Raw material extraction, manufacturing, and choice of abrasive grits for later processing and use affect different stakeholders. The grit manufacturer is mostly concerned with the following aspects:
• The grit price depends on raw material availability, raw material price, local energy costs, labor costs as well as equipment costs and maintenance.
• The location defines energy and material availability, labor and energy costs, and logistics.
• Hazards to the environment and the workers need to be reduced and evaluated by local regulations.
Most important aspects for the tool manufacturer are as follows:
• The grit price affects the later tool price strongly, up to 50 % in the case of CBN.
• Grit availability and quality defines the constancy of tool quality.
The tool user is concerned about
• Technology, in particular how the abrasive grit material interacts with the workpiece material and how the tool wears in the use phase.
• The tool price ist affected by the grit price and important for the tool user’s competitiveness.
Society worries about
• Mining hazards from emissions and particulate matter to the local community and to the workers.