Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc. announced recently that it has acquired Merit Abrasives, a manufacturer of specialty abrasive products. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Merit Abrasives employs approximately 180 people worldwide and has plants in Compton, Calif.; Brookville, Ohio; Glasgow, Scotland; and Tijuana, Mexico. The Compton operation is in the process of being transferred to Ohio and Mexico. Saint-Gobain and Merit have had a long-standing business relationship. Saint-Gobain has supplied Merit with coated abrasive jumbo rolls and Merit has supplied Saint-Gobain with specialty coated products. According to Mark Mathisen, Saint-Gobain's vice president of Bonded Abrasives Worldwide and North American Distribution and Engineered Markets, "The acquisition of Merit is solidifying a mutually beneficial business relationship that has existed between Saint-Gobain and Merit for many years. The Merit brand is well respected within our industry. We are proud to have them as a part of the Saint-Gobain Abrasives family and look forward to pursuing the opportunities created by this acquisition." Mathisen said that Merit's management would remain with the company.

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