GROB opens its sixth production plant in India to strengthen its presence on the subcontinent

On May 4, 2022 the machine manufacturer laid the foundation stone for the multi-million-euro project and is now celebrating the official opening of the new plant in Bengaluru, India, around two years later. "We are proud to have officially opened the sixth production plant in India to continue the expansion of the family-owned company. This marks the start of the Group’s development and expansion in the promising Indian market." says Florian Grob. The opening of the sixth production facility reinforces GROB’s long-term commitment to India and the goal of making the most of the region’s dynamic growth potential as well as advancing its technological progress. The company opened its first branch on the subcontinent back in 2007. As the potential in India continued to grow over the years, the machine manufacturer ultimately decided to replace the branch with a production plant.

Opening a new plant is a huge challenge for any company, and this also proved to be the case for the Bavarian machine manufacturer. The construction of the plant in India is based on a long strategic process that developed over many years. "Constructing a plant is completely different to establishing a sales and service branch. Not just due to the enormous investment, but particularly due to the need to bring the necessary expertise in matters of technology, quality, and reliability into the country," reports German Wankmiller, CEO of the GROB Group. In total, around eight million euros were invested in the Indian plant, which is situated on an 860,000 square-foot property with hall space covering around 53,000 square feet. The company already employs 130 staff at the new site.

GROB India – a win for the whole GROB Group

The skills shortage extends well beyond the German market and has also become an issue for companies in the USA, GROB included. But, for a number of years, the GROB Group has been managing this challenge with qualified Indian specialists and engineers, who are employed in specific areas in Mindelheim and Bluffton. A total of 40 to 50 Indian specialists are now employed at the headquarters in Mindelheim, with around 30 expected to be employed in Bluffton in the future. "Indian specialists are highly qualified and have a fantastic command of English," Wankmiller explains the win-win situation for the huge demand for specialists in the GROB Group. Specialists that will not just be supporting the global plants but who will also be deployed back in India following intensive induction and training. The company already has plans to lease an office complex in Bengaluru in the fall of 2024 to employ engineers and software specialists. This workforce will not just be working for GROB India, they will also provide engineering and software services for other sites worldwide. 

India – a market with enormous potential

GROB has already been present in the Indian market for many years and has become an established partner for OEMs and tier 1 suppliers. The potential for GROB is huge, particularly in the universal machining center business and specifically in the aerospace segment. The region around Bengaluru plays an important role in this respect as it is home to many customers and suppliers. And the prospects are good: "We expect strong growth in the coming years", says Christian Müller, CSO, with conviction. "The automotive industry in India is currently still focused on conventional drives. But we already offer various e-projects in India. Particularly as we are in direct contact with India’s largest automotive manufacturers in TATA and Mahindra."