Located in Niles, Michigan, Grotnes has a rich tradition of collaboration, acquisitions and hard work. Originally founded in 1898 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, as "Charles Grotnes Machine Works" (later known as Grotnes Metalforming Systems or GMS), Mr. Grotnes invented a machine that stretches and molds metal rings. The Grotnes machine, later known as the expander, allows the manufacture of rings from simple cylindrical blanks that expand to a certain size while setting the desired shape. Grotnes has also developed other technologies such as shrinking and rotary roll forming for metal cold forming.

In the 1960s, GMS and Fontijne (located in the Netherlands) formed a licensing arrangement that utilized the technology of the two companies. Eventually, Fontijne acquired GMS and the new company was named Fontijne Grotnes, Inc. (FGI). In 2013, FGI acquired the intellectual property rights of Hess Industries, opening up a new market for emission cans and metal spinning technologies that are well integrated with other product lines.

Charles Grotness's son Eugene moved to Atlanta and in 1956, he founded the Atlanta Grotness Machinery Company (AGMC). In 1975, Eugene's son Carl established the company with his father, becoming the leader in rigid packaging, distribution and commercial appliances and tank metal forming systems.

In 2019, FGI acquired AGMC and its intellectual property rights. This brings together two companies originally founded by the same family, so the merged new company has been renamed Grotnes. Today, Grotnes is based in Niles, Michigan, with a factory in Atlanta, Georgia and a sales/service office in Monterrey, Mexico.

Grotnes is an innovative manufacturer of customized and integrated metal forming equipment and units for the automotive, aerospace, agriculture, petroleum, distribution, hard packaging, appliances/tanks and forging industries. Grotnes' proven engineering solutions such as expansion, shrinkage, rotary roll forming, spinning and discharge cans have been used for more than a century. Grotnes supports its equipment worldwide, with a comprehensive remodeling and reconstruction in addition to providing spare parts. The Formitt Metal Labs department also provides customers with prototyping and production service capabilities.