Grob-Werke
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGrob-Werke is a German family-owned industrial group that develops machine tools, automated production systems, battery and electric-drive manufacturing equipment, and related digital and additive-manufacturing technologies.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Grob-Werke GmbH & Co. KG is the parent company of the Grob Group, a privately owned German industrial manufacturer headquartered in Mindelheim, Bavaria. Founded in Munich in 1926 by Ernst Grob as a machine-tool producer, the company developed from a traditional engineering business into an international supplier of complete manufacturing systems. Its activities span universal machining centers, transfer lines, assembly equipment, automation, production software, additive manufacturing, electric-motor production, and lithium-ion battery manufacturing technology. The company initially concentrated on machine tools, but from 1935 it shifted significant attention toward internal-combustion engines. Its wartime history includes the use of forced labor: between 50 and 100 prisoners of war were employed at the Munich site and housed in a camp on company premises. The factory was heavily damaged by Allied bombing in 1944 and rebuilt in 1945. Grob is identified as a contributor to the Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future, which was established to compensate former forced laborers. Under Burkhart Grob, who took leadership in 1952, the company began a sustained international expansion. It established its first overseas plant in São Paulo in 1956, opened the Mindelheim production site in 1968, and moved its headquarters from Munich to Mindelheim after the Munich facility was closed in 1976. The group also entered aerospace through Burkhart Grob Luft- und Raumfahrt in 1971, although the aerospace division was sold in 2006 and subsequently operated as Grob Aerospace and later Grob Aircraft. Grob's core industrial business supplies machining and assembly solutions to automotive manufacturers and other sectors that require complex, automated production. Its systems can be configured for engine blocks, cylinder heads, transmissions, injection systems, vehicle structures, and other precision components. The company also serves energy, medical technology, aerospace, machinery, tooling, and mold-making customers. Its offering combines individual machining centers with complete lines, material handling, assembly, process integration, and software-based production management. The strategic importance of electromobility increased substantially during the 2010s and 2020s. In 2017, Grob acquired Italian electric-motor machinery specialist DMG meccanica, giving it a stronger position in electric-drive production. It later expanded into battery-module and battery-cell manufacturing systems, stator and rotor production, electric-motor assembly, and related process equipment. In 2021 it formed a strategic lithium-ion battery partnership with Manz AG, joined by Dürr AG in 2022. The company has described electric mobility and battery technology as a major share of its business, reflecting the transition of its automotive customer base. Grob also develops liquid metal printing, an additive-manufacturing process intended to produce near-net-shape aluminum components without relying on conventional powder-based methods. Its digitalization activities connect machine tools, automation, production planning, and manufacturing data. By the 2020s, the group operated production facilities in Germany, Brazil, the United States, China, Italy, and India, supported by a broad network of sales and service subsidiaries. The Mindelheim headquarters remains the principal manufacturing and engineering center, with ongoing investment in production halls, photovoltaic installations, and energy infrastructure.
