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Company History

Eric Groth graduated from Dos Pueblos High in Goleta, California, in 1972. Like a lot of other students he didn’t have a clue of what to do next. After a summer off, camping and a motorcycle / easy rider trip across the country he started working at his uncle’s machine shop as a machine operator.img

He liked it! He found that he had a real knack for machining. The advanced mechanical drawing class that he took in high school was a big asset in the machine shop. Within four years he became foreman of the prototype department. Many of the parts they manufactured were center conductors for the microwave industry. The center conductors had very tight tolerances and sometimes multiple brazing operations. Eric developed several machining processes enabling parts to be made from one piece, significantly reducing assembly operations and saving customer costs. This practice is still used today in many different industries.

Eric’s dad gave him a sign with a quote from Thomas Edison, that states “There is a better way to do it, find it”. It’s still hanging in his office today. It’s a quote, which holds true for him and he often uses it. “Thanks dad”

In 1985, after working several years fine-tuning his machining skills he purchased his first manual-milling machine and began Groth Engineering in the garage of a leased condominium. It grew steadily. In 1988, he moved to Camarillo, CA and Groth Engineering had its first official business address, in the same location they are in today. Along with his facility he also purchased his first computer and CNC mill. Since then, nearly every year, Groth Engineering has grown and always upgraded with state of the art equipment.

Shortly after moving to Camarillo he hired his first employee. He found that one of the most delicate things in life are people. That goes for employees as well as customers. He always treats people with respect, the way he would like to be treated, whether they are the floor sweeper or president of a company it’s the way he lives life, as well as his business.

Today Groth Engineering has grown to 8 employees and 7,000 square feet of manufacturing space. Most of the machines are not older than three years. It’s because Eric always wants to have the newest technology and most accurate machines. There are five state of the art milling centers and three turning centers with six axes and live tooling.

To this day, Eric enjoy’s working in the shop with his employees. Machining is his true love. He’s always learning new ways of machining and likes sharing his ideas and thoughts with his employees. He is a firm believer in the importance of sharing knowledge and teaching his employees.

In the early 1990’s he worked on 2 products related to the dental industry and holds co-patents on them. One of the products is still in use today. He loves it when a new customer walks in the door with an idea, but no prints or files and he gets to use his creativity to bring that idea into reality. The dental products happened just that way. He created a working prototype, made the presentation and the products went into mass production.

Through the years Groth Engineering has had the pleasure of working with a variety of businesses including the commercial microphone and entertainment industries, special forces, radiation detectors, bomb detonators and the microwave industry.

Groth Engineering is a powerful manufacturing company with a down home family feel to it. Eric is looking forward to seeing what the future brings and he will be ready. “Life is good”