United Grinding acquires GF Machining Solutions
November 13, 2024
United Grinding Group, based in Miamisburg, Ohio, USA, has signed an agreement with Georg Fischer AG, Schaffhausen, Switzerland, to acquire its division GF Machining Solutions (GFMS), based in Biel, Switzerland. The move is expected to strengthen United Grinding’s market position and serve its global customers with more comprehensive solutions.
The transaction is valued between US$714 – 737 million (CHF 630-650 million) and is expected to close in Q1/Q2 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.
GF Machining Solutions provides solutions for manufacturers of precision parts and tools and mould and die makers. Its portfolio includes machines for milling, eroding, laser texturing, laser micromachining and Additive Manufacturing. The group currently employs around 3,500 people at over forty global locations.
Through its System 3R brand, GFMS 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, GFMS partners with 3D Systems to offer a range of machines. These include the DMP Flex/Factory 350 and DMP Factory 500.
The DMP Flex 350 enables the efficient production of very dense, pure metal parts and includes improved gas flow technology for improved uniform part quality across the entire build area. The DMP Factory 500 is a workflow-optimised metal Additive Manufacturing machine that produces parts of up to 500 x 500 x 500 mm in size. Engineered using 3D Systems’ metal additive technology along with GF Machining Solutions’ technical and industrial knowledge, the DMP 500 incorporates precision System 3R clamping systems.
United Grinding is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of grinding, eroding, laser, and measuring machines, as well as machine tools for Additive Manufacturing. The company employs around 2,000 people at over twenty locations.
United Grinding’s majority shareholder is Patinex AG, a Swiss holding company. Through its Mägerle, Blohm, Jung, Studer, Schaudt, Mikrosa, Walter, EWAG, and IRPD brands and competence centres in America and Asia, the company offers a large product portfolio and a full range of services for the production of high-precision components.
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