United Grinding Group AG
United Grinding Group was a Swiss machine-tool group known for grinding, eroding, laser-processing and measuring machines; after its 2025 acquisition of Georg Fischer's Machining Solutions division, the group was renamed United Machining Solutions.
Last updated September 25, 2026
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Overview
United Grinding Group was the name used by an internationally active Swiss machine-tool group whose roots lay in the Körber group's assembly of grinding-machine businesses. The group traces a major organizational milestone to 1993, when the SCHLEIFRING group was formed. It adopted the UNITED GRINDING Group name in 2013, following the move of the group's holding company to Bern in 2012 and a period of increasing internationalization. Its history reflects successive integrations of established machine-tool businesses and the development of international sales, service and production operations. The group made and supplied grinding machines, eroding machines, laser-processing machines, measuring machines and machine tools for additive manufacturing, along with associated services. Its portfolio served customers ranging from small businesses to large industrial companies. Applications cited for its machinery include automotive, aerospace, tool and mould making, and precision engineering. The group’s brand portfolio included Mägerle, Blohm, Jung, Studer, Schaudt, Mikrosa, Walter, Ewag and Irpd. The official website presents machine families and product lines under these brands, including grinding, tool-machining, measuring and additive-manufacturing equipment. The business operated internationally, with sales and service or operating organizations described in the United States, China and India, in addition to its Swiss and German businesses. The German-language company history records early expansion into China and the United States, followed by additional Asian offices and Chinese production. A 2022 partnership with Swiss manufacturer Tschudin and the Grinding Academy initiative with Titans of CNC were later developments in the group's activities. In 2018, Körber AG sold the United Grinding Group to an investor pool organized by BZ Bank. The German Wikipedia account identifies Swiss Patinex AG, associated with Martin and Rosmarie Ebner, as the group's majority shareholder. In October 2024 the group announced plans to acquire Georg Fischer's Machining Solutions division; the acquisition was completed in 2025. The group then adopted the United Machining Solutions name. The United Grinding name continues to identify the business area encompassing grinding-machine manufacturing and 3D metal-printing machines, while other machine-tool brands and subsidiaries are assigned to the United Machining division. This dossier therefore describes the United Grinding Group corporate identity and its history, rather than treating the post-2025 group name as a separate namesake.
History
The history of United Grinding Group is rooted in the consolidation of machine-tool manufacturers within the Körber corporate environment. The official company history dates the beginning of Körber's machine-tool division to 1978, when Blohm was integrated into Körber AG. Schaudt followed in 1983. These integrations provided part of the foundation for the later international grinding-machine group. In 1993, the SCHLEIFRING group was formed. Its initial combination included BWF, Mikrosa and Schleifmaschinenwerk Chemnitz; Mägerle and Studer joined in 1994. That year also brought the opening of a Chinese sales and service office in Beijing and the creation of the US sales and service company United Grinding Technologies. The group made its first joint trade-fair appearance at METAV in 1994. Offices in Shanghai and Chongqing followed in 1995 and 1997. Jung joined in 1998, and Ewag in 2000. In 2004 the group's activities expanded further through the integration of Walter AG's machine-tool business and the establishment of Walter Maschinenbau GmbH. The group also established Körber Schleifring Machinery Co. Ltd. in Taicang, China, in 2004. The official history records the relocation of this Chinese operation to Shanghai and its renaming in 2008. A 2009 combination of the Schaudt and Mikrosa brands is noted in the German Wikipedia account. In 2012, the holding company moved to Bern, Switzerland. The group changed its name from Schleifring to UNITED GRINDING Group in 2013, a change that the company history associates with its international development. The group presented a new shared machine design at the EMO trade fair in Hanover in 2013. The group broadened its activities in additive manufacturing in 2015 by acquiring the service business of Irpd, the Institute for Rapid Product Development, from Inspire AG; Irpd AG was established in connection with that transaction. In 2018, Körber AG sold United Grinding Group to an investor pool organized by BZ Bank. The German Wikipedia account reports that Patinex AG, associated with Martin and Rosmarie Ebner, became the group's majority shareholder. In 2020, Schaudt Mikrosa was closed; the same account says Blohm Jung GmbH continued services for machines of the Schaudt Mikrosa brand. In 2022, the group entered a strategic partnership with Swiss company Tschudin. It also established the Grinding Academy with Titans of CNC, offering free online courses in machining technology. In October 2024, United Grinding Group announced the acquisition of Georg Fischer's Machining Solutions division. The transaction was completed in 2025, and the group changed its name to United Machining Solutions. After the reorganization, United Grinding remained the name for the business area covering grinding machines and 3D metal-printing machines, while other machine-tool brands and subsidiaries became part of the United Machining division. The group's chronology thus extends beyond the United Grinding Group name, which describes its former corporate identity and the continuing United Grinding business area.
- 2025
Acquisition completed; group renamed United Machining Solutions
- 2024
Acquisition of Georg Fischer's Machining Solutions division announced
- 2022
Strategic partnership with Tschudin and launch of Grinding Academy
- 2020
Schaudt Mikrosa closed
- 2018
Körber AG sold the group to an investor pool organized by BZ Bank
- 2015
Irpd service business acquired and Irpd AG established
- 2013
SCHLEIFRING renamed UNITED GRINDING Group
- 2012
Holding company moved to Bern
- 2009
Schaudt and Mikrosa combined
- 2008
Chinese production operation relocated to Shanghai and renamed
Products and positioning
An international manufacturer and supplier of precision machine tools and associated services, with a portfolio spanning grinding, eroding, laser processing, measurement and additive manufacturing.
Grinding machines
The group portfolio included grinding machines under brands including Blohm, Mägerle, Jung, Studer, Schaudt and Mikrosa.
Eroding and tool-machining machines
The group included Walter and Ewag among its machine-tool brands.
Laser and measuring machines
Laser-processing and measuring machines were among the group's product categories.
Additive-manufacturing machines and services
The group expanded into additive manufacturing through Irpd and offered machinery for additive manufacturing.
Controversies
Reported Walter machine exports to Russia
Sources5 sources
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