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This section provides an overview for sharpeners as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 13 sharpener manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked sharpener companies as of December, 2024: 1.Wolff Industries, Inc., 2.Razor Edge Systems, 3.Naniwa Abrasive Mfg.Co.,LTD..
Table of Contents
Sharpeners are tools used to grind knives and other cutting tools to improve their sharpness.
Generally, after continuous use of a kitchen knife, the edge of the blade becomes rounded due to wear and tear, and the sharpness of the blade deteriorates. Sharpeners can be used to easily restore sharpness.
While a whetstone is used to sharpen the blade, sharpeners improve the bite of the food by scratching the cutting edge. Therefore, a sharpener cannot be used as a substitute for a whetstone when performing routine maintenance.
If you want to use a knife for a long time, it is better to use a whetstone, but sharpeners are useful when you want to quickly restore the sharpness of a knife because anyone can use them with a simple operation.
Sharpeners are mainly used to sharpen kitchen knives, but some products can also sharpen scissors, sickles, and other blades. In general, many of them are compact and portable, making them convenient for outdoor use such as camping.
Various manufacturers offer products in a variety of designs and shapes, and by selecting one suitable for the environment in which it will be used, it can also be used as an interior decoration product.
Sharpeners have a simple structure. Each type of sharpener has a built-in whetstone, which is used to sharpen knives and other cooking utensils by sliding them over the whetstone.
The whetstone is made of materials such as ceramic or diamond and can be used for various types of knives.
Sharpeners are generally categorized into four types: roll-type, cross-type, electric-type, and sharpening rod. It is important to understand the characteristics of each and choose the one that best suits your needs.
Roll Type
The roll type is the most popular type of sharpeners because of its wide variety. A roll-type sharpener incorporates a grinding stone, which can be sharpened by placing the blade on the grinding stone and pulling it.
Sharpeners are sold in types ranging from those with one grinding stone to those with three, each of which has a different roughness of the grinding stone, allowing for a clean finish. However, care should be taken to avoid frequent use, which can result in jagged edges and damage to the blade.
Intersecting Type
Crossed sharpeners are used by placing a knife between two V-shaped grinding stones. However, since it sharpens in the horizontal direction to the cutting edge, only the cutting edge is sharpened and burrs are left behind.
If you use this type of sharpening knife for sashimi knives, which have excellent sharpness, you should avoid using it for expensive knives because it may damage the cutting edge of the knife in addition to deteriorating the sharpness of the knife.
Electric Type
Electric sharpeners can be used electrically, so even those who are not confident in their strength can speed up the process. Generally, it has the same shape as a roll sharpener, and you can sharpen a knife by placing it on the rotating whetstone and sliding it.
Electric sharpeners are characterized by the fact that they are less likely to produce uneven sharpening, but care must be taken to avoid damaging the blade if the sharpening is done incorrectly.
Sharpening Stick
As the name suggests, a sharpening stick is a stick-shaped sharpening tool that is used to sharpen knives by rubbing them against a file-like surface. This type of sharpener requires adjustment of the amount of force and the angle at which it is applied to the knife and may be difficult to use until you get used to it. However, it is compact and convenient for use with scissors and slicers as well as kitchen knives.
Kitchen knives and other blades are made of various materials, such as stainless steel and ceramic. Using a sharpener that is not compatible with the blade material will damage the blade, so it is important to read the information on each product carefully and select a sharpener that is compatible with the blade material.
Sharpeners are compact and lightweight, which can lead to serious injury if not properly secured. Electric sharpeners are relatively safe to use because they do not require the application of force, but for manual sharpeners, it is necessary to check the safety features, such as non-slip or suction cup fixation.
