20 Years of GROB In-House Exhibitions

Strictly speaking, GROB’s first in-house exhibition from October 13 to 16, 2003, was designed under the motto "More flexibility – GROB’s new machine concept" as "The first GROB innovation days". In fact, it was the first time that GROB had invited specialists to the Mindelheim site to present a new machine concept, the “modular production concept 300”, and to take part in factory tours. More than 200 guests accepted that invitation. The task of today‘s key account managers was performed by so-called sales engineers at that time: presenting the advantages of the new modular production system 300.

A New Trade Fair Concept for a New Series

After the universal machining center G350 had celebrated its premiere at the EMO in Hanover, Germany in 2007, GROB decided to organize a biennial in-house exhibition for universal machining centers at its headquarters in Mindelheim following the EMO in Hanover. After the EMO 2011 (in 2009, the EMO was in Milan), the first in-house exhibition was held under the motto “GROB Genius”. Nearly 600 visitors took advantage of the opportunity to learn about the latest technologies at GROB (e.g. the G550 or the mill-turn machining center) and visited the booths of the 18 co-exhibitors who presented for the first time at a GROB in-house exhibition.

Two years later, in 2013, more than 1,000 visitors attended the tenth anniversary of the in-house exhibition. The product range of GROB universal machining centers had already doubled with the G550T and the G750, and the number of partner booths also increased to 25. They all emphasized the special dynamics of GROB’s universal machining center business. What is more, we also welcomed overseas visitors for the first time.

The Tradition Continues

At the in-house exhibition in 2015, the Generation 2 G350 was presented as well as the further developed software GROB-NET4Industry and other innovations such as GROB’s rotary pallet storage system and the G800 machining center. The focus was on the presentation of modern production processes and convincing production depths, which illustrated the company’s enormous growth.

In 2017, the ten-year anniversary of GROB universal machining centers was celebrated at the in-house exhibition. These included the 5-axis universal machining center with robot a cell, the G1050 large-scale machining center, and the GROB pallet storage system, which was also available for small universal machining centers from then on. In addition, more and more GROB services became the focus of attention, such as GROB SMART FINANCE, expanded GROB training offers, GROB Service with its new GROB4Care web store, and the GROB-NET4Industry software. Furthermore, about 40 co-exhibitors informed visitors about control technologies, measuring systems, tools, programming and automation as well as peripheral topics in machine tool construction.

The In-House Exhibition Is Becoming a Themed Exhibition

On the occasion of the sixth in-house exhibition in 2019, industry conferences were introduced. Keynote speakers were followed by technical presentations covering the die & mold, aerospace, automotive, and mechanical engineering industries. A special highlight was the world premiere of GROB’s new access series. GROB presented its G350a and G550a 5-axis machining centers, two flexible all-rounders from the universal machining sector that enabled a cost-conscious entry into GROB’s innovative technology.

In March 2020, the in-house exhibition had to be cancelled due to Covid. It was made up in October 2020 as the first GROB Virtual Open House. Customers were offered the opportunity to learn digitally about GROB’s machines and system solutions. For GROB, it was its first own digital trade fair, whose highlight was undoubtedly the new G150 5-axis universal machining center. Visitors could also take a peek behind the curtains in a virtual tour, or exchange information directly with GROB experts via live chat. The Virtual Open House was rounded off with specialized presentations on service, GROB-NET4Industry, automation, universal machining centers and electromobility.

Just half a year later, GROB held its second Virtual Open House in March 2021 under the motto “GROB – Keeping Up with the Times”. The five-day digital event again showcased solutions and products from the fields of machining and electromobility, but also addressed topics from Industry 4.0 as well as the Service and Human Resources Management divisions. The second Virtual Open House featured improved digital communication. GROB presented showrooms for machining and electromobility in a trade fair look. In addition, web seminars were held daily to present the new 4-axis machine series, automation solutions, electromobility, GROB-NET4Industry, and GROB Service.

Back to the Traditional Visitors‘ Exhibition

Relief in the spring of 2022: After two successful virtual in-house exhibitions, GROB-WERKE could again extend invitations to our traditional in-house exhibition in Mindelheim. This exhibition impressed not only with its fifty percent increase in the exhibition area and an even bigger variety of technologies and machines, but also with a real highlight, GROB’s entry into the Additive Manufacturing sector. In 20 years, GROB’s in-house exhibition has not only evolved from “Innovation Days” to an “in-house exhibition for standard machines” and a “Virtual Open House”, but has now become a genuine GROB tradition.