Fontijne is founded in 1909 as a servicing and repair company, mainly for ships’ engines. Because Fontijne worked extensively for international shipping companies, the company also developed a reputation abroad. Fontijne worked hard to build this reputation in various ways, delivering quality products as well as providing excellent service. Fontijne developed into an equipment manufacturer and was, for example, one of the first companies in the 1930s to make hydraulic Platen Presses for the rubber and plastics industries. Eventually metalforming machines were added, particularly for the production of barrels and drums for the oil-industry in the Rotterdam area, where the Fontijne works are located. Fontijne’s portfolio of orders grew rapidly, and this expansion sparked the search for new premises.

In 1964 Machinefabriek Fontijne signed a license agreement with Grotnes. The partnership gave Fontijne access to the technology required to develop machinery for the wheel industry in Europe and paved the way for constructing high-profile machinery for other industries and clients worldwide.

The original company, Charles Grotnes Machine Works, was founded in 1898, in Chicago (IL) U.S.A. The first development of Mr. Grotnes was a machine that could stretch and shape metal rings. The Grotnes machine, which came to be known as an expander, allowed rings to be fabricated from simple cylindrical blanks that were expanded to size while setting the desired shape. This new machine and process resulted in considerable cost savings compared with other known processes. Grotnes also developed other technologies for the coldforming of metal. Over time, it developed into a specialized producer of metalforming machinery for the aircraft and wheel industries, among others. It was the wheel industry that brought Fontijne and Grotnes together.

In the year 2000, this ultimately resulted in the acquisition of Grotnes Metalforming by Fontijne Holland B.V. After the acquisition, both companies continued under a new name, Fontijne Grotnes. The two companies combined now have over two hundred years of experience in developing machines, processes, and innovations for diverse metalforming industries.