Development of customized polymer solutions: UV adhesives, coatings, inks and temporary protective varnishes for the watch industry.
Horlovia Chemicals Sàrl
La Chaux-de-FondsNew on Amplifa
About Horlovia Chemicals
Horlovia Chemicals is a research and development company based in the Neode technology park in La Chaux-de-Fonds, specializing in photopolymeric materials. The company formulates customized UV adhesives, two-component epoxy and PU systems, solvent-free temporary fixings, peelable protective varnishes (Peel-Protect®), sol-gel anti-corrosion coatings and UV inkjet inks for digital drop-jet printing. Equipment includes the H-Cube 3D drop-jet printer with a build volume of 80×80×80 cm and a UV-LED six-color printing machine; additionally, plasma surface treatment, rheological laboratory testing as well as material, failure and reverse-engineering analyses are offered. The core industries are Swiss Haute Horlogerie and the luxury goods industry; further projects come from aerospace, medical technology, construction and packaging printing. Under the leadership of Dr. Khalid Zahouily, a recognized expert in photopolymerization, the team of engineers and chemists works on solvent-free, environmentally friendly formulations and supports the 65% Swiss-made rule through a planned laboratory expansion.
- Site
- La Chaux-de-Fonds
- Processes
- Avis d'Expert / chemical and bonding expertise (consulting, problem analysis), Formulation of customized adhesive solutions (adhesive formulation), Temporary bonding / temporary fixing (masking, selective protection), Functional anti-corrosion coatings (varnishes/paints, mineral-organic sol-gel, biobased), Plasma treatment of surfaces (plasma cleaning/activation), Drop-jet UV digital printing / DOD (decoration, personalization, functionalization of, Microfabrication / 3D printing (stereolithography, 3D drop-jet), Material / failure analysis / reverse engineering / custom analyses
- Materials
- Polymers / plastics (adhesives, varnishes, inks, resins), UV adhesives / photopolymerizable adhesives, Two-component epoxy adhesives, PU thermal / photochemical, Water-soluble hot-melt adhesive, Mineral-organic sol-gel coating (hybrid), Peel-Protect® (ultra-transparent photopolymerizable peelable varnish), UV inkjet inks (drop-jet)
- Founded
- 2014
- Employees
- 3
- Industries
- Haute Horlogerie (watch industry), Luxury goods/jewellery, Nanotechnology, Medical technology, Construction, Aerospace
- 01
Requirements definition (Cahier des charges)
- 02
Analysis / material and failure analysis / reverse engineering
- 03
Formulation of the polymer solution
- 04
Surface pretreatment (plasma)
- 05
Application (coating, drop-jet printing, dipping, bonding)
- 06
Laboratory testing (rheology, surface tension, Bally flex test)
- 07
Industrial support and homologation assistance
Materials & Processes
UV adhesives / photopolymerizable adhesives
Solvent-free high-precision bonding, including sapphire glass fixing with adhesive layers only a few micrometers thick.
Two-component epoxy resin
High-strength structural bonding for precise component assemblies.
PU (thermally or photochemically curing)
Polyurethane systems for adhesive and coating applications.
Water-soluble hot-melt adhesive
Solvent-free temporary fixing, e.g. of watch hands, washable with water.
Peel-Protect®
Already patented, ultra-transparent photopolymerizable peelable varnish with 800% elasticity for temporary scratch protection.
Sol-gel coating (organic-mineral)
Hybrid anti-corrosion and anti-fingerprint coating with layer thicknesses below one micrometer.
UV inkjet inks (drop-jet)
Photopolymerizable inks for decoration, personalization and functionalization of surfaces.
Photopolymerizable urushi lacquer
Photopolymeric reinterpretation of traditional Japanese lacquers for premium lacquering.
Hybrid organic-inorganic materials
Material class for microlenses and functional surfaces produced by the drop-jet process.
Biobased and biodegradable polymers
Environmentally friendly alternatives to petrochemical adhesives, varnishes and inks.