History
Grob-Werke was established in Munich in 1926 by Ernst Grob as a manufacturer of machine tools. During its first decade, the business focused on conventional industrial equipment. From 1935 onward, it increasingly worked on internal-combustion engines, a shift that made its production strategically important during the Second World War. The Munich works used forced labor during the war, including between 50 and 100 prisoners of war who were accommodated in a separate camp on the factory premises. Allied air raids extensively destroyed the factory in 1944, but reconstruction began and production resumed after the war in 1945. In the postwar period, Grob became a contributor to the Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future, which supports compensation for former forced laborers. Burkhart Grob assumed leadership in 1952 and guided the company through its transition from a Munich-based machine-tool maker to an international industrial group. The first foreign production facility opened in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1956. Grob established its major Mindelheim plant in 1968, where it began producing transfer lines. Aerospace activities were added in 1971 through Burkhart Grob Luft- und Raumfahrt GmbH & Co. KG, which manufactured gliders and later powered aircraft. In 1976, the Munich site was closed and the headquarters moved to Mindelheim, which remains the group's principal location. During the 1990s, Grob won substantial industrial and aerospace contracts. In 1998, the Royal Air Force ordered 85 G-115 training aircraft for delivery over two years. In the same year, Grob received a large contract connected with General Motors and BMW Rover for machining and assembling cylinder heads and engine blocks. The group subsequently invested in additional factories and service organizations in Brazil, the United States, Europe, and Asia. Sales and service operations were established in Beijing and Shanghai from 2003 onward. Until 2006, the machine-tool and aerospace operations formed separate business units. The aerospace division was sold in 2006, later operated as Grob Aerospace AG, and was renamed Grob Aircraft in 2009. Following Burkhart Grob's death in 2016, Christian Grob assumed the chairmanship of the supervisory board and represented the third generation of family leadership. In 2017, Grob acquired DMG meccanica in Turin, an Italian producer of machinery for electric motors. This transaction marked a clear strategic move into electromobility, including electric-drive and battery manufacturing. The company deepened its battery activities through a 2021 strategic partnership with Manz AG. The cooperation was intended to cover a broad portion of lithium-ion battery-cell and module production. Dürr AG joined the partnership in 2022. Grob's modern portfolio consequently combines machining, assembly, automation, electric-motor production, battery systems, process engineering, digital manufacturing, and additive manufacturing. Its liquid metal printing process is intended to make near-net-shape aluminum components while addressing limitations associated with powder-based additive methods. By the 2020s, Grob operated manufacturing sites in Mindelheim, São Paulo, Bluffton, Dalian, Pianezza, and Bangalore, together with numerous sales and service subsidiaries. The company continued expanding its Mindelheim infrastructure, including a new hall, photovoltaic roof installations, and planned renewable-energy systems using heat pumps and biomass. Grob's business remains strongly linked to automotive production, but its customer base and technology portfolio also serve energy, medical, aerospace, general machinery, tooling, and mold-making applications.
- 2023
Mindelheim expansion and sustainability investment
[1]Grob began construction of a new hall and expanded photovoltaic and renewable-energy infrastructure at its headquarters.
- 2022
Dürr joins battery partnership
[1]Dürr AG joined the Grob-Manz cooperation.
- 2021
Battery partnership with Manz
[1]Grob and Manz began a strategic cooperation covering lithium-ion battery systems and production technology.
- 2017
Entry into electromobility
[1]Grob acquired DMG meccanica in Italy, strengthening its electric-motor machinery capabilities.
- 2006
Aerospace division sold
[1]The aerospace division was separated from the machine-tool business and subsequently operated under a different corporate identity.
- 1998
Major aerospace and automotive contracts
[1]Grob received an order for 85 G-115 training aircraft from the Royal Air Force and major machining and assembly contracts linked to General Motors and BMW Rover.
- 1976
Headquarters move to Mindelheim
[1]The Munich facility was closed and corporate headquarters were relocated to Mindelheim.
- 1971
Aerospace subsidiary founded
[1]Burkhart Grob Luft- und Raumfahrt was established, beginning the group's aerospace manufacturing activities.
- 1968
Mindelheim plant established
[1]The company opened its major Mindelheim factory and began producing transfer lines there.
- 1956
First overseas plant opens in Brazil
[1]Grob established its first foreign production operation in São Paulo.
Products and positioning
A vertically integrated, engineering-led supplier of precision machine tools and automated production systems, with particular strength in automotive manufacturing and an expanding specialization in electric-drive and battery-production technology.
Machine tools
Universal machining centers
Grob produces modular 4-axis and 5-axis machining centers for precision work on complex components. These machines are used in automotive manufacturing as well as energy, medical technology, aerospace, general machinery, tooling, and mold making. Configurations can be adapted to component geometry, material, throughput, and automation requirements.
