Custom special-purpose machines for assembly, handling, laser processing and micromechanics
AGFAR AG
Orpund (CH)New on Amplifa
About AGFAR AG
AGFAR AG is a Swiss special-purpose machine manufacturer based in Orpund near Biel. Founded in 1984, the company develops and manufactures custom machines and systems for microtechnology, in particular assembly machines, loaders, handling machines, rotary indexing and linear machines, laser integration systems as well as manual work and inspection stations. The value chain is delivered turnkey under one roof: from consulting and feasibility studies through design and software development (PLC, robotics, machine vision, HMI) to in-house manufacturing, assembly, commissioning and service. In the company's own manufacturing, components are milled, turned, drilled, EDM-machined and ground; large components such as base frames and enclosures are supplied by long-standing partners. Customers come from the watchmaking industry, medtech, electronics, automotive and aerospace engineering as well as the solar cell and food industries. Around 32 employees serve customers in Switzerland, Europe and worldwide from Biel.
- Site
- Orpund
- Processes
- Special-purpose machine building (assembly machines, loaders, handling machines), Robot integration, Rotary indexing machines (joining, pressing, riveting, flanging, welding), Linear machines (joining, pressing, riveting, flanging, welding), Laser marking systems (laser marking, laser engraving), Laser welding systems, Laser cutting systems, Laser drilling systems
- Materials
- Aluminium, Plastics
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015, ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 14001
- Founded
- 1984
- Employees
- 32
- Industries
- Watchmaking industry, Medical technology/Medtech, Electronics, Automotive industry, Aerospace engineering, Solar cell manufacturing
- 01
Consulting and feasibility studies
- 02
Design
- 03
Software development
- 04
In-house manufacturing (milling, turning, EDM, grinding)
- 05
Procurement of large components from partner companies
- 06
Assembly and commissioning
- 07
Acceptance, delivery and installation
- 08
Maintenance, service and training
Materials and Processes
Aluminium
Used, among other things, for the linear axes in a stable aluminium construction with a cross-section of 60x50 mm.
Plastics
Used in thermal staking as well as in the ultrasonic welding of plastic components.
Locations
Orpund
CHHeadquarters, development, manufacturing, assembly
- Materials
- Aluminium, plastics
- 3-axis machining centre GF VCE1000 Pro
- 3-axis machining centre Fehlmann P56
- EDM machine Agie VertX
- Wire EDM machine GF Cut 200SP
- Wire EDM machine GF Cut 1000
- EDM machine Agie Spirit
- Grinding machine Ewag WS11
- Schaublin 102 lathes
- conventional machines
- climate-controlled commissioning room
Components and Systems
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special-purpose machine building (assembly machines, loaders, handling machines)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Robot integrationAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rotary indexing machines (joining, pressing, riveting, flanging, welding)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Watch, medical and electronic components |
| Linear machines (joining, pressing, riveting, flanging, welding)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Watch, medical and electronic components |
| Laser marking systems (laser marking, laser engraving)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Laser welding systemsJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Laser cutting systemsMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Laser drilling systemsMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Servo pressesAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| RivetingJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Orbital rivetingJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
| FlangingJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Thermal stakingJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Resistance weldingJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ultrasonic weldingJoining | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| SolderingJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bonding/gluingJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Laser structuringSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| DrillingMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| GrindingMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| MillingMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| TurningMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| EDM (CNC wire EDM, die sinking EDM)Machining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Contract manufacturing (CNC wire EDM and prototype building)Machining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Micromechanics manufacturing (grippers, workpiece carriers, flexible structures, vacuum technology)Machining | – | – | – | – | – |
| 3D printingAdditive | – | – | – | – | – |
| Machine vision / quality control (high speed vision, surface inspection, OCR, bin picking)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Flexfeeder feeding systems (part singulation, small-part handling)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Design and software development (PLC, robot controllers, HMI)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
15 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-axis machining centre | GF VCE1000 Pro | – | – | – | Orpund |
| 3-axis machining centre | Fehlmann P56 | – | – | – | Orpund |
| EDM machine | Agie VertX | – | – | – | Orpund |
| Wire EDM machine | GF Cut 200SP | – | – | – | Orpund |
| Wire EDM machine | GF Cut 1000 | – | – | – | Orpund |
| EDM machine | Agie Spirit | – | – | – | Orpund |
| Grinding machine | Ewag WS11 | – | – | – | Orpund |
| Lathe | Schaublin 102 | – | – | – | Orpund |
| Linear assembly machine (cartesian robot) | Agfar F1 | – | – | – | Orpund |
| Riveting machine | Agfar MK-II | – | – | – | Orpund |
| Laser marking cell with drawer system | Agfar DS-7 | – | – | – | Orpund |
| Laser marking cell with robotic loader | Agfar RCA-7 | – | – | – | Orpund |
| NC lift-rotate module (transfer arm) | Agfar HDM | – | 360° rotation, indexing every 90° | – | Orpund |
| Linear axis (aluminium construction, SCHNEEBERGER cross-roller guide) | Agfar RNC-90 | – | Stroke 90 mm, cross-section 60x50 mm | – | Orpund |
| Precision cross table | Agfar KMXY-155 | – | – | – | Orpund |
Additional services
Quality
AGFAR AG is certified to ISO 9001:2015. In contract manufacturing, quality is ensured through strict quality control, on request with measurement report and material certificate.
| Evidence | Orpund |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | |
| IATF 16949 | |
| ISO 14001 |
History
- 1984
Founded by Franz Misteli and Willy Paroz in the midst of the quartz watch crisis as a stock corporation for automation and robotics (AGFAR).
- 1992
Move to the company's own building at Gurzelenstrasse 9 in Biel.
- 2008
Hans-Ulrich Lanz, Tobias Schelbert, Peter Beutler and Martin Rüegsegger take over the management from Franz Misteli.
- 2014
30th anniversary; 27 employees.
- 2016
Doubling of the assembly floor space, creation of dedicated assembly halls and expansion of production capacity; Andreas Erb takes over the shareholder stake from Peter Beutler and joins the management.
- 2022
Move on 01.03.2022 to larger premises at Industriestrasse 5 in Orpund.
- 2024
40th anniversary.