Spring end grinding machine for grinding spring ends of helical compression springs, comprising: a grinding unit including a pair of grinding wheels having two rotating grinding wheels (130, 140) with a grinding cavity provided between them; a loading unit including at least one loading tray (160, 170) rotating essentially axially parallel to the grinding wheels, the loading tray having a plurality of off-axis spring supports each for receiving one helical compression spring; and a control unit for controlling the loading unit and the grinding unit, wherein helical compression springs received in the spring supports are transportable by turning of a loading tray disposed in a working position successively along a grinding path through the grinding cavity and during a processing phase in each case both spring ends of the helical compression springs located in the grinding cavity are at the same time in a contact region in machining engagement with an associated grinding wheel such that a particle flow of removed particles of the material of the helical springs is issued from the contact region, wherein on at least one position of the spring end grinding machine accessible by the particle flow a protection device (221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227) is attached, characterized in that at least one surface of the protection device exposed to the particle flow is composed of non-ferrous metal, wherein the protection device (221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226) is a sheet metal or a sheet metal part composed of the non-ferrous metal, or wherein the protection device includes a sheet metal or a sheet metal part provided with a coating composed of the non-ferrous metal. a grinding unit including a pair of grinding wheels having two rotating grinding wheels (130, 140) with a grinding cavity provided between them; a loading unit including at least one loading tray (160, 170) rotating essentially axially parallel to the grinding wheels, the loading tray having a plurality of off-axis spring supports each for receiving one helical compression spring; and a control unit for controlling the loading unit and the grinding unit, wherein helical compression springs received in the spring supports are transportable by turning of a loading tray disposed in a working position successively along a grinding path through the grinding cavity and during a processing phase in each case both spring ends of the helical compression springs located in the grinding cavity are at the same time in a contact region in machining engagement with an associated grinding wheel such that a particle flow of removed particles of the material of the helical springs is issued from the contact region, wherein on at least one position of the spring end grinding machine accessible by the particle flow a protection device (221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227) is attached, characterized in that at least one surface of the protection device exposed to the particle flow is composed of non-ferrous metal, wherein the protection device (221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226) is a sheet metal or a sheet metal part composed of the non-ferrous metal, or wherein the protection device includes a sheet metal or a sheet metal part provided with a coating composed of the non-ferrous metal.