By Paula Scott

On Saturday, May 13, GROB Systems at 1070 Navajo Dr. in Bluffton, opened its gates and doors for a festive community open house. Comments including “I had no idea!” were heard while the Icon toured the facility, which is the North American headquarters for the German company. 

GROB designs and produces automated production systems and universal machining centers–equipment that is used in electromobility, automotive, aerospace, medical and die/mold industries.

Guests were greeted at the front door with an opportunity to enter raffles for a variety of prizes including Ohio State-themed metal benches made at GROB. Flowers decorated the area and balloons could be seen throughout the plant as visitors took a self-guided tour through areas including apprenticeship, machine shop, fabrication, panel and wire prep, fluids, staging, sub-assembly and final assembly.

There were also several entertaining stations set up where children could send a ball bearing through a labyrinthine machine or catapult a velcro ball across a table. GROB apprentices used CNC machines to etch the names of guests on decorative magnets. There was also a chance to putt with a GROB designed and made putter, which was also a raffle prize.

All along the way, GROB employees talked with guests of all ages, answering questions and explaining what they were seeing in the facility. One employee estimated that roughly half of those touring the facility were totally new to the production facility, while the others were coming to see where family and friends worked. “It’s always fun to know where mom and dad work,” he noted. Another employee noted that it was an opportunity to teach guests that GROB doesn’t make “parts.”

Following the tour, guests entered a large grassy area where lunch catered by Harlan’s Barbecue was served in a vast tent and children played on inflatable games. Facepainting and Kona Ice were also provided.

This was the first open house at GROB since 2014. In the interim, the facility and number of employees has grown dramatically. Several GROB representatives emphasized that the production floor is always changing, always evolving: “This whole floor you see out here will change 100%, something different is being built all the time.”

Other ways to learn more about GROB Systems in Bluffton include Facebook, LinkedIn and Youtube, as well as www.grobgroup.com/