Skilled Workmanship & Sophisticated Technology
Traditional watchmaking with modern manufacturing methods and technologies in IWC’S new Manufakturzentrum
The official opening of the new production plant for movement components, manufacture movements and cases is a milestone in the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer's 150-year history. In its new production plant, over an area spanning 13,500 square metres, the Schaffhausenbased watch manufacturer brings together the production of movement components, manufacture movements and cases under one roof – a milestone in the company's 150-year history. For Andreas Voll, COO of IWC Schaffhausen, this sees a long-held
hope of his finally come to fruition, "The new building has given us the opportunity to configure our production processes as is best for ensuring that they run optimally and produce perfect quality. So, for example, the entire process of creating value, from the raw material to the individual movement component and on to the finished manufacture movement, progresses in a logical order on a single storey. I have been dreaming of this ever since I started at IWC back in 2007".
The guests numbered around 130; amongst these were politicians such as Christian Amsler (District President of the City Schaffhausen) and Peter Neukomm (Mayor of the City Schaffhausen), as well as commercial and industry representatives. Also in attendance at the ceremony were IWC ambassadors such as Fabian Cancellara and Patrick Seabase.
In recent years, IWC has experienced a period of rapid growth, which meant that, in its existing premises, it was increasingly being held back by its capacity limits. After extending that facility twice, it had finally outgrown the site. Because at that time it had been decided that IWC should embark on the strategic expansion of its expertise in movement manufacturing, the company decided that a new building was in order. The Manufakturzentrum was erected over a period of just 21 months. Around 80 construction companies were involved in the project, many of these based in the Schaffhausen region.