contact KGS Management and Employees work in accordance with the SWISS DIAMOND TECHNOLOGY® values. This means that we work in accordance with the following guide lines:
Provide the highest value to our customers, respond quickly to their actual demands and anticipate their future needs.
Being a highly trusted and valued partner/employer, caring about people, quality, relationships and the environment.
Respect each other and treat each other with dignity and develop our capabilities.
We expect everyone in KGS to take pride in their work, take personal responsibility and to perform to high standards.
We rely on each other to succeed.
We are guided by our long-term Vision which rests on the Ferronato Family Values, traditional entrepreneurial spirit and total financial independence.
Protect and preserve jobs, create new jobs and offer career opportunities.
We provide products, technologies and processes that meet the highest SWISS DIAMOND TECHNOLOGY® standards. Only the best results in quality and reliability are satisfactory. We are committed to the safety and health of our employees, the protection of the environment and the quality of life in the communities in which we operate.