Microplane

Microplane is a registered trademark of Grace Manufacturing Inc., a company that makes perforated steel tools (surform tools) for grating, grinding and sanding. Though extremely sharp, these tools are safer than regular graters and rasps because the user is less likely to lose his or her grip.

Kitchen graters

A Microplane grater / zester in use

Microplane graters are used for the grating of various food items, such as nutmeg and cheese, and also as zesters for citrus fruit.

Wood rasps

Microplane originally made wood rasps and shaving disks and they continue to do so today.

Legal actions

In 2002, Grace Manufacturing Inc filed a lawsuit against Browne and Co. Ltd. among others, alleging that the Cuisipro "Accutec" line of etched graters infringed on Microplane patents, and that Browne and Co. practices with regard to the Accutec brand represented unfair competition. Grace further made public statements at that time, intended to create distance between their graters and the Accutec line of products, particularly from the historical context associated with Microplane (for example, stating that only Microplane products had a history in woodworking use, and that Accutec was not to be considered a next-generation design). However, after several years of litigation process, the suit ultimately led to a mutual settlement (May/June 2005 with details being filed as confidential), which allows Grace to continue with their patented process and Browne with their process (which is patent pending). Both versions are being widely distributed around the world today.

Links

• Additional Information
• Microplane Official Website