ERBE
Founded in Solingen in 1930. Instruments made for daily professional use — and backed by a resharpening service.
What they are known for
Erich Becker started the workshop in 1930 and gave it his initials — ER-BE. It has stayed in the family since; his son took over in 1968, and the instruments are still made in Solingen.
ERBE instruments are built around one idea: a tool used every day must survive being used every day. The joints are heavier than on consumer instruments, the springs are set for hundreds of cuts a shift rather than one manicure a week.
This is why they end up in salons more often than in home kits. A nail technician goes through more cutting in a week than most people manage in a decade.
The steel
German stainless, hardened and then ground rather than stamped to shape. The difference shows at the tip: a ground edge closes along its whole length, a stamped one meets in the middle and gaps at the ends.
Stainless does not mean maintenance-free. Dry the joint after use and the instrument outlives you; leave it wet in a drawer and even the best steel spots.
Resharpening
An ERBE instrument is meant to be resharpened, not replaced. When the cut starts to fold the nail instead of severing it, the edge needs resetting — not the tool binning.
