Precision mechanics: CNC milling, turning, electrical discharge machining, engineering and assembly from prototypes to series production
Chalon mécanique de précision & micromécanique SA
Le Locle (Avenue du Technicum 33) · CHNew on Amplifa
About Chalon SA
Chalon mécanique de précision & micromécanique SA is an owner-managed micromechanics company founded in 1970 by François Chalon and headquartered in Le Locle in the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel. The company manufactures high-precision contract components, fixtures and complete tools in single-unit, small and medium series for industrial customers. The value chain includes 3- to 5-axis CNC milling, twin-spindle CNC turning and micromachining by wire and die-sinking EDM, which has been operated since 2022 by the company's own unit EDM Plus Sàrl. An integrated design office handles design reviews, technical documentation, manufacturing plans, prototype construction and the development of customer-specific fixtures; in addition, assemblies are assembled and heat and surface treatments are outsourced externally. Customers come from medical technology, special machinery and automation, cleantech, luxury goods and watchmaking, electronics, aerospace and the food industry; documented, among other things, is the manufacture of a case prototype for the most expensive watch in the world as well as balance weights for high-end brands.
- Site
- Le Locle
- Processes
- 3–5-axis CNC milling, CNC turning (twin-spindle), Wire EDM, Die-sinking EDM, Micromachining by EDM (EDM Plus Sàrl), Engineering / integrated design office (development of tooling, fixtures, custom solutions), Prototyping, Assembly of complete assemblies and sub-assemblies
- Materials
- Materials not specified (micromechanics, watchmaking, medical/aerospace/electronics sector), 3–5-axis CNC milling, CNC turning (twin-spindle), Wire and die-sinking EDM, Engineering / design office, Assembly
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015
- Founded
- 1970
- Industries
- Medical technology, Special machinery & automation, Cleantech, Luxury goods/Watchmaking, Electronics, Aerospace
- 01
Engineering / design office (design review, manufacturing plans)
- 02
Prototype construction
- 03
3–5-axis CNC milling
- 04
CNC turning (twin-spindle)
- 05
Electrical discharge machining (wire/die-sinking, EDM Plus)
- 06
External heat and surface treatment
- 07
Assembly of assemblies and sub-assemblies
- 08
Quality control and delivery
Processes & Manufacturing
3–5-axis CNC milling
Core process for complex precision parts in single-unit, small and medium series.
CNC turning (twin-spindle)
Twin-spindle micro lathes for rotationally symmetric micromechanics parts.
Wire and die-sinking EDM
Micromachining by electrical discharge machining in the company's own unit EDM Plus Sàrl.
Engineering / design office
Development of fixtures, design reviews, technical dossiers and manufacturing plans on a mandate basis.
Assembly
Assembly of complete assemblies and sub-assemblies including modification and repair of maintenance parts.
Sites
Le Locle (Chalon SA)
CHHigh-precision machining of parts and tools
- Lot size
- Single parts, small and medium series
- Materials
- Metals (micromechanics, watchmaking, medical, aerospace)
- 3–5-axis CNC milling machines
- Twin-spindle CNC lathes
- 2 CNC machines of the latest generation (2019)
Le Locle (EDM Plus Sàrl)
CHMicromachining by wire and die-sinking EDM
- Lot size
- Single parts to series production
- Materials
- Electrically conductive materials
- 2 automated/robotized EDM machines (2022)
Components & Competencies
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3–5-axis CNC millingMachining | – | – | – | Single unit – Series | – |
| CNC turning (twin-spindle)Machining | – | – | – | Single unit – Series | – |
| Wire EDMMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Die-sinking EDMMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Micromachining by EDM (EDM Plus Sàrl)Machining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Engineering / integrated design office (development of tooling, fixtures, custom solutions)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| PrototypingEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly of complete assemblies and sub-assembliesAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Modification and repair of maintenance partsAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Project managementEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Handling of subcontracting for treatments (external surface/heat treatments)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Machining of high-precision parts and tooling (single-unit, small and medium series)Machining | – | – | – | Single unit – Medium series | – |
4 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modular CNC micro milling machine | Chalon Modular micro milling machine | – | – | 1988 | Le Locle |
| Twin-spindle CNC micro lathe | Chalon Twin-spindle micro lathe | – | – | 1988 | Le Locle |
| CNC machines of the latest generation (milling/turning) | – | 2 | – | 2019 | Le Locle |
| Automated/robotized EDM equipment | – | 2 | – | 2022 | Le Locle |
Additional services
Quality
Since October/November 2025 the company has been certified to ISO 9001:2015 (SGS, certificate CH25/00000086, valid until 12.11.2028); conformity inspection of manufactured parts is carried out according to customer specifications. An environmental certification is planned as a further step.
| Evidence | Le Locle (Chalon SA) | Le Locle (EDM Plus Sàrl) |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 |
History
- 1970
Founded by François Chalon as a sole proprietorship in Neuchâtel (contract machining, design and machining)
- 1988
Construction of the first own high-precision CNC machines: modular micro milling machine and twin-spindle micro lathe
- 1991
Foundation of Chalon boîtes de montres et micromécanique SA
- 1992
Commercial marketing of the CNC machines; use, among other things, for watch bezels and micromechanics prototypes
- 1996
Move to new premises at Rue du Puits-Godet, Neuchâtel; realignment toward contract manufacturing; 8 employees
- 2000–2010
Recognition in the watchmaking and micromechanics sector; complete realization of a case prototype for the most expensive watch in the world; balance weights for high-end brands
- 2018
Transfer to Thomas Baverel and Florent Balanche; new company name Chalon mécanique de précision & micromécanique SA
- 2019
Modernization of the machine fleet with two new CNC machines; new specialist for milling and complex turning
- 2022
Automation of two machines; foundation of the unit EDM Plus (electrical discharge machining)
- 2025
ISO-9001 certification (October/November 2025)