Training with PFERD TOOLS ACADEMY

This August, PFERD TOOLS will be hosting their first NetPlus exclusive training to equip our distributor members with the knowledge they need to confidently sell PFERD TOOLS products.

After 225 years in business, PFERD TOOLS offers thousands of products used in surface finishing, abrasives, cutting, grinding, drilling, deburring, brushing, and more. The company’s files, burrs, grinding wheels, cut-off wheels, and flap discs are manufactured at its global headquarters in Germany, while its brushes are produced at the U.S. headquarters in Milwaukee, WI.

To support distributors and sales professionals, PFERD TOOLS provides educational and hands-on learning opportunities through PFERD TOOLS ACADEMY at its state-of-the-art training facility in Milwaukee. These immersive experiences help participants build technical expertise and practical product knowledge.

Immersive Education with PFERD TOOLS

PFERD TOOLS Training & Development Manager Steve Schnoll has been with the company for four years, training distributors and the PFERD TOOLS sales team across the full spectrum of PFERD TOOLS products.

“What I really love about my job is that I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of great people and teach them in a safe, controlled environment,” Steve said. Through a mix of classroom instruction and interactive product demonstrations, participants gain the knowledge needed to better connect customers with the right solutions.

At its Milwaukee facility, PFERD TOOLS ACADEMY hosts different levels and types of training.

The Basic Training includes an overview of the full PFERD TOOLS catalogue, touching on all major product categories and highlighting key areas like burrs, grinding wheels, cut-off wheels, flap discs, and brushes. This is an ideal starting point for those looking to expand their knowledge.

PFERD TOOLS also offers a more advanced Pro Training for those who have already mastered the basics. This class incorporates more hands-on projects and value-added selling workshops, documented cost-savings information, and new product highlights.

In addition to these trainings hosted in-person, PFERD TOOLS also offers virtual and onsite training opportunities when travel is not the best fit for the distributor

What to Expect at the NetPlus Training

At the PFERD TOOLS NetPlus training in August, Steve will guide participating members through the Basic Training experience. “We’ll have a combination of interactive classroom and hands-on training, and we’ll also do a plant tour in our facility here in Milwaukee,” Steve said of the upcoming visit. “When we do our plant tour, everybody will have the opportunity to see all the different products that we’re able to make still right here in this facility.”

Steve encourages distributors to bring all their PFERD TOOLS questions. While the classroom portion is helpful for specifications and note-taking, the hands-on experience is where many concepts truly click.

“I think a lot of the real learning takes place when they get the opportunity to actually use a lot of these products,” Steve added. “It helps distributors feel more comfortable having those conversations with their end users, and it helps guide them toward the right solution.”

Steve has seen firsthand how training can translate into real sales growth. In 2025, distributors who participated in a PFERD TOOLS ACADEMY class increased their PFERD TOOLS purchases by about 20%.

“I can’t put that all on training,” Steve acknowledged, “but we definitely see positive sales results from people who participate in these trainings.”

Save your spot or get on the waitlist today for the PFERD TOOLS NetPlus training in August to enhance your mastery of PFERD TOOLS products. You can also take advantage of other training opportunities with PFERD TOOLS throughout the year.