Grosfilley was established in 1973 when Jean-Pierre Grosfilley started an engineering consultancy for the development of mould tools and in 1980, he started production of his own two-component tools. A few years later, based on his own patent application for a rotating base, he collaborated with an injection mould manufacturer.
The company culture at Grosfilley is to always keep one step ahead of the game. By the time a tender is submitted, full-scale development work, or even practical validation testing, have already been carried out. This ensures that the number of subsequent adjustments is kept to a minimum.
“We work very closely with our customers’ designers and can therefore sometimes integrate changes before they have become official,” explains Jean-Pierre Grosfilley.
In addition, they have established a close working relationship with two other companies, Collomb and Georges Pernoud, to collaborate on an agreed common strategy and future joint action. A certification method and coordinated information handling are the fruits of this collaboration, with major investment issues also come under the spotlight.
“Before every investment, we share ideas,” says Jean-Pierre Grosfilley. “This undoubtedly improves our chances of success. We examine hourly costs, operating times and profitability. Purely technical issues are put to one side while we focus on medium and long-term plans for machine resources.”
Jean-Pierre Grosfilley: “A decisive factor in increased added value per employee is how work pieces are transferred between machines. System 3R’s pallet systems are invaluable here.”
It was just such an exchange that led to their decision to implement automation with pallet changing and high-speed milling.
Grosfilley installed its first machining centre as early as 1987 – now used for training CNC operators. To handle fine machining and reduce polishing time, the first high-speed milling machine, a Matsuura 510, was installed in 1999. Jean-Pierre Grosfilley – “So that the machine could be used as efficiently as possible, this substantial investment demanded a pallet system.”
For this reason, and to complement the existing manual Dynafix system, a WorkPal with eight Dynafix pallets was added. This automatic production cell now produces around 3,000 electrodes a year for two die-sinking EDM machines. All the electrodes are made on disposable MacroJunior pallets.
Workshop efficiency star – the automatic production cell with WorkPal, Dynafix and Matsuura.
This proved the value of the cell and a second machining centre, an LX1500, was purchased in 2004. So that it could produce either one large or several medium-sized or smaller mould tools, this machine was equipped with the Delphin zero-point reference system and Grosfilley’s own clamping system.
“Besides the very high precision and stability, the fantastic thing about System 3R’s products is that they can be adapted to the needs of every company,” emphasises Jean-Pierre Grosfilley. “The pallet system and presetting outside the machines help us reach our goal of increasing added-value per employee. Our moulding tool costs have fallen 20 percent and lead times are now down to 6-10 weeks instead of the 8-12 weeks in 1999.”
Grosfilley’s objective to always be one step ahead, invest in advanced technical solutions and maintain a strict quality ethos, make them a first-class subcontractor. Much of its work is for the automotive industry, but it also serves the hand-tool and sports equipment sectors. Grosfilley’s customers do not search out moulding tool manufacturers in low-cost economies. They know that the best solution is on their doorsteps. Quality and delivery times as agreed and no unknowns. Absolute confidence is the natural result.
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Related links:
Dynafix
MacroJunior
Automation in general
WorkPal Compact Servo