Kitchen knives and other cooking utensils come in direct contact with food, so hygiene measures are also important. A stainless steel type of knife has a grinding stone that is resistant to rust and can be kept clean for a long period. Products with a removable grinding stone are also available and are recommended when hygiene is important.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Wolff Industries, Inc., established in 1983 and located in Spartanburg, United States of America, is a manufacturer of industrial and professional scissors sharpeners. The company makes flat hone scissors sharpeners with hook and loop discs, complete scissors sharpening systems, and professional scissors sharpeners. It also fabricates poultry scissors, industrial scissors, sewing scissors, beauty scissors, and knives. Its flat hone scissors sharpeners with hook and loop discs are designed to recreate the factory look and edge on high-end convex or semi-convex beauty, barber, and grooming scissors.
Razor Edge Systems is a manufacturer and supplier of precision sharpening equipment that was established in 1955 and is headquartered in Ely, Minnesota, USA. The company’s product range is in three categories that include Pro Systems, Automated Systems and Retail Products. Its pro system products such as knives, scissors, straight blades, and circular blades are used across the globe. Razor Edge Systems's products are used by a number of sector companies, as diverse as slaughterhouses, meat packing plants, and food processing facilities. The company also offers a wide range of services, including installation, training, and maintenance.
Smith’s, established in 1886 and situated in Hot Springs, United States of America, is a manufacturer of knife and scissors sharpeners. The company produces axe & and machete sharpeners, cordless knife and tool sharpeners, 2-stone sharpening kits, and fire wire 2-pack flexible grilling skewers. It also produces dual grit diamond stone sharpeners with a bonus knife, diamond precision sharpening systems, and edge sport fixed blade gut hooks. Its axe & and machete sharpeners have cast aluminum sharpening heads, soft grip handles, and oversized finger guards for safe and secure sharpening.
FERVI SpA was founded in 1978 and is a manufacturer of machineries, workshop equipment, and cutting tools based in Vignola, Modena, Italy. The company offers various products such as milling machines, machinery for fishings, cutting wheels, machine vices, and dial indicators. The products have been used in various applications such as car workshop, carpentry, construction, gardening, and do it yourself. The company is consisted by various brands which specialized in different products and markets, such as Fervi, Riflex, Vogel Germany, Sitges, and Rivit.
CORMAK Jerzy Zalewski Company, which was established in the 1980s and is based in Siedlce, Poland, is a manufacturer of machines and technological solutions. The company crafts band-cutting machines, milling machines, sliding saws, edgebanders and accessories, and CNC press brakes. It also manufactures electric mast trolleys, mast pallet trucks, high-pressure compressors, centrifugal fans, as well as tool sharpeners and grinders. Its band-cutting machines are specifically used for cutting metal elements. Its modern models of milling machines are equipped with step-less regulation of spindle speed and also have the ability to program some parameters as they wish.
Naniwa Abrasive Mfg.Co., LTD. was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in Osaka, Japan, as a manufacturer of artificial sharpening stones for knives. The company specializes in producing sharpening stones designed for industrial and domestic applications. Additionally, the company manufactures diamond tools to process various materials, including stone. It also offers sandblasting systems specifically designed for stone engraving and a comprehensive range of abrasion-related products. Customers in Japan and beyond consistently hold high standards of product quality and service in high regard.
CATRA, which is situated in Sheffield, United Kingdom, is a manufacturer of testing equipment for cutlery and knives as well as knife sharpeners. The company specifically manufactures domestic knife sharpeners, commercial knife sharpeners, and goniometers. It also produces edge tester cards, replacement wheels, and tool kits. Its domestic knife sharpeners are designed to repair, sharpen, and hone the knives of the customers. Its edge tester cards are manufactured and calibrated to determine the cutting performance of knives using the equipment and procedures specified in ISO 8442:5.
Fazzini Technology s.a.s is a manufacturer of professional sharpening machines that was established in 1988 and is headquartered in Castelfranco Veneto, Italy. The company’s products such as Micra K2, Small KS5, Compact K10/KS10, Professional K100/KS100 and K 1000 - A are meant to simplify, improve safety and solve the problem of sharpening knives and scissors. The company also offers a wide range of services, including installation, training, and maintenance. Its products are used by a number of customers, as diverse as butchers, slaughterhouses, fishmongers, supermarkets, restaurants, as well as woodworkers, machinists, and engineers.
