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Swiss watches have long been synonymous with precision, perfection, reliability and high value. Based in Bonfolo, Switzerland, TechnoCut was founded in 2005 with the aim of using laser technology to custom manufacture small parts for the country's iconic industry, primarily involving laser cutting and engraving. Julien Montavon is the technical director and co-founder of TechnoCut. He explains, "We believed there was a huge opportunity to bring the benefits of laser machining to the watch industry. The challenge was that Technocut wanted machines with a very specific set of features. However, in the early stages, they simply didn't have the luxury of machines equipped with additional features they would never need.

Solution

After careful evaluation, they chose the Coherent MPS. Montavon says: "We were able to optimise everything about the machine, from the type of laser - we chose a femtosecond laser - to the number and type of motion axes, even the size of the cutting box and the overall work area. When we started working with Coherent, it was really like getting a completely bespoke machine, made to order but without the high cost." He adds that they chose the femtosecond laser for its versatility; the watch industry uses an incredibly wide range of materials. Internal parts are made from brass, copper alloy and steel. But the dial and hands can incorporate all sorts of metals and "exotic" non-metals to enhance their aesthetic appeal and perceived brand value and exclusivity. Examples include ceramics, carbon fibre, mother-of-pearl and, of course, various precious metals. Montavon notes that all of these materials can be easily cut with a femtosecond laser, often without the need for subsequent processing steps such as polishing.

Result

Technocut has gone from strength to strength, with a successful business and a stellar reputation in the watch industry, plus a growing demand for parts for other precision industries. With over 15 years of customer experience, Montavon sums up, "Coherent has proven to be exactly the kind of reliable partner we needed. Our experience with the first machine in terms of its great reliability, cut quality and performance really convinced us to eventually purchase three more of the same machine."

To learn more about Technocut and the Coherent MPS laser, read the full success story.

Source: coherent.com