FUTURE GLIMPSE
Signaling the next chapter in its renowned history of innovation and manufacturing excellence, OMEGA officially opened its impressive new production facility – an eco-friendly masterpiece – at its headquarters in Bienne, Switzerland
representing the industry’s most cutting-edge facility for watch assembly, training and quality control, the five-storey building was designed by award-winning Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. It is built entirely from Swiss spruce (timber) and concrete – on the same site at Rue Jakob-stampfli 96 in Bienne, Switzerland where “Louis Brandt & Fils” first settled its watchmanufacturing operations in 1882. The company, known today as OMEGA, has remained at the same location ever since.
Over the years, the buildings and capabilities have continued to expand, and this next addition is certainly one of the most important developments. Inside, OMEGA has used the five floors of space in the most effective way possible, bringing technical innovation and human expertise together for a fully streamlined manufacturing process.
The key benefit for OMEGA is efficiency, and the new production facility now combines all of the brand’s assembly and testing processes under one roof. It is a complete consolidation of work, meaning that the company’s overall output will become more productive and dynamic than ever before.
All steps, including T2 (watch assembly), T3 (bracelets) and T4 (packaging), as well as stock and logistics, are completed inside. In addition to this, the building is designed for training purposes, enabling OMEGA to sharpen and constantly improve the skills of the staff inside.
Known for his structural sophistication and unconventional techniques, Pritzker Prize winner Shigeru Ban has made a name for himself as one of the world’s leading architects. From curvaceous museum designs in France to a cardboard church in Japan, his work has had a global effect and garnered praise not only from his peers, but also from the likes of Time magazine, who cited him as one of the 21st century’s top innovators in the field of architecture and design.
By blending themes of Japanese architecture with Western modernism, Ban has established his own unique design approach. More than that, he has become synonymous with the use of unexpected building materials. Most famously, his ingenious work with paper and cardboard tubing has led the way for low-cost and recyclable structures. But his architecture has not been limited to these materials alone. His clever use of timber and glass can be seen the world over – evident also at OMEGA’S headquarters in Bienne.
The watchmaker has long been at the forefront of the industry. A glimpse inside its newest building reveals how human expertise is now interacting with robotic assistance at the very highest level.
At the core of the building, a fully automated storage system rises up through three floors of the building. Like something from a science-fiction movie, the fireproofed central stock contains over 30,000 boxes filled with all the necessary parts required for the brand’s watchmaking. Visitors to the building can marvel at the storage system and its robotic arms in action through specially built windows.
Only two specially trained people
are authorised to enter the central stock system, as oxygen inside has been reduced to 15.2 percent to ensure that fires cannot start or spread.
In addition to this, there are several other examples of technology which prove the superb efficiency of OMEGA’S manufacturing today. This includes the robotic arms and systems used for the Master Chronometer testing. For humans, the physical transportation and organisation of the watches is a monotonous and time-consuming job. That’s why OMEGA’S huge robotic arms are completely customised to fulfill this task. By measuring, photographing, winding, shifting and spinning the watches, the robotic arms provide OMEGA with a consistent and constant level of operation. It’s a beautiful assembly line that never misses a beat.
Robotic arms are also used for the identification and final packaging of each watch. Reader
systems ensure that each watch is picked from the assembly line and delivered with the correct warranty and certification, and all other necessary inclusions. Another example of technology includes the arms for laser engraving, which give each watch its unique identity.
But that’s not to say that the human touch is not needed. While the menial tasks have been given to the robots, OMEGA’S staff can concentrate fully on the testing results and making sure that every watch is finely-tuned and ready for the customer.
“Swiss Made” is a virtue that OMEGA is proud to have at the heart of its brand. But these words go further than describing the pieces of a watch or the company’s technical innovation. They also represent the standard of OMEGA’S people, who work tirelessly to achieve the world’s best watches.
Certainly, OMEGA’S greatest tool is its staff. You only need to walk through the new building to see the intense concentration and delicate skills employed at every desk. From setting the hands perfectly on a dial to the final casing of a completed timepiece, the watchmakers all carry the same pride and commitment that has powered the “Swiss Made” OMEGA brand for almost 170 years.
To give its people an added advantage, OMEGA has maximised the working environment of its new building. From carefully managed temperature control to the air conditioning and overall ergonomics, everything has been integrated for an exceptional flow. Even the stringent elimination of dust proves that OMEGA’S manufacturing can operate at a high and very difficult-to-achieve standard.
The new factory also houses the brand’s quality and technical control processes, including the METAS testing for Master Chronometer certification. All technology for the 8 METAS tests can be found on the 3rd floor, including the powerful magnets that subject each watch to a field of 15,000 gauss. It is here that OMEGA certifies its watches at the industry’s highest standard for precision, performance and magnetic resistance.
In keeping with the innovation of this ambitious building project, the new factory has been designed with an ingenious indoor climate and energy concept to achieve maximum efficiency through sustainable systems. For example, highly efficient solar shading has been included on each window. These external shading blinds are controlled by the sun, depending on which direction the window is facing.
Inside, all artificial lighting is based on LED use. This guarantees low electricity consumption and low internal heat loads. The lighting is also controlled by daylight and occupancy-sensors that only switch on when required.
In an impressive example of recycling, the new factory uses its own excess heat from production processes – compressed air, vacuums and O2-reduction – for other required areas, such as the preheating of domestic hot water. Even the fans used in the air-handling unit are energy efficient to limit electricity consumption. The ventilation rates also vary upon need. Similarly, in the workshops, the air-change rates are controlled differently depending on the specific needs of the production process.
The entire energy supply of the building is based on a geothermal system, which uses the regenerative energy potential of groundwater. This is sourced via several wells on the site. The pumped groundwater runs via a heat exchange to directly cool the rooms. The radiant panels inside the building run with inlet temperatures of 16 to 18°C, which can be supplied directly from the groundwater – without any additional cooling. For heating, the groundwater is controlled with a heat pump.
Finally, to produce some of the electricity needed for heating, cooling, ventilation and renewable lighting, the southeast roof of Building O is covered with photovoltaic modules (solar panels).
As a new generation of watch buyers emerges, OMEGA has revolutionised its production facilities with this groundbreaking development, all in readiness to meet their demands.