Inside CGC's Grading Room: Robots, Ultrasonic Welders, and 35,000 Cards a Day
A new behind-the-scenes look at CGC's facility tracks a single Topps Kobe Bryant card through every step of the grading pipeline — and the operation is bigger than most collectors imagined.
Collectors have long debated what actually happens inside grading company walls — how decisions get made, how slabs get built, and whether high-volume operations can coexist with the precision required for a six-figure card. This access answers some of those questions directly. CGC is clearly positioning itself as a credible player at both ends of the market: the mass-submission hobbyist and the vintage card investor. For anyone deciding where to send their next submission — or their most valuable card — this is the most concrete operational transparency CGC has offered.
- CGC's shipping department processes more than 35,000 cards per day.
- The facility uses ultrasonic welding and automated robotic slabbing machines in its production pipeline.
- A single Topps Kobe Bryant card was used as the subject to walk through every stage of the grading process on camera.
- CGC has graded high-end vintage cards including the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, 1979 Topps Wayne Gretzky rookie, and 1909–11 T206 Honus Wagner.
- CGC launched full-time TCG grading operations in Munich in January 2026, expanding its international footprint.
- CGC announced a price increase for grading services effective early 2026.
CGC granted cameras access to its grading facility, offering the most detailed public look yet at how the company processes cards from submission to slab. The feature follows a Topps Kobe Bryant card through verification, the grading floor, ultrasonic welding, and automated robotic slabbing — before reaching a shipping department that moves more than 35,000 cards per day. The piece also documents CGC's push into high-end grading, with the company now handling cards like the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, the 1979 Topps Wayne Gretzky rookie, and the 1909–11 T206 Honus Wagner.
How many cards does CGC ship per day?
CGC's shipping department processes over 35,000 cards daily.
Does CGC grade high-end vintage cards?
Yes. CGC has graded cards including the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, the 1979 Topps Wayne Gretzky rookie, and the 1909–11 T206 Honus Wagner — some of the most valuable cards in the hobby.
What technology does CGC use to make its slabs?
CGC uses ultrasonic welding and automated robotic slabbing machines as part of its production pipeline.
Does CGC grade Pokémon and other TCG cards?
Yes. CGC launched full-time TCG grading operations at its Munich facility in January 2026.
Did CGC raise its grading prices?
CGC announced a price increase for grading services set to take effect in early 2026.