Bluffton's GROB Systems, Inc., today announce that it has been awarded $7.9 million in funding from the State of Ohio for an upcoming expansion.

GROB Systems, a builder of machine tool equipment, is a subsidiary of GROB-WERKE GmbH & Co. KG located in Mindelheim, Germany.

GROB engineers and manufactures custom-made equipment for high volume production for automotive, motorcycle, tractor and truck manufacturers. GROB produces such equipment as machining centers, assembly lines, robots and automation.

This expansion will add approximately 50,000 square feet to their facility. This addition will increase their assembly area, which is housed in the existing 257,000 square foot plant.

The expansion is due to the increase in sales experienced by GROB over the past year and a half. GROB is a very lean organization with a young and talented workforce.

GROB's advantage in today's market is that they are the only company to have a facility located in the United States that is capable of both engineering and manufacturing their complete product.

GROB Systems currently employs approximately 270 people, 50 of whom were hired in 2011 alone. They plan to add approximately 35 employees per year over the next three years.

Much of the workforce will be recruited from the GROB Apprenticeship Program, which trains employees to become mechanical and electrical technicians.

GROB holds open testing for positions in this two year training program. The testing for the next group of apprentices will be held in April 2012.

Other areas in which GROB plans to increase hiring will be in the electrical start-up department, as well as both mechanical and electrical engineering. GROB is looking to hire both experienced employees, as well as recent college graduates looking for growth potential with an established company.

GROB plans to have the expansion completed by the fall of 2012.