United Grinding Group and GF Machining Solutions merge to form United Machining Solutions
The previously announced acquisition of GF Machining Solutions Division of George Fischer AG, Schaffhausen, Switzerland, by United Grinding Group, based in Miamisburg, Ohio, USA, has now been completed. The company has been renamed United Machining Solutions and joins United Grinding Group’s portfolio of fifteen brands, with sales totalling over $1.5 billion. The newly formed United Machining Solutions will retain its headquarters in Bern, Switzerland.
“There has been a long-standing desire to merge the two companies,” stated Stephan Nell, CEO of the new group and the United Grinding Group. “Lead shareholders Rosmarie and Martin Ebner expressed their full confidence in this strategically important step within the world of global machine tool manufacturing, authorising the necessary capital increase to make this vision into reality. It is rare for two companies to complement each other as well as United Grinding and GF Machining Solutions. This applies not only to our product portfolios, our international alignment, and our understanding of quality, but also to the culture and mindset of our employees. I am convinced that we can make a big difference together, for the benefit of our customers.”
The group’s board of directors closely monitored and supported the process. Fred Gaegauf, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the United Grinding Group, stated, “The merger of these two companies has created a Swiss powerhouse in machine tool manufacturing.”
Ivan Filisetti, CEO of GF Machining Solutions and a member of the new group’s Management Board, added, “It is the best decision we could make. Our products do not overlap; they complement each other. This makes integration much easier. And as a Swiss company, we share the same culture with a strong commitment to innovation and digitalisation. We will also keep after our goal of being the preferred partner for our customers, always ready with customised solutions and comprehensive expertise – in other words, able to offer much more than just high-end machines. The group helps us with its strong international alignment, employees on site at our customers’ premises, and our breadth of technological expertise.”
In R&D, collaboration benefits both the company and its customers by developing innovative solutions. Synergies can also be leveraged regarding new standards and regulations, which are becoming increasingly important and require machine manufacturers to respond to keep their machines fit for the future.
The two companies are particularly connected by their shared Swiss roots and strong international alignment. “With more than 50 locations worldwide, there are few machine tool manufacturers that are as international as we are and as close to their customers,” Nell commented.
The group will primarily present itself to the outside world through its individual brands. Nell explained, “In the future, we want to further strengthen the identities of our brands, which have been known and anchored in the market for many years. The brands have a long tradition, stand for the highest quality and are often pioneers in their field. Our customers trust the brands they have learned to know and appreciate.”
Through its System 3R brand, GF Machining Solutions provides a range of tooling for the Powder Metallurgy industry. When producing punches and dies, the tooling reduces setup times and is said to improve accuracy and quality with fewer rejections. When used in the powder compaction press, setup times are also drastically reduced, with improved accuracy and quality of parts.
For metal Additive Manufacturing, the company partners with 3D Systems to offer a range of machines, including the DMP Flex/Factory 350 and DMP Factory 500.
