Manufacturer of steel/bronze bimetal components such as bushings, plain bearings and cylinder blocks for hydraulics, energy and aerospace.
Kugler Bimetal SA
Le Lignon (Geneva), Chemin du Château Bloch 17 · CH-1219New on Amplifa
About Kugler Bimetal
Founded in 1854, Kugler Bimetal SA specializes in the manufacture of high-performance bimetal components made of steel and bronze and is one of the oldest still-active industrial companies in Western Switzerland. The company produces semi-finished and fully machined components such as bushings, plain bearings, tilting pad bearings, cylinder blocks, swivel plates, piston shoes and retaining plates. Its core competencies include steel/bronze bimetal casting, the finish machining of complex high-precision parts, and the development of proprietary high-performance alloys, including the lead-free solution Tokat® 300 and novel antifriction coatings. Trimetallic joint bearings have also been supplied since 1985. Customers come from the energy, hydraulics, general industry, transport, aerospace and defense sectors; in 2002, 80% of revenue came from international markets in Western Europe, the USA and Asia. Production takes place at the headquarters in Le Lignon near Geneva, EN 9100 certified since 2010.
- Site
- Le Lignon (Geneva)
- Processes
- Steel/bronze bimetal casting (bimetal technology), Finish machining/machining of complex high-precision components, Manufacture of trimetallic joint bearings, Manufacture of semi-finished and finished bimetal components (bushings, plain bearings, tilting pad, Lead-free bimetal solution Tokat® 300, Bimetal casting (steel/bronze), Finish machining, Development of high-performance alloys (e.g. lead-free solution Tokat® 300)
- Materials
- Steel, Bronze, Tokat® 300 (lead-free solution), Copper alloys, Zinc alloys, Steel/bronze bimetal casting, Trimetallic joint bearings, Tokat® 300 (lead-free)
- Certificates
- ISO 9001, EN 9100
- Founded
- 1854
- Industries
- Aerospace, Energy, Hydraulics, General industry, Transport, Defense and security
- 01
Alloy development (R&D)
- 02
Steel/bronze bimetal casting
- 03
Finish machining/CNC machining
- 04
Antifriction coating
- 05
Fully machined components / assembly
Materials & Processes
Steel/bronze bimetal casting
Core process for high-load, durable bimetal components such as bushings and plain bearings.
Trimetallic joint bearings
Manufactured since 1985 for marine engines and transport applications.
Tokat® 300 (lead-free)
Lead-free bimetal solution introduced in 2020 in response to new lead regulations.
Copper alloys
Basis of the bronze and sliding materials for tribological applications.
Zinc alloys
Alloy group additionally processed according to the Foundry Association.
Antifriction coatings (new generation)
Low-friction coatings for extending bearing service life.
Locations
Le Lignon (Geneva)
CHProduction facility and headquarters
- Materials
- Steel, bronze, copper and zinc alloys, Tokat® 300
- Bimetal casting equipment
- Modern machining equipment (modernization since 2014)
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel/bronze bimetal casting (bimetal technology)Casting | – | – | – | – | Steel, Bronze |
| Finish machining/machining of complex high-precision componentsMachining | – | – | – | – | Steel, Bronze, Bimetal |
| Manufacture of trimetallic joint bearingsCasting | – | – | – | – | Bimetal alloys, Steel, Bronze |
| Manufacture of semi-finished and finished bimetal components (bushings, plain bearings, tilting padCasting | – | – | – | – | Steel, Bronze |
| Lead-free bimetal solution Tokat® 300Casting | – | – | – | – | Tokat® 300 |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
Kugler Bimetal is certified to ISO 9001 (since 1996) and EN 9100 (since 2010) and manufactures high-precision, fully machined components for demanding industries such as aerospace.
| Evidence | Le Lignon (Geneva) |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | |
| EN 9100 |
History
- 1854
Founding; establishment of a production facility for water fittings.
- 1872
Start of industrial production.
- 1950
Development of bimetal technology.
- 1955
First international successes of bimetal technology.
- 1961
Inauguration of a new production facility for bimetal technology in Le Lignon (Geneva).
- 1985
Delivery of the first trimetallic joint bearings for marine engines.
- 1996
Complete separation of bimetal technology from the water fittings business; ISO 9001 certification.
- 2002
80% of annual revenue on international markets (Western Europe, USA, Asia).
- 2008
Early response to new lead regulations; extensive R&D program for alternative solutions.
- 2010
EN 9100 certification.
- 2014
Investments in state-of-the-art equipment to modernize production.
- 2019
Decalia Capital acquires Kugler Bimetal SA.
- 2020
Introduction of the lead-free solution Tokat® 300.
- 2024
Expansion of the finish machining offering, including components for the aerospace industry.
- 2025
Announcement of a collaboration with Lockheed Martin to promote aerospace and defense manufacturing in Switzerland.