Hendrick Motorsports and GROB Systems Inc. have teamed up for a synergistic partnership to bring precision 5-Axis GROB machines to the Concord, NC campus of the 14-time NASCAR Cup Series champions.
GROB has been a developer and manufacturer of machines and production lines for over 90 years. GROB 350a and 550a machining centers will make a significant impact on the performance of Hendrick Motorsports’ four-car Cup Series organization.
“GROB is very well suited for components that we want to make,” said Michael Tummond, Hendrick Motorsports’ engine engineering manager. “They have a strong relationship with General Motors and a long history of manufacturing engine parts, namely cylinder heads and engine blocks. A lot of the standard features with these machines will allow us to make extremely accurate parts down to the micron level. There is a direct correlation between accuracy and power. Ultimately, it is going to result in faster race cars. That is the whole goal here.”
Engineering has been a key to Hendrick Motorsports’ on-track success in NASCAR’s top series. The 2024 season sees the organization celebrating its 40th anniversary. After its win in the 2024 Daytona 500, the Rick Hendrick-owned team has won a race in 39 straight seasons and holds the all-time series marks in several statistical categories, including wins (302), pole positions (246) and laps led (79,798).
GROB Systems has a 400,000-square-foot facility in Bluffton, OH, which is home to approximately 900 employees and supports its customers across North America.
GROB also recently announced that it broke ground on a 135,000-square-foot expansion project, which it anticipates will add 200 more jobs in Ohio. The family-owned company has its global headquarters in Mindelheim, which is located near Munich, Germany. GROB has full manufacturing capabilities in the United States, Brazil, China, Germany, India and Italy.
“We did a factory visit at GROB in Ohio. One of the things that jumped out to all of us is their apprenticeship program,” Tummond said. “They bring a lot of people in from the ground floor and teach them how to make their products the way they want to make them. No matter who you ask in the factory, they all know their product inside and out.”
GROB’s portfolio of equipment includes several universal 5-axis machining centers and a variety of automation solutions. A unique retractable spindle gives unmatched accessibility to the workpiece and even allows for upside-down machining, providing superior chip control. Their Z-axis design allows tool changes to occur outside the work area so that users can machine the largest part that fits in the machine regardless of requirements related to tool length.
“GROB Systems Inc. proudly announces our partnership with Hendrick Motorsports, bringing together two companies of precision engineering with a shared legacy of excellence,” said Michael Hutecker, CEO of GROB Systems. “With GROB’s trusted machinery bolstering the team’s renowned capabilities, we hope to pave the path for future triumphs on the track. As longtime partners of General Motors, we’re excited to fuel Hendrick Motorsports’ success with our cutting-edge equipment, driving innovation, and performance to new heights.”
For more information on GROB, click here.
