Development and manufacture of automation, assembly and measuring machines for horology and microtechnology
UNIMEC SA
La Chaux-de-Fonds (CH)New on Amplifa
About UNIMEC SA
UNIMEC SA, based in La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland), develops and manufactures automation solutions, assembly and machining machines, as well as measuring and ageing machines for horology, medical technology and microtechnology. The portfolio includes automation components such as industrial robots (BE66), linear motor axes (AML68), rotary tables and vacuum manipulators, assembly machines (garnissage, lanternage, resistance and laser welding, servo press, mise en plaques), cleaning machines as well as testing machines such as ChronoTest, CoupleTest, ChocTest and the ASDI-500 diamond screener. In special machine building, the company works on the basis of customer-specific specifications. Research and development, technical engineering and software development are carried out entirely in-house. In addition, UNIMEC offers contract manufacturing of mechanical single and series parts with its own machine park, as well as assembly and fitting. The company operates a site at Jura Industriel 34 in La Chaux-de-Fonds and also distributes Mindman electropneumatics. Products are offered under the Swiss Made label; the website is available in French, English and German.
- Site
- La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
- Processes
- Assembly of watch components by press-fitting technique (garnissage), Lanternage of staff pivots (adjustment by deformation), Resistance welding of dial feet, Laser welding of watch components (microtechnology, e.g. hairsprings and sleeves), Laser welding, laser cutting, laser marking, laser engraving (3 axes, 4th axis optional), Machining of mechanical parts, single or in series (subcontracting), Microtechnology assembly / assembly of equipment, Cleaning of movement components and small parts (washing, drying, degreasing)
- Materials
- Hard metal tool blades (hard metal), Hard metal
- Industries
- Horology/Horlogerie, Medical technology, Microtechnology
- 01
Research & development (including in-house software development)
- 02
Mechanical manufacturing (single and series parts)
- 03
Assembly and fitting
- 04
Special machine building
- 05
Sales and support
- 06
Contract manufacturing (subcontracting)
Processes and Technologies
Hard metal
Tool blades for the lanternage machine for adjustment by forming.
Sites
La Chaux-de-Fonds
CHHeadquarters and production
- Lot size
- Single parts to series parts (as piece single series)
- Garnissage machine (press force and position servo-controlled, working area 40 x 40 mm, 200 N)
- Lanternage machine (force sensor 0–500 N, repeatability ±2 µm)
- Resistance welding machine for dial feet (4 kA / 10 V / 25 kW)
- Laser machines (3 axes, optional 4th axis, ms/ns fibre and femtosecond lasers)
- Cleaning machine Horotec VIBRATO (6 baths, ATEX)
- Mise-en-plaques machine UNIFEED 3400 (30 parts/minute, < 0.01 mm)
- Servo press
- ChronoTest/CouronneTest (force measurement ±50 N)
- Industrial robot BE66
- Linear motor axis AML68
- Rotary tables UNIDRIVE 4805-010 / 4805-010M
- ASDI 500 diamond screener
- Uniscope (dimensional measurement)
Components and Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assembly of watch components by press-fitting technique (garnissage)Assembly | ±5 µm (press-fitting), ±