GROB welcomes 37 new apprentices into its workforce on Monday, June 14.

The new class will bring the total number of current apprentices at GROB to 107. The new hires and their families attended an orientation and signing day event on May 22 to help prepare them for their first day of work and to celebrate them choosing an apprenticeship.

GROB received over 165 applications for this year’s class, making it one of the most competitive years yet.

The incoming class is made up of individuals from 20 area high schools (Ada, Archbold, Bath, Bluffton, Carey, Celina, Columbus Grove, Delphos St. John's, Elida, Findlay, Kenton, Liberty-Benton, Pandora-Gilboa, Riverdale, Shawnee, Spencerville, St. Marys Memorial, Toledo Technology Academy, Van Buren, Wapakoneta), 4 career centers (Apollo, Millstream, Vantage, Tri Star), and 1 out- of-state student (MA).

The four-year apprenticeship program includes on-the-job training at GROB and a company-paid associate degree in Engineering Technology through Rhodes State College.

The combination of training and education will prepare apprentices to become highly skilled mechanical and electrical technicians throughout GROB.

GROB has dedicated over 30 years to the continuous development of the apprenticeship program at the company’s North American production plant in Bluffton.

To date, GROB has hired and trained over 400 employees through the apprenticeship. Of the approximately 600 employees at GROB, over 40 percent are either current or past apprentices, including one executive, two managers, 10 supervisors, and 12 foremen who are graduates of the program.

To learn more about GROB’s apprenticeship program, visit www.grobsystems.com/apprentice.