Ecological Zapon substitute
Protective varnish alternative to the highly solvent-based Zapon lacquer that has been widespread in the watch industry for decades.
Sites
La Chaux-de-Fonds
CHR&D laboratory and company headquarters
- Lot size
- Prototypes and small series
- Materials
- Photopolymers, UV adhesives, epoxy, PU, sol-gel, UV inkjet inks
- H-Cube 3D drop-jet printer (build volume 80×80×80 cm)
- UV-LED printing machine, 6 colors
- Bally flexometer for ink testing on leather
- Plasma surface treatment system
- Laboratory for rheology, surface tension and particle size analysis
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avis d'Expert / chemical and bonding expertise (consulting, problem analysis)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Polymers, UV adhesives, Epoxy resin, PU, Photopolymers |
| Formulation of customized adhesive solutions (adhesive formulation)Joining | – | – | – | – | UV adhesives, Dual-cure, Two-component epoxy, PU thermal/photochemical, Water-soluble hot-melt adhesive, Solvent-free temporary adhesive |
| Temporary bonding / temporary fixing (masking, selective protection)Surface | – | – | – | – | Polymers, Temporary varnishes, Water-soluble hot-melts |
| Functional anti-corrosion coatings (varnishes/paints, mineral-organic sol-gel, biobased)Surface | less than one micron thickness (sol-gel) | – | – | – | Hybrid sol-gel (organic-mineral), Biobased varnishes, Anti-fingerprint coatings |
| Plasma treatment of surfaces (plasma cleaning/activation)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Drop-jet UV digital printing / DOD (decoration, personalization, functionalization ofSurface | precision of 5 to 10 μ | – | – | – | Photopolymerizable UV inks, Functional fluids, Hybrid organic-inorganic |
| Microfabrication / 3D printing (stereolithography, 3D drop-jet)Additive | – | – | – | – | Photopolymers, Hybrid organic-inorganic materials |
| Material / failure analysis / reverse engineering / custom analysesTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Peel-Protect® application by dipping (peelable protective varnish, 800% elasticity)Surface | – | – | – | – | Peel-Protect® (photopolymerizable peelable varnish) |
| Photopolymerizable lacquering (urushi lacquers, glazes)Surface | – | – | – | – | Photopolymerizable urushi lacquer, UV varnishes |
| Laboratory tests (rheology-viscosity, surface tension, particle size, testsTesting | – | – | – | – | UV inkjet inks, Fluids |
| Sapphire glass bonding (fixing with a few micrometers of solvent-free adhesive)Joining | a few micrometers | – | – | – | Solvent-free UV adhesives, Sapphire adhesives |
| Temporary fixing of watch hands (zero solvent, washable with water)Joining | – | – | – | – | Temporary hot-melt adhesive/water-soluble |
3 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H-Cube digital 3D drop-jet printer | H-Cube (3D dropjet printer) | – | 80 cm x 80 cm x 80 cm | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| UV-LED printer, 6 colors | – | – | – | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Bally flexometer (ink testing on leather) | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 2001
Foundation of Photon & Polymers (PNP) in France by Dr. Khalid Zahouily.
- 2005
Start of supporting Haute Horlogerie, luxury industry and jewellery customers in polymer R&D projects.
- 2010
Invention of a UV varnish for repairing scratched Paris metro windows of the RATP.
- 2013
Development of a photopolymerizable correction product for BIC.
- 2014
Foundation of Horlovia-Chemicals in La Chaux-de-Fonds at the Neode site, Eplatures-Grise.
- 2015
First Peel-Protect patent filed; development of biphasic anti-icing coatings for Airbus and Dassault.
- 2018
Two patents for Peel-Protect, foundation of the Digitech Factory with the Microcity innovation park (Neuchâtel) and presentation of the H-Cube 3D drop-jet printer as a world premiere at EPHJ in Geneva.
- 2022
Planned laboratory expansion in La Chaux-de-Fonds to strengthen the Swiss-made share in accordance with the 65% rule.