As IWC Schaffhausen celebrates its 150th year in 2018, it has fittingly opened a new manufacturing center—a Manufakturzentrum, in the watchmaker’s words—in Merishausen, located on the outskirts of the Schaffhausen canton in Switzerland. For the first time in the brand’s history, the new facility brings together in one venue the production of its movements and components with that of its watch cases. Prior to this, the company’s manufacturing operations were spread across different locations.
The new facility, completed in only 21 months, represents a CHF42-million investment for the brand. Its floor area of 13,500 square meters accommodates 238 workstations for as much as 400 employees. The building houses 11 departments: Incoming goods, Logistics, Movement-component production, Movement assembly, Case production, Case assembly, Quality control, Equipment engineering, IT, Security, and Infrastructure.
IWC said the move, which “marries traditional watch-making with state-of-the-art manufacturing methods and technologies,” is a continuation of the brand’s approach to engineering.
“Back in 1868, our founder Florentine Ariosto Jones was already pairing traditional watch-making with advanced production methods. We have been systematically developing [this]. We continue to combine skilled workmanship and sophisticated technology in our new Manufakturzentrum,” said Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.
To be produced on-site are 1,500 movement components for IWC’s automatic calibre 52 and 82, hand-wound calibre 59, and the chronograph calibre 69. Components include bottom plates, bridges and oscillating weights, as well as switching levers, springs and latching elements. Parts for IWC complications, such as perpetual calendars, annual calendars and tourbillons, will be built within the facility as well.
Also set to be done in-house are electroplating, finishing and engraving of certain movement components. Afterwards, the movements are to be assembled by hand.
Located at the basement of the building are the mills and other machines dedicated to the production, finishing and engraving of watch cases—which may be fashioned from stainless steel, titanium, platinum, red or white gold, and bronze.
Grainger-Herr said the building has “more to offer than just optimal conditions for production and excellent working conditions for our employees.”
“It also embodies the spirit of the IWC brand and allows visitors from all over the world to see up close how our manufacture movements and cases are produced,” he said.
