Develops and manufactures precision electric screwdrivers, assembly machines, measuring systems and automation solutions for microtechnology.
Lecureux SA
Rue des Prés 137, CH-2503 Biel/Bienne (Switzerland)New on Amplifa
About Lecureux SA
Lecureux SA is a Swiss company founded in 1961 and headquartered in Biel/Bienne, specializing in high-precision assembly and automation solutions. The portfolio includes electric precision screwdrivers with very low torques and high speeds, custom benchtop machines such as screwdriving stations, hand-setting machines (HSM1708) and watch-movement winding systems, as well as robot-based assembly cells and conveyor systems (Author, BOA). In addition, measuring and testing systems are developed, including LecControl for checking the pallet engagement of the escapement, systems for checking the axial play of the gear train, and a chronometry cell. Development is carried out entirely in-house – from mechanics, electronics and software to machine vision and robotics, tool manufacturing, assembly, commissioning and customer service. Customers come from the watch industry, microtechnology, medical technology and the eyewear industry, including IWC Schaffhausen. With around 50 employees, Lecureux is a partner of the Jura region, and a key competitive advantage: all work steps, including quality inspections, are performed in-house.
- Site
- CH-2503 Biel/Bienne
- Processes
- Assembly and automation solutions, Robot-based assembly cells, Precision assembly in microtechnology (miniature components, tight tolerances), Automatic screwdriving (screwdriving station benchtop model with N positions), Hand setting (semi-automatic/automatic, HSM1708), Watch movement winding (5-position winding machine), Escapement inspection (LecControl measuring device), Axial play inspection of the gear train in watch movements
- Materials
- Watch movements (mechanical and quartz), Bridges, main plates and other components, Hands (3–8 per dial, central and eccentric hands), Eyeglass frames, Electric precision screwdrivers, Benchtop machines & assembly stations, Hand-setting machine HSM1708, Armage 5 Positions
- Certificates
- In-house development incl. software & machine vision, In-house manufacturing of tools and transport systems, Assembly, commissioning and customer service, ISO 9001 (documented)
- Founded
- 1961
- Employees
- ca. 50
- Industries
- Watch industry, Microtechnology, Medtech, Eyewear industry, Precision automation, Medical technology/Medtech
- 01
Engineering (mechanics, electronics, software, machine vision, robotics)
- 02
Mechanical tool manufacturing and production of transport systems
- 03
Manufacturing of the machines and measuring systems
- 04
Assembly and commissioning
- 05
Quality control
- 06
Customer service
Products & Processes
Electric precision screwdrivers
Electric screwdrivers with very low torques and high speeds for microtechnical screw assemblies, e.g. on eyeglass frames.
Benchtop machines & assembly stations
Customized stations with integrated precision screwdrivers, test fixtures and measuring tools, e.g. screwdriving station with N positions (0.5–5 Ncm, 50–1000 rpm).
Hand-setting machine HSM1708
Semi- or fully automatic setting of 3–8 hands with force control, XY positioning accuracy of 0.01 mm and video monitoring.
Armage 5 Positions
Winding and torque control cycles for 5 watch movements simultaneously (0.2–10 Ncm, 1–500 rpm) with neural network.
LecControl measuring device
Vision-based inspection of pallet engagement at the escapement with two alternating work areas.
Axial play inspection (Contrôle ébats)
Semi-automatic measurement of the axial play of the gear train with 2–3 s measuring time per calibre and multi-calibre capability.
Robot cells & conveyor systems
Robot-based assembly cells as well as Author and BOA conveyor systems for automating complex assembly processes.
Pre-assembly & supply services
Assembly of moving parts as well as packaging of bridges, main plates and other components (from the CHMicrotech acquisition).
