![](jpg/article75f0.jpg?img_id=1065463&t=1412715373894)
1950's
1952
J. Walter Company founded
by Walter J. Somers in
Pointe-Claire (Quebec) Canada.
![](jpg/histo-walter-j-somersb644.jpg?t=1410870553167)
1956
First 4 1/2" vertical grinder
introduced by J. Walter
Company.
![](jpg/histo-1956-019c4d.jpg?t=1410870544893)
![](jpg/histo-1957-0113cd.jpg?t=1410870545232)
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).
![1959 - Introduction of Walter Machinery for straightening, cutting and nibbling](jpg/1959_machineryd699.jpg?t=1411069180951)
1960's
1960
Launch of the Saw Blade Sharpening Service.
![1960-saw service](jpg/1960_saw_service2b02.jpg?t=1411069384827)
1962
First 7" Angle Grinder
introduced to the market.
![](jpg/histo-1962-016860.jpg?t=1410870545575)
![](jpg/histo-1967-01b659.jpg?t=1410870545975)
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.
![1973- first flexcut wheel](jpg/1973_flexcutdfbb.jpg?t=1411069422051)
1980's
1986
Introduction to Walter's market leading ZIPCUT/ ZIPWHEEL
high performance cutting wheel.
![1986- first zip cut wheel](jpg/1988_zipcute1dd.jpg?t=1411069426077)
1987
Introduction of Walter’s popular Safety Seminars. Since its inception,
it has reached over 55,000 metal fabrication personnel in Canada.
![](jpg/histo-1987-01d974.jpg?t=1410870546520)
1989
Mr. Pierre Somers was appointed President
of the company in 1989.
![](jpg/histo-pierre-somers588a.jpg?t=1410870552749)
1990's
1990
Start-up of U.S. operations,
with a base office in Windsor, Connecticut.
![](jpg/histo-1990-0193a5.jpg?t=1410870547142)
1996
Start-up of Brazilian operations in São Paulo
and the launch of the ENDURO-FLEX flap disc.
![](jpg/histo-1996-01719d.jpg?t=1410870547687)
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.
![](jpg/histo-1999-014809.jpg?t=1410870548170)
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.
![](jpg/histo-2000-01fe9f.jpg?t=1410870548731)
2001
Launch of Bio-Circle Parts
washing system using
bio-remediation.
![](jpg/histo-2001-015c41.jpg?t=1410870549242)
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.
![](jpg/histo-2002-01e85a.jpg?t=1410870549708)
2006
Technology Innovation Award by the Wall Street Journal.
![](jpg/histo-2006-01f9b9.jpg?t=1410870550257)
2008
ISO 14 001 certification
of Brazilian operations.
Bio-Circle L approved for the
NSF Non-food Compounds
Registration Program & EPA
approval process started.
![](jpg/histo-2008-018187.jpg?t=1410870550766)
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.
![](jpg/histo-2009-013572.jpg?t=1410870551173)
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.
![](jpg/walter-building0ee5.jpg?t=1538501560969)
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 - zip one cutting wheel](jpg/2013_ziponea7d5.jpg?t=1411069429138)
2013
Walter inaugurates new state-of-the-art sustainable manufacturing facility for the Bio-Circle product line.
![2013 - zip one cutting wheel](jpg/biocircle-buildingc5a1.jpg?t=1538485846309)
2015
ZIPCUTTER is launched as Walter's first cordless grinder. It's power and long battery life raise the bar in portable grinding operations.
![2013 - zip one cutting wheel](jpg/zipcutterae68.jpg?t=1538486763027)
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.
![2013 - zip one cutting wheel](jpg/surfox-30506ef.jpg?t=1538486926467)
2018
ONCAP, the middle-market private equity platform of Onex Corporation, acquires a majority stake in Walter Surface Technologies in partnership with the existing management team.
![](png/oncap190b6.png?t=1539091340587)
![](jpg/walter-only-the-best1e838.jpg?t=1538487217454)