L J Naidu, Managing Director, Grob Machine Tools India

Limitless options for milling and turning – You must always be able to predict what’s next and then have the flexibility to evolve.

GROB – An Overview

For more than 95 years, GROB has been one of the global players in the development and manufacturing of machines and production lines. GROB´s customers include the world`s most prestigious car manufacturers, their suppliers and many other renowned companies from various industries. With our production plants in Mindelheim (Germany), Bluffton, Ohio (USA), São Paulo (Brazil), Dalian (China) and Pianezza (Italy), and worldwide service and sales subsidiaries, we are represented around the globe. The GROB Group generates worldwide ouput of over 1.2 billion euros with a workforce of about 8,000 employees.

The portfolio ranges from universal machining centers to highly-complex manufacturing systems with own automation function through to manual assembly stations and to fully-automated assembly lines. Furthermore, production plants for electric motors and assembly lines for battery and fuel cell technology are part of GROB´s product range. GROB engineers are delivering solutions for cutting high-strength turbine housings and machining structural and chassis components. With the GROB-NET4Industry software developed in-house for the digitalization and networking of production processes, production processes can be displayed digitally and transparently.

GROB Universal Machines

About fifteen years after the first G350, with its horizontal spindle arrangement, was unveiled at the EMO 2007, the 5-axis technology of universal machining centers has established itself in the mechanical engineering sector and gained a firm foothold in the market. A successful development which is ultimately attributable to the high dynamic performance and great innovation of the G-module concept and which has made the GROB universal machining centers, which are now in their second generation, such a great success. Equipped with the latest developments, the second generation of this tried and tested machine concept will be run through its paces. The 5-axis universal machining centers are flexibly adaptable and extendable for every application, whether it is as a milling and turning option, as a rotary pallet storage system, or with or without a pallet changer, automation or trend-setting GROB4Pilot operator panel.

The possible uses of the machine concept are extended yet further with the G550 – Generation 2. Its hallmarks are the high dynamic performance and stability of the machining centers, as well as the much narrower design and the marked reduction in chip-to-chip time. The maximum tool length has been increased as well as number of HSK-A63 tools within the machine. Like its little sister, one of the impressive features of the G550 – Generation 2 is its ergonomically favorable tool-loading point at the operator’s end. The second generation of the G550 is also characterized by its optimum chip fall behavior. It prevents the build-up of heat in the machine as a result of chips being left on the workpiece or on the clamping mechanism. Cleaning components before changing the workpiece is also easy and the ‘emptying’ option ensures that almost no cooling lubricant residue is left on the workpiece.

The G350T, G550T and G750T 5-axis universal machining centers provide customers in the machining industry almost limitless options for milling and turning workpieces from various materials. Three linear and two rotary axes enable five-sided machining with 5-axis simultaneous interpolation.

The New G150 Dominant in the Automotive Industry

With the newly developed G150, GROB rounds off the bottom end of its universal machining center range. The G150 profits from market dominance in the automotive industry due to the modular G-series system, which has continuously defined the bar for productivity and process safety.

For complex components with highest standards, development of the G150 placed particular emphasis on spatial accuracy to achieve excellent surfaces and the highest form and position tolerances. This improvement is achieved via a groundbreaking calibration concept, an innovative cooling concept for all relevant components and high dynamic axis configuration stability. No compromises were made to the combination of outstanding ergonomics and perfect automation capacity for this. The G150 is optimally positioned for the precision engineering, medical technology, tool and mould manufacture, mechanical engineering and aerospace industries. The machine’s warm-up cycle is now individually adapted to the actual situation. The machine detects when production can be started and when to end the warm-up cycle autonomously based on the geometry parameters.

If recalibration is required, the calibration software detects this and notifies the operator accordingly. In combination with a pallet storage system, calibration can even be initiated completely automatically. Process reliability is integral at GROB, and not left to chance. An important foundation for the success of the G-series is the unique combination of ergonomics suited to a workshop and perfect automation capabilities.

The machine is suitable for both a job shop environment as well as for series production. In combination with a pallet storage system, the machine can be used for prototypes in the early shift and then for series production at night, for example.

GROB Automation solutions

Thanks to intensive development work, GROB is now able to offer all its automation solutions such as the pallet changing system, the pallet storage system (PSS-R) and, since this year, the linear pallet storage system (PSS-L) from its own production.
GROB’s automation technology enables flexible adaptation to capacities and guarantees perfectly coordinated pallet handling. In the process, GROB offers self-made components for its entire product range, from semi-automatic to fully automatic production with the highest quality standards. The automation solutions ensure an efficient production process and guarantee optimal work piece handling. All fully automatic technologies come from our own production and can be optimally adapted to the specific needs of the customers.