From a machine tool manufacturer
to a global technology leader
The history of GROB began in 1926 with a commitment to rethinking mechanical engineering. In the 1930s, the small machine tool factory produced its first mass-produced product, marking the beginning of a journey that transformed the company into a globally sought-after provider of modern production and automation systems.
Today, GROB stands for groundbreaking technologies, continuous innovation, and a strong international presence. New production facilities, the Grob family’s defining achievements, and decisive technical advancements mark a corporate history characterized by consistent development and a strong pioneering spirit.
100 Facts for the 100th Anniversary
On May 21, 1926, Ernst Grob founded the Ernst Grob Tool and Machine Factory in Munich.
#1
In the early years after its founding, GROB was a manufacturer of folding boats.
#2
Founder Ernst Grob developed a loom that was later sold to the global corporation Sulzer.
#3
The first thread-cutting machines were built in 1933.
#4
In 1939, Ernst Grob developed the cold-forming process and, by that time, had reached the 100-employee mark.
#5
Shortly before the end of World War II, most of the Ernst Grob factory was destroyed in bombing raids on Munich.
#6
After the manufacturer—which had been extensively destroyed in 1944—was rebuilt, production initially focused on simple products and machine repairs.
#7
Burkhart Grob joined the company immediately after completing his degree in mechanical engineering in 1952.
#8
Ernst Grob moved to Switzerland in 1952 to start another company.
#9
At just 26 years old, Burkhart Grob took sole responsibility for GROB and immediately began restructuring the company.
#10
In 1961, the 500th GROB special-purpose machine was shipped from the Munich plant.
#11
In 1956, the company surpassed the 200-employee mark for the first time.
#12
With the invention of the transfer line, Burkhart Grob and his team of engineers made a major breakthrough in mechanical engineering.
#13
In the late 1960s, GROB delivered its first transfer line, establishing GROB as a brand for the first time.
#14
During an exploratory trip to Brazil, Burkhart Grob recognized the potential of Brazil’s industrialization and decided to establish a manufacturing plant there.
#15
B. GROB do Brasil was initially headquartered in a 360-square-meter apartment in São Paulo.
#16
At the request of Burkhart Grob, a training workshop modeled after the German system was also established in São Paulo to train skilled workers.
#17
The meetings between Burkhart Grob and Siegfried Haimerl, the managing director of the new plant in Brazil, often took place while they were mountain climbing.
#18
Since it was not possible to expand the factory in Munich, Burkhart Grob purchased a plot of land in Mindelheim in 1967.
#19
When the Mindelheim plant was established in 1968, the proportion of machine fitters in training briefly reached 30 percent of the total workforce.
#20
Over the course of two decades, the Mindelheim facility expanded from 1,500 square meters to 78,300 square meters.
#21
In addition to transfer lines, GROB continued to manufacture single-station machines, automation systems, and rotary transfer machines in the 1960s.
#22
The GROB plant in Mindelheim was considered the most punctual machine factory of its time.
#23
In 1982, Burkhart Grob purchased a 54-hectare property in Bluffton, Ohio.
#24
In 1983, GROB Systems Inc. was founded in Bluffton as a sales and service branch to serve the U.S. market.
#25
With its first major order from Chrysler, GROB quickly established itself as a reliable partner to the U.S. automotive industry.
#26
In 1984, Burkhart Grob was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon.
#27
In 1986, Burkhart Grob was awarded the Order of Merit of the Free State of Bavaria.
#28
Driven by his love of flying, Burkhart Grob also founded the company GROB-Flugzeugbau in Mattsies, Bavaria.
#29
In 1983, the cornerstone was laid in Bluffton for what is now GROB’s production plant in the United States.
#30
In 1983, at the age of 90, Ernst Grob visited the EMO in Paris.
#31
Burkhart Grob was an excellent pilot who had also mastered the entire aerobatic program.
#32
In 1991, GROB USA began manufacturing its own robots and automation systems.
#33
The G-module was developed in response to the challenging years at the start of the 21st century and the industry’s growing demands.
#34
The launch of the new G-series was the most significant product development in the history of the GROB Group to date.
#35
In 2012, following the model used in Brazil and the United States, another plant was opened in Dalian, China.
#36
In the 2014/2015 fiscal year, GROB reached the one-billion-euro sales mark for the first time.
#37
In 2016, Christian Grob took over the company as chairman of the supervisory board.
#38
In 2017, GROB acquired the Italian machine and plant manufacturer DMG meccanica in Turin, where its fifth production facility would later be built.
#39
In 2020, the first virtual GROB in-house exhibition was held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
#40
In 2024, GROB’s sixth production plant opened in Bangalore, India.
#41
In 2024, the plant in Mindelheim surpassed the 6,000-employee mark for the first time.
#42
The GROB Mexico branch celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025.
#43
In 2025, GROB UK celebrated its 35th anniversary.
#44
Florian Grob is already being prepared for his future task as the next generation of the Grob family.
#45
German Wankmiller, CEO of GROB, has been with the company since 1989.
#46
GROB is the operating company for its own research and development centers.
#47
GROB technology is used in nearly all major automotive plants worldwide.
#48
The GROB Group is one of the largest employers in the Unterallgäu region.
#49
The production facilities in Mindelheim are among the largest mechanical engineering facilities in Europe.
#50
Today, GROB is one of the global technology leaders in machine tool manufacturing.
#51
GROB's innovative strength is evident in the numerous patents the company holds worldwide.
#52
The GROB Group produces several thousand machining centers and automation systems each year.
#53
GROB is one of the world's leading suppliers of hairpin manufacturing technologies for electric motors.
#54
GROB-Werke uses state-of-the-art CNC machining centers—many of which are manufactured in-house—to ensure the highest level of precision in production.
#55
GROB has its own foundry partnership to ensure the production of high-quality castings for machine beds and structural components.
#56
The production facilities in Mindelheim are designed to accommodate the assembly of even extremely large machines and systems.
#57
The GROB Group is one of the few machine manufacturers worldwide capable of supplying complete production lines.
#58
GROB's proprietary software platform enables the monitoring, analysis, and optimization of production processes in real time.
#59
The GROB Group recognized early on that electromobility is a key technology of the future.
#60
The apprenticeship rate at GROB is significantly higher than the industry average.
#61
The GROB Group has been committed to sustainable production methods for years.
#62
GROB currently employs 9,600 people worldwide, making it one of the largest family-owned mechanical engineering companies in the world.
#63
A large employee parking garage was completed at the Mindelheim site in 2025.
#64
GROB offers its trainees a wide range of benefits.
#65
The company's revenue currently stands at 2.0 billion euros, making GROB one of the machine tool manufacturers with the highest sales.
#66
GROB is currently operating six large production plants across four continents.
#67
The production facility in Mindelheim covers an impressive 210,800 square meters.
#68
GROB offers a complete range of 4-axis and 5-axis machining centers.
#69
GROB develops comprehensive e-mobility solutions, including systems for electric motors, battery modules, and fuel cells.
#70
GROB supplies complete assembly lines and assembly stations for the automotive industry.
#71
GROB is an operating company that operates a global network of field service teams that provide repairs, upgrades, and in-house services.
#72
The GROB online store gives customers quick access to spare parts, spindle service, and materials.
#73
The plants in China and the United States are among the most modern machine tool factories in their respective regions.
#74
The Pianezza facility in Italy specializes in automation and assembly systems for electric vehicles.
#75
The G-Series 5-axis machining centers are among the best-selling machines in the premium segment.
#76
GROB machines are characterized by their horizontally mounted spindle design, which improves stability and chip removal.
#77
GROB offers additive manufacturing based on the liquid metal printing process.
#78
GROB's e-mobility solutions include, among other things, the bending, winding, insertion, welding, impregnation, and final assembly of stators.
#79
GROB offers more than 20 apprenticeship programs and dual degree programs.
#80
GROB is an operating company that operates its own training centers at several locations, including Mindelheim, Bluffton, and Dalian.
#81
The GROB Academy offers in-house training programs for employees in areas such as technology, leadership, and digitalization.
#82
Employees benefit from international exchange programs between the plants in Germany, the U.S., China, Brazil, Italy, and India.
#83
GROB has received numerous awards and accolades from partners such as Daimler, Ford, GM, and Volkswagen.
#84
All six production facilities operate according to a uniform global quality standard, which is managed centrally from Mindelheim.
#85
The training centers have their own CNC machines, laboratories, and training rooms, which were set up specifically to support the development of young talent.
#86
GROB offers dual degree programs in partnership with universities, including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and industrial engineering.
#87
GROB places great emphasis on long-term employee retention and offers numerous programs for health promotion and professional development.
#88
The Mindelheim plant has its own on-site medical office.
#89
GROB machines are designed for use in high-volume production.
#90
GROB develops its own tool changers, which enable high change speeds and large tool magazines.
#91
GROB machines have a modular design and can be customized to meet specific customer requirements.
#92
GROB also offers 5-axis mill-turn machining centers that combine milling and turning in a single machine.
#93
GROB also offers solutions for new business areas such as humanoid robots and drone systems.
#94
GROB is the operating company for 15 technology and application centers worldwide, where customers can test new processes and validate machine designs.
#95
The corporate slogan “Excellence in sustainable technologies” guides the company’s actions.
#96
GROB publishes a voluntary sustainability report every year.
#97
The GROB Group participates in approximately 70 trade shows each year.
#98
The Mindelheim plant has two large cafeterias where meals are freshly prepared on site.
#99
The company has been family-owned since its founding in 1926.
#100
Take a journey through time and explore our history
History
New production facilities and branches, as well as significant achievements by the Grob family: Embark on an exciting journey through our history.
Technology
Our goal is continuous improvement: Get an overview of our exciting technologies and innovative new developments.
Technology