Tormek is a manufacturer of water-cooled sharpening machines for edge tools that was established in 1973 and is headquartered in Bergslagen, Sweden. The company specializes in the design and manufacturing of patented sharpening tools including Sharpening Machines, Grinding Jigs, Grinding Wheels, Honing Wheels and Kits.Tormek als offers a wide range of jigs and accessories that include truing tools, rotating bases and machine covers. The jigs allow users to sharpen different types of edge tools, including knives, scissors, chisels, and plane blades. Its products are used by a number of industries, as diverse as woodworking, metalworking and hunting.
Thorvie International LLC, established in 1977 and based in Waukesha, Wisconsin, is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in custom saw sharpening equipment and grinding machines. The company’s product portfolio includes the Thorvie AV-40 Sharpening System, automatic slicer cutter grinders, and AV-60 custom side grinders. These products are used in various applications, including woodworking, metalworking, and forestry and landscaping. The company offers services including technical support, secure online payment options verified by SSL site seals, ensuring customer transactions are safe and protected, and training on the use of its products.
Esco Company Ltd., established in 1972 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a supplier of maintenance, repair, and operations tools, parts, and equipment. Some of its products include test instruments, magnets, office furniture, protective equipment, and generators, and it serves customers in various fields, including construction sites and office buildings. The company was started to market tools to the air conditioning and refrigeration industry in Japan, and every year since then, it has published a catalog of its tools. In 2015, the catalog reached 110,000 products, and the company has approximately 149,000 items in stock for delivery.
BIC TOOL, a company founded in 1980 and headquartered in Tottori, Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of automotive maintenance equipment and industrial equipment. The company's product portfolio includes drill sharpeners, end mill grinding machines, and high-tension steel plate correspondence re-sharpening machines. These products are used in various applications, including industrial manufacturing, automotive maintenance and repair, and paint and coating processes. The company possesses both ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 13485:2003 certificates for its quality management systems.
Seibu Shoko Co., Ltd., founded in 1972 and based in Kobe-Shi, Japan, is a distributor and supplier of gear machines and cutting tools. The company's product lineup includes machines, smart factory solutions, tooling, cutting tools, clamping systems, and precision gauging. These products find application predominantly in industries such as automotive and general manufacturing. It also offers services such as bridging communication between innovators and potential customers as well as providing engineering expertise.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolff Industries, Inc. |
16.0%
|
| 2 | Razor Edge Systems |
12.0%
|
| 3 | Naniwa Abrasive Mfg.Co.,LTD. |
10.7%
|
| 4 | FERVI SpA |
8.0%
|
| 5 | CORMAK Jerzy Zalewski company |
8.0%
|
| 6 | Fazzini Technology s.a.s |
8.0%
|
| 7 | Smith's |
8.0%
|
| 8 | Thorvie International LLC |
8.0%
|
| 9 | CATRA |
6.7%
|
| 10 | Tormek |
4.0%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the sharpener page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
3 | 33.3% |
|
Italy
|
2 | 22.2% |
|
Poland
|
1 | 11.1% |
|
Japan
|
1 | 11.1% |
|
United Kingdom
|
1 | 11.1% |
|
Sweden
|
1 | 11.1% |
3 products found
3 products
Promote Co., Ltd.
70+ people viewing
Last viewed: 23 hours ago
Standard Response
■Features It has both flat and curved sides and can be used as a blade sharpener depending on the purpose. ■Applications ・Flat side: Sharpening k...
2 models listed
Three Nine Shimano Co., Ltd.
20+ people viewing
Last viewed: 7 hours ago
■Product details The blade can also be polished. Please use this sharpener.