Industrial production systems · 1968
Transfer lines and complete manufacturing systems
The company designs integrated production lines for engine blocks, cylinder heads, transmissions, injection components, and other vehicle parts. These systems combine machining centers, special-purpose equipment, material handling, linking technology, process control, and assembly operations in a coordinated manufacturing solution.
Automation
Automated assembly systems
Grob supplies automated assembly equipment for electric-drive and conventional vehicle components. Applications include stator production using hairpin technology, rotor production, electric-motor assembly, and battery-module assembly. The systems are designed for scalable and highly automated automotive production.
Machining technology · 2023
F-Series G520F
Introduced in 2023, the G520F is an F-Series machining system designed for large lightweight components, including battery housings, frame structures, and chassis parts. It reflects Grob's response to the changing component geometries and material requirements associated with electric vehicles.
Electromobility · 2021
Battery production systems
Grob develops equipment for battery modules, battery packs, and large-scale lithium-ion cell-production processes. These systems are intended to cover multiple stages of battery manufacturing and are offered in cooperation with industrial partners including Manz and Dürr.
Additive manufacturing
Liquid Metal Printing
Grob's liquid metal printing process is designed to produce customized near-net-shape aluminum components. The method is positioned as an alternative or complement to powder-based additive manufacturing, with the goal of reducing some limitations associated with powder handling and enabling efficient production of complex metal parts.
Industrial software
Grob digitalization solutions
The group's software and digital tools connect production equipment, automation, planning, and operational data. These solutions are intended to coordinate machine-tool production and help customers organize and monitor manufacturing modules and complete production systems.
Controversies
1940
Use of forced labor during the Second World War
During the wartime period, Grob employed between 50 and 100 prisoners of war as forced laborers at its Munich operation. The workers were housed in a separate camp on company premises. Grob is listed as a contributor to the Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future, which provided compensation to former forced laborers.
Brand decisions
2023
Invest in Mindelheim capacity and renewable energyStrategyBackground
Grob sought additional production capacity while reducing the energy impact of its headquarters and manufacturing operations.
Action taken
The company began construction of a new hall and expanded photovoltaic installations, while planning additional heat-pump and biomass-based energy infrastructure.
Aftermath
The investment reinforced Mindelheim's role as the group's central production and engineering site.
Investment in a new hall. €19 million planned investment (2023)
2022
Expand the battery technology partnershipStrategyBackground
Battery manufacturing projects required broader process integration and industrial engineering capabilities.
Action taken
Dürr AG joined the existing Grob-Manz strategic partnership.
Aftermath
The three-company cooperation was positioned to provide more comprehensive lithium-ion battery production solutions.
2021
Partner with Manz on lithium-ion battery systemsStrategyBackground
The transition to electric vehicles increased demand for integrated battery-cell and battery-module production technology.
Action taken
Grob and Manz formed a strategic partnership covering lithium-ion battery production processes.
Aftermath
The cooperation expanded Grob's ability to supply battery manufacturing technology across multiple process stages.
2017
Acquire DMG meccanicaM&ABackground
Automotive electrification was creating demand for machinery used in electric-motor production.
Action taken
Grob acquired the Italian electric-motor machinery manufacturer DMG meccanica.
Aftermath
The acquisition supported Grob's expansion into electromobility and electric-drive manufacturing.
2006
Separate the aerospace businessStrategyBackground
Grob's aerospace and machine-tool activities had developed into distinct business areas.
Action taken
The aerospace division was sold and continued under a separate corporate identity.
Aftermath
Grob concentrated on industrial machinery and production systems, while the aerospace operation later became Grob Aircraft.
1968
Establish the Mindelheim production centerStrategyBackground
Grob needed additional capacity for large industrial production systems and transfer-line manufacturing.
Action taken
The company established its main factory in Mindelheim and began production of transfer lines there.
Aftermath
Mindelheim became the group's principal manufacturing site and later its headquarters.
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