Location
Biel/Bienne
CHHeadquarters: development, production, sales
- Part weight / size
- Miniature components (microtechnology)
- Lot size
- Prototype to series production
- Materials
- Watch movements (mechanical/quartz), hands, bridges, main plates, eyeglass frames
- Automatic screwdriving station benchtop model (110×110 mm, 0.5–5 Ncm)
- Hand-setting machine HSM1708 (XY 0.01 mm, 0–14 kN)
- 5-position winding machine
- Armage 5 Positions
- LecControl escapement measuring device
- Axial play inspection system (Contrôle ébats)
- 4-position hand setter
- Robot cells
- Chronometry cell
- Conveyor systems Author / BOA
Components & Systems
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assembly and automation solutionsAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Robot-based assembly cellsAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Precision assembly in microtechnology (miniature components, tight tolerances)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Automatic screwdriving (screwdriving station benchtop model with N positions)Assembly | – | 110 mm | – | – | – |
| Hand setting (semi-automatic/automatic, HSM1708)Assembly | 0.01 mm | – | – | – | – |
| Watch movement winding (5-position winding machine)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Escapement inspection (LecControl measuring device)Testing | – | 200 mm × 300 mm × 335 mm | – | – | – |
| Axial play inspection of the gear train in watch movementsTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Chronometry cellTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Measuring devices for quartz and mechanical watch movements (Femto)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly of moving parts and packaging of bridges, main plates and other components (CHMicrotech)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Presses, welding equipment and special systems (Covatec)Joining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Machines for component assembly and supply services (Stoco)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Inspection and testing of high-precision and high-tech componentsTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Engineering: mechanics, electronics, software development, machine vision and roboticsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacturing of tools and transport systemsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly | 0.01 mm | – | – | – | – |
| Winding cycles for 5 watch movements simultaneously (torque 0.2 to 4.5 Ncm, speed 50 to 500 rpm)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| LecControl escapement inspection (vision system, 2 work areas)Testing | – | 200 mm × 300 mm × 335 mm | 12.5 kg | – | – |
| Axial play inspection (Contrôle ébats, benchtop device, 2–3 s per calibre, multi-calibre)Testing | – | 400 mm × 520 mm × 490 mm | 50 kg | – | – |
10 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic screwdriving station benchtop model with N positions | Lecureux | – | Working area 110 x 110 mm; torque 0.5 – 5 Ncm; speed 50 – 1000 rpm | – | Biel |
| 4-position hand setter | Lecureux | – | – | – | Biel |
| 5-position winding machine | Lecureux | – | Torque 0.2 to 4.5 Ncm; speed 50 to 500 rpm; 5 watch movements simultaneously | – | Biel |
| Armage 5 positions (5-position watch movement winding machine) | Lecureux Armage 5 positions | – | Torque 0.2 – 10 Ncm; speed 1 – 500 rpm; 5 movements simultaneously | 2026 | Biel |
| Escapement measuring device (pallet engagement inspection) | Lecureux LecControl | – | 200 x 300 x 335 mm; 12.5 kg; two work areas | – | Biel |
| Axial play inspection system for the gear train | Lecureux Contrôle ébats (benchtop device) | – | 400 x 520 x 490 mm; 50 kg; 2–3 s measuring time per calibre | 2019 | Biel |
| Hand-setting machine (semi-automatic/automatic, 3–8 hands) | Lecureux HSM1708 | – | – | 2019 | Biel |
| Conveyor systems for automation solutions | Lecureux Author / BOA | – | – | – | Biel |
| Robot cells (assembly) | Lecureux | – | – | – | Biel |
| Chronometry cell | Lecureux | – | – | – | Biel |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
Lecureux performs all work steps itself and ensures all required quality inspections – from electronics and tool manufacturing to assembly and commissioning. The company's own measuring systems (LecControl, Contrôle ébats, chronometry cell) with automated measurement sequence control and video monitoring guarantee precise and reproducible test results.
| Evidence | Biel/Bienne |
|---|---|
| In-house development incl. software & machine vision | |
| In-house manufacturing of tools and transport systems | |
| Assembly, commissioning and customer service | |
| ISO 9001 (documented) |
History
- 1961
Founding of Lecureux SA by Bernard Lecureux, inventor of the first electric screwdriver for the watch industry
Diversification through the acquisition of Femto (measuring devices for quartz and mechanical watch movements) and CHMicrotech (assembly of moving parts, packaging of bridges/main plates) – entry into pre-assembly
- 2007
Acquisition of Covatec (presses, welding equipment and special systems for the watch industry)
- 2012
Acquisition of Stoco (machines for component assembly, supply services) by the Lecureux Group
- 2018
Begin of the increased focus on product design and aesthetics
- 2019
Swiss Design Award in the capital goods category