King Machine is a global leader in the production of tire molds, supplying major international tire manufacturers—from high-performance and winter tires to truck tires. “We want to ensure that the mold is absolutely perfect—because only then does the tire have a chance to be perfect,” explains Michael Wells, CEO of King Machine.
At the same time, delivering a competitive advantage to customers is critical: “Our goal is to deliver our products first so that our customers can bring their tires to market ahead of the competition,” says Harrison Walston, Executive Vice President at King Machine.
King Machine uses two different machining strategies in production: some segments are produced on the 5-axis universal machining center G350, while the sidewalls are manufactured on the 5-axis turning-milling machining center G550T. Automation plays a central role, as both machines are equipped with a GROB pallet storage system. “We wanted to make sure that everything we do moving forward is fully integrated with the right automation. We wanted scalable production that could run around the clock—and GROB’s automation solutions make that possible,” emphasizes Harrison Walston.
Integrating the GROB machines allowed King Machine to consolidate many machining steps. “We eliminated entire operations and setups. Our operators basically only need to load raw material,” explains Walston. All parts are produced on a job-by-job basis, m.ost programs run only once.
“We program the machine, start the process, let it run overnight—and the part is finished the next day,” says Iulian Arsene, Director of Engineering at King Machine. Thanks to the special kinematics of the GROB machines, even larger workpieces can be machined without issues.
Efficiency gains through automation
Integrating the GROB machines allowed King Machine to consolidate many machining steps. “We eliminated entire operations and setups. Our operators basically only need to load raw material,” explains Walston. All parts are produced on a job-by-job basis, m.ost programs run only once.
“We program the machine, start the process, let it run overnight—and the part is finished the next day,” says Iulian Arsene, Director of Engineering at King Machine. Thanks to the special kinematics of the GROB machines, even larger workpieces can be machined without issues.
For the perfect tire, the mold must already be perfect, which requires a high-precision machining.
Precision at the highest level
With integrated measurement and inspection technologies such as the Blum laser system, King Machine has further increased production reliability. “Today we achieve tolerances of 25 to 30 micrometers. Tools and reference points are set directly in the machine—giving us the highest level of consistency and security,”
Arsene explains enthusiastically. Switching to GROB also provided a technological edge: “Previously, we worked with several manufacturers. With GROB, we were able to virtually test our parts for the first time and ensure the machine met our requirements. Now we produce faster, more accurately, and with less human intervention—the quality has improved significantly,” says Arsene
GROB machines are used for machining the perfect tire molds for King Machine’s customers.
Fully automated production as a competitive advantage
The partnership with GROB was crucial for moving to unattended production. “The surfaces we achieve are exceptional—so good that you almost want to hang the parts on the wall rather than put them in the press,” Michael Wells says with a smile.
The result: King Machine is now the fastest tire mold manufacturer in the world. “For our customers, it’s not just about cycle time—it’s the time from order to delivery that counts. With GROB automation, we can minimize this time and secure a clear market-leading position,” Wells adds.
King Machine now has two universal machining centers from GROB in operation.
Strong support – strong partnership
The support from GROB is also highlighted: “Whenever we had a problem—whether machine downtime, maintenance, or engineering—we could always rely on support. There was always someone on the line ready to help immediately,” recalls Arsene.
For King Machine, the partnership with GROB is a key factor in long-term success. “We want to further expand our market leadership in North and South America—and GROB is a central part of that strategy,” concludes Michael Wells.
