In the world of metal fabrication, there is a name that has become synonymous with the finishing process itself: Timesavers. With a legacy spanning over 70 years and operating from two major headquarters in Goes, Netherlands, and Minneapolis, USA, Timesavers is the world’s largest manufacturer of wide-belt abrasive finishing and deburring machines. They don’t just build equipment; they provide the “Final Touch” that transforms a raw, dangerous piece of cut metal into a safe, aesthetic, and high-value product.
The defining achievement of Timesavers in the modern era is the Rotary Brush (RB) technology. By moving beyond traditional linear sanding and introducing a multi-directional brushing motion, Timesavers solved the industry’s most persistent problem: how to achieve perfectly uniform edge rounding on complex, 3D-profiled, and even coated parts in a single pass.
The Timesavers Heritage: A Tale of Two Continents
Timesavers’ history is a unique blend of American industrial scale and European precision engineering.
- The American Roots: Founded in 1946 in the USA, Timesavers pioneered the wide-belt sander, a machine that revolutionized the woodworking and metal industries by providing high-speed thicknessing and finishing.
- The European Excellence: Timesavers International, based in the Netherlands, took this foundation and infused it with sophisticated CNC controls and specialized deburring heads, creating the 42 RB series—the most awarded deburring machine in history.
Today, with over 50,000 machines installed worldwide, Timesavers is the only company that offers a truly global support network and a solution for every surface, from a small jewelry part to a massive aerospace wing skin.
The 42 RB Series: The King of Rotary Brush Technology
The 42 RB Series is the flagship of the Timesavers fleet. It is the machine that set the global benchmark for 360-degree deburring and edge rounding.
How the Rotary Brush System Works:
Unlike traditional wide belts that move in one direction, the Rotary Brush system consists of several brush carousels that rotate and counter-rotate while moving across the width of the conveyor.
- Multi-Directional Contact: The brushes strike the edges of the part from every possible angle, ensuring that even internal cutouts and small holes are perfectly deburred.
- Edge Rounding Radius: The RB technology can achieve a radius of up to 2.0 mm on mild steel, which is critical for paint adhesion and meeting strict safety standards.
- No Orientation Required: Because the brushes move in every direction, it doesn’t matter how the part is placed on the belt. This drastically increases throughput by reducing operator setup time.
The “Small Part” Master: The 12 Series and 22 Series
Timesavers understands that not every fabricator is processing large plates. For shops using small lasers or punch presses, they offer specialized compact solutions.
- The 10 Series (Manual Grinder): An entry-level, highly versatile machine for shops that are transitioning from hand-grinding to semi-automation.
- The 22 Series: A high-speed, automated solution for small parts (as small as 50mm). It brings the precision of wide-belt deburring to a footprint that fits in any workshop.
Heavy-Duty Plate Processing: The 32 and 42 Series
For shipbuilders, bridge constructors, and heavy equipment manufacturers, the 32 and 42 series are the workhorses. These machines are often equipped with a Heavy-Duty Grinding Roller at the first station to “chisel” away heavy plasma or oxy-fuel slag, followed by the Rotary Brushes for the final finish.
Deslagging and Descaling
Plasma-cut parts often have a hard layer of oxide and dross. Timesavers integrates specialized Hammer Heads or high-pressure rollers that remove this slag mechanically, saving thousands of hours of manual labor every year.
Surface Finishing: The Art of the “Grain”
Beyond deburring, Timesavers is the master of Decorative Finishing.
- Stainless Steel Finishing: For the food, dairy, and pharmaceutical industries, a specific “Number 4” or “Brushed” finish is required for hygiene. Timesavers wide-belt machines provide a perfectly consistent grain across the entire surface of the sheet.
- Precision Grinding: In industries like electronics and aerospace, thickness tolerances are measured in microns. Timesavers’ precision-ground rollers and vacuum beds ensure that parts are ground to the exact thickness required.
