Licensed to Grind: Inside Manufacturing News’ Alpine Adventure
March 31, 2026Manufacturing News President Brad Gross attended the UNITED GRINDING Motion Meeting 2026 / STUDER Annual Press Conference at the company’s headquarters in Switzerland—alongside global manufacturing media and UNITED GRINDING’s distribution partners. Below are his thoughts on his Swiss adventure.
A few standout takeaways:
• STUDER’s managing directors—Stephan Stoll (COO), Sandro Bottazzo (CEO), and Daniel Huber (CTO)—shared strong prior-year performance and a positive outlook for the year ahead.
• A closer look at the STUDER S23 universal cylindrical grinding machine (introduced at EMO 2025), including the automatically swiveling B-axis wheelhead supporting multiple wheel configurations.
• Impressed by STUDER’s apprenticeship program, now spanning eight apprenticeship professions—and a memorable Schwingen (traditional Swiss wrestling) demonstration. The apprentices also presented a unique keepsake to the press that they made: a Swiss cow.
The event concluded with a Surprise Night (starting with the first gondola ride) consisting of a scavenger hunt in the alpine village of Mürren (see photo of Markus Stolmar and I on the hunt – we were “lost” in the Alps) and then two more gondola rides to the top at 9,744’ elevation for dinner at Schilthorn - Piz Gloria (from the James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service") – there was a crossbow, but fortunately I didn’t take any damage (I don’t think Elizabeth Modic was trying hard enough though – thank you!!). You could definitely feel the elevation!! Quite a memorable evening!!
Thank you @Fritz Studer AG (and the broader UNITED GRINDING team) for the invitation and hospitality—and thanks to fellow media and distribution partners for the fellowship.
Stay tuned for upcoming articles about United Grindings apprenticeship program, as well as UG's latest innovations—coming in future months.
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