BLUFFTON, Ohio (WLIO) - GROB Systems Inc. has been in Bluffton for decades, manufacturing machines for companies in several industries, from automotive to aeronautics. However, those with GROB say that not many people really know what the manufacturer does on a day to day basis, so they decided to hold an open house to let people get a look inside.
"We've been here on site for 35 years, but a lot of people just drive by on the highway and still don't know what we do here," said Mark Reed, training manager for GROB. "It's a great way to just open the doors up, let our employees be able to talk to people, talk about what they do, brag about what they do, share their experiences, and let people come inside and just see what we're doing in here on a day to day basis."
Part of the open house included STEM-related activities for kids to get a hands-on feel for the kind of work that GROB employees do every day. They also could get up close to different kinds of machinery that employees use. Those with GROB hope that getting that closer look could inspire some of these kids down the line.
"It's been great being able to talk to a bunch of young people in here and just raise interest in STEM because even if they don't wind up with us, being able to work into the idea of the science, the math, the engineering, everything else that goes along with STEM it's a great deal in raising interest level of these kids and just getting them to have another idea," Reed said.
GROB has an apprenticeship program where young adults get on the job training in one of two career pathways, as well as their associate's degree from Rhodes State College.
GROB will be holding several other open houses for prospective apprentices to learn more about the program and get a look at the facility. More information on when those open houses will be held and how to register can be found can be found on their website.