Industry 4.0: The Siemens-Powered Intelligence
In 2026, Timesavers machines are fully integrated into the smart factory.
- Intuitive HMI: A large, graphical touchscreen allows the operator to select the material and desired finish. The machine then automatically sets the belt speed, brush pressure, and conveyor speed.
- Predictive Maintenance: Sensors monitor the vibration of the motors and the wear of the abrasive belts, alerting the owner via the cloud before a failure occurs.
- Energy Management: The machines utilize high-efficiency motors and variable frequency drives (VFD) that reduce energy consumption during idle periods by up to 30%.
Strategic Advantages: Why Choose Timesavers?
For a production manager, the decision to invest in a Timesavers machine is a calculation of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and versatility.
| Feature | Timesavers RB Solution | Standard Disc/Flap Machines |
| Edge Quality | True 360° Uniform Radius. | Often misses “trailing” edges. |
| Versatility | Deburrs parts with height variations. | Requires perfectly flat parts. |
| Tool Life | Even wear across the brush. | Concentrated wear / High waste. |
| Small Parts | Vacuum bed for 50mm parts. | Often struggle with part stability. |
| Legacy | 70+ Years of expertise. | Often newer, unproven designs. |
Sector-Specific Applications
Timesavers technology is the standard in sectors where the “Touch and Feel” of the metal are critical:
- Automotive: Deburring high-strength structural components to ensure perfect welding and paint adherence.
- Aerospace: Precision edge-breaking on aluminum wing-ribs where manual grinding would be too inconsistent.
- Medical: Finishing surgical-grade stainless steel with a perfect mirror or brushed finish.
- Kitchen & Appliances: Creating the aesthetic “brushed” look seen on high-end refrigerators and ovens.
The “Test Center” Experience
A unique aspect of the Timesavers brand is their Global Application Centers.
- Goes, Netherlands & Minneapolis, USA: Customers are encouraged to send their most difficult parts to these centers. Timesavers’ engineers will test different belt grits, brush types, and speeds to find the “Perfect Process.”
- Consumable Consulting: Timesavers doesn’t just sell the machine; they help you choose the best abrasive belts and brushes from their “Timesavers Original” line to minimize your cost-per-part.
Training and Global Service
Timesavers operates on a “Service First” model.
- The Timesavers Academy: Online and on-site training modules ensure that operators are not just pushing buttons, but understanding the nuances of abrasive technology.
- Remote Support: 90% of technical issues are resolved via remote diagnostics, reducing the need for expensive site visits and keeping the production line moving.
- Lifetime Support: It is not uncommon to find a Timesavers machine from the 1970s still in operation. The company maintains a massive inventory of legacy parts to support their “Built for Life” philosophy.
The Green Finishing Initiative
Timesavers is leading the industry in Eco-Friendly Abrasives.
- Dust Collection Integration: Their machines are designed to work seamlessly with high-efficiency extraction systems, returning clean air to the factory and reclaiming metal dust.
- Reduced Scrap: By achieving a perfect finish in the first pass, Timesavers drastically reduces the “scrap rate” caused by manual over-grinding or inconsistent edges.
- Wet Grinding Systems: For materials like titanium or magnesium where dust is explosive, Timesavers offers wet-grinding configurations with advanced water filtration and recycling.
Shaping the World, One Edge at a Time
Timesavers has earned its place as the global reference for surface finishing through a relentless focus on The Human Element. They understand that while the machine is industrial, the result is personal—a worker shouldn’t cut their hands on a sharp edge, and a consumer should be delighted by the look of a brushed stainless steel appliance.
By mastering the Rotary Brush revolution and maintaining a global footprint of support, Timesavers has provided fabricators with a tool that is as reliable as it is innovative. For the manufacturer who demands maximum throughput, 360-degree precision, and the security of a 70-year legacy, Timesavers is the definitive choice. They don’t just finish metal; they finish the job right.
Discover the “Final Touch” at www.timesaversint.com or www.timesaversinc.com
