We spoke with Uneeda's marketing manager Alain Boppart about what the abrasive and sanding company plans to do in the wake of IWF's cancellation. The biannual IWF is of great importance to many woodworking companies.

 

Boppart says the company will utilize remote meetings and video conferencing apps to salvage some sort of face-to-face interaction with customers. The company has developed a series of webinars to teach people about coated abrasives can optimize sanding operations. It also launched a new online store, allowing customers all over North America to buy its products online directly, and without the need for an account.

 

Uneeda planned on showing off its Ekadiamond abrasive sponge, a Challengers entrant. The company says the sponge features a unique rhomboidal pattern that dissipates heat much faster and prevents accumulation of dust, thus prolonging its lifespan. The sponge won a Visionary Award at the 2017 AWFS Fair.

 

When asked about how Uneeda can assist companies reopen and retool in the wake of COVID, Boppart said:

 

“Every company will be struggling to insure their equipment is in good condition, their operators are properly trained after not being at work for many months and that they are able to effectively address the backlog from before the closure as well as new business that comes from the economy reopening. To manage this successfully requires expertise that Uneeda is able to offer whether that entail visits from our highly trained sales engineering team, our full time sanding technician or by introducing and implementing new products into the production process such as our Ekadiamond abrasives sponges.”