Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2018, IWC Schaffhausen presented many new models to the watch enthusiasts during the SIHH exhibition. After the new models added to its product line, the famous brand once again draws attention with its new production center, which was opened at Schaffhausen, Switzerland. At the opening ceremony that took place on August 27, 2018, a great many representatives from the commercial and industrial sectors as well as the political arena were in attendance.
The IWC’s new production center, completed in just 21 months, is located just outside Schaffhausen in Switzerland. The factory, which is located on an area of ??13,500 square meters in total, will produce and assemble all parts from the movements to the cases in the same facility. Andreas Voll, IWC’s COO, stated that they had always dreamed of this step and finally they did it.
IWC CEO Christoph Grainger-Herr explains this landmark with these words:
“Back in 1868, our founder Florentine Ariosto Jones was already pairing traditional watchmaking with advanced production methods. Ever since he established this approach to engineering, we have been systematically developing it; even today, we continue to combine skilled workmanship and sophisticated technology in our new Manufakturzentrum. But 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.”
By opening up new production facilities, the brands will be able to reach different materials, more precise movements and higher production numbers by forcing the limits of the technology. Especially with the help of the Industry 4.0, I believe that human errors will be minimized.
