Custom Machine Building & Automation by GROB
For decades, our customers in small-, medium-, and large-volume production have relied on GROB’s automation technology. This experience is directly reflected in our products and our custom machine design, making GROB a strong partner—from solutions with pallet or part storage systems to highly flexible, turnkey production lines. GROB enables you to adapt flexibly to capacity requirements and guarantees a concept perfectly tailored to your needs.
- Machining and automation from a single source
- Modular manufacturing concepts for flexible scaling
- Maximum process stability with short cycle times
- Global project management, including turnkey integration
- Solutions for demanding heavy-duty applications
Complete Value Chain from a Single Source
The customer system shown here is a fully automated turnkey solution for performing complex tasks on large components. As part of the turnkey project, GROB supplied both the machining centers and the complete automation system—consisting of a gantry system, robotic automation, and automation system. The linear gantry can be flexibly configured as an I-loader or H-loader and features one or two vertical axes per carriage—ideal for high cycle times and maximum process reliability.
The Ideal Solution for Your Project
Today, production lines must be flexible, highly productive, and economically scalable all at once. Standardized systems quickly reach their limits when dealing with complex component geometries, an increasing variety of variants, and short product life cycles.
Modular special-purpose machines enable:
- Adaptation to different part types
- Scalable production capacities
- Reduction of unplanned idle states
- Faster product changeovers
- Higher degrees of automation
- Integrated quality control within the process
We develop customer- and workpiece-specific solutions—ranging from automation systems and measuring machines to complex special-purpose machines. We offer the right machine for every application and precisely implement your requirements.
Let's work together to optimize your manufacturing processes. Our experts would be happy to advise you!
Overview of Automation Solutions
COARSE SWIVEL CHANGER
- Unique loading system for up to 2 machines per unit
- Up to 8 swivel changer units and up to 16 machines under a single linear gantry
- Decoupling of automation from machine runtime
- Only one set of fixtures required
- Expandable from manual to automatic loading
GROB ROBOT CELL (GRC)
- Automation Tailored to Your Needs
- Loading directly into the work area using a double gripper
- Integration of ancillary processes such as deburring, washing, and marking of parts
- Standardized assemblies enable quick installation and short commissioning time
AUTOMATION SYSTEM
- Compatible with all GROB machines
- Zone and combined drives available
- Customizable roller conveyor height
- Adaptable to third-party equipment
CARTESIAN LINEAR GANTRY
- Fully automatic direct loading from above
- Available in three models
- High efficiency due to simultaneous movement in both the horizontal and vertical planes
- Top loading allows for unobstructed access to the machine from the ground
- Optionally available in a telescopic version for low ceiling heights
Automate Your Manufacturing
The modular design and the combination of standard automation and custom components result in solutions tailored for both individual orders and small- to medium-sized batch sizes. Features such as setup during production, intelligent order planning, and centralized control software ensure that machine uptime is maximized and idle states are minimized.
Special-Purpose Machines at a Glance
GROB BLOW-OFF BOX
- A unique solution on the market
- Cleaning with Compressed Air
- A “one-stop” solution perfectly integrated into our automation solutions
- Prevents coolant carryover and facilitates SPC measurement by ensuring clean parts
SPC (STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL) CHART
- Ergonomic design for comfortable, manual measuring
- Optimized for inspecting critical component features (key features)
- Supports seamless process monitoring and quality documentation
MEASURING MACHINE FOR CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT BORE HOLES
- Precise Measuring of Camshaft Bores
- Automatic diameter compensation
- Ideal for use in the automotive industry
- Fast and reliable test results
SPECIAL-PURPOSE MACHINE FOR THE TASK OF MACHINING CYLINDER BORE & BALCONY DEPTH
- Precise measurement of cylinder bore and balcony depth
- Automatic compensation for diameter variations
- Ideal for quality data save in production
SPECIAL-PURPOSE MACHINE FOR THE TASK OF MACHINING CRANKSHAFTS AND CRANKSHAFT THRUST BEARINGS
- Reliable and reproducible
- Suitable for demanding manufacturing environments
- Integrated automatic diameter compensation possible via a downstream measuring machine
- Simultaneous task of interference bores on both end faces for the shortest machining times
SPECIAL-PURPOSE MACHINE
FOR CYLINDER HEAD FINISHING
- Camshaft finishing at the highest level of precision
- Reaming process for the pilot bore; gear drive for a perfect fit
- Two stations for different cylinder head types
- Efficient throughput for high production output
SPECIAL-PURPOSE MACHINE FOR DEEP-HOLE DRILLING ON CYLINDER HEADS
- Deep-hole drilling of the fuel passage from both end faces
- Two machining units for different types
- Loading and unloading from above via a gantry system
SPECIAL-PURPOSE MACHINE
FOR CYLINDER HEAD FINISHING
- Fully automated loading and unloading by robots
- Indexed machining of the combustion chamber side for maximum precision
- Integrated finishing of the center hole and rocker arm position holes
- Precise finishing of the combustion chamber side, camshaft bore, and crankshaft thrust bearing
SPECIAL-PURPOSE MACHINE FOR CYLINDER BLOCK ROUGHING
- Rough machining of crankshaft half-round bearings with high stability
- Rough machining of the oil pan and bearing cap seat in a single clamping
- The task of machining the left and right bearing web widths in separate units
- Semi-finishing of the oil pan for subsequent fine machining
- Index drilling and reaming of the oil pan for precise fits
- Robot-based loading and unloading for end-to-end automation
SPECIAL-PURPOSE MACHINE FOR CYLINDER BLOCK BORING
- Task: Machining the combustion chamber side under clamping
- Water-jacket roughing with cross-feed—powerful and precise
- 2-spindle unit for highly efficient roughing of the cylinder bore
- Continuous machining from left to right with an automated automation system
- Gantry unloading for rapid further processing
- Loading via linear gantry or from an automation system, optionally with a tool changer and up to 3 spindles
SPECIAL-PURPOSE MACHINE FOR CYLINDER HEAD MACHINING WITH MEASUREMENT
- Precision milling of the combustion chamber side with maximum repeatability
- Taper turning for finishing valve seats and guides
- Integrated measuring station for in-process quality data save
- Robot-based loading and unloading for short cycle times
Would you like to receive more information?
Download the complete brochure now, featuring all technical specifications, options, and configuration possibilities.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions About GROB's Modular Special-Purpose Machines
A modular special-purpose machine is a custom-configured manufacturing solution consisting of standardized and customizable modules. This allows production lines to be flexibly expanded, adapted to new parts, or scaled up as capacity increases—without having to redesign the entire system.
Modular special-purpose machines are particularly well-suited for complex manufacturing processes in small-, medium-, and large-volume production. Typical applications include the machining of cylinder heads, crankshafts, and cylinder blocks, as well as automated assembly, measuring, and testing processes in the automotive and supplier industries.
Automated production lines reduce the need for manual intervention, increase process stability, and enable short cycle times. At the same time, they improve product quality through integrated measuring and inspection systems and minimize unplanned idle states through intelligent control and automation concepts.
Yes. Thanks to their modular design, special-purpose machines can be flexibly expanded—for example, with additional machining stations, robots, part storage systems, or new automation modules. This ensures that the production line remains economically viable even when new workpiece variants are introduced or production volumes increase.
Turnkey integration means that all components of a manufacturing solution are supplied by a single source and delivered fully operational. This includes machining centers, automation systems, automation systems, software, and measurement systems, as well as complete project management, including commissioning and production startup.
