United Grinding Group and GF Machining Solutions have become United Machining Solutions. The strategic acquisition, previously announced, is now complete. With the acquisition of the GF Machining Solutions Division of Georg Fischer AG, the United Grinding Group expands its portfolio to 15 brands. The new group operates under the name United Machining Solutions and, with total sales of over USD 1.5 billion and around 5,000 employees at more than 50 global locations, has become one of the largest machine tool manufacturers in the world. The company retains its headquarters in Bern, Switzerland.
“There has been a long-standing desire to merge the two companies,” said 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, authorizing 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. “The merger of these two companies has created a Swiss powerhouse in machine tool manufacturing,” said Fred Gaegauf, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the United Grinding Group.
“It is the best decision we could make,” said Ivan Filisetti, CEO of GF Machining Solutions and a member of the new group’s Management Board. “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 digitalization. We will also keep after our goal of being the preferred partner for our customers, always ready with customized 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.”
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,” said Nell.
“Being able to speak the language of our customers and offer fast, competent support is an important decision-making criterion for our customers,” said Filisetti. “Our global employees share the same roots and values.”
The group will primarily present itself to the outside world through its individual brands. “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,” said Nell. “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.”
The two divisions United Grinding and United Machining fall under the umbrella name of the group, United Machining Solutions.
The management team at United Machining Solutions consists of four people with a long history in the respective companies: Stephan Nell, Ivan Filisetti, Michael Horn, and Heinz Poklekowski. Stephan Nell, CEO of the United Grinding Group, has spent 22 years within the group. He now takes over as chairman of the Management Board and strategic leadership for sales and customer care. Ivan Filisetti, president of GF Machining Solutions and affiliated with the company for 23 years, is responsible for establishing the long-term vision of the new group’s technology area and remains CEO of United Machining. Michael Horn, who is responsible for operations and IT, brings his many years of experience in machine tool engineering and most recently as a member of the Board of DMG Mori AG to the new group. Heinz Poklekowski, who has been a group member for 35 years, his most recent role being CFO for the United Grinding Group, will assume responsibility for finance and group services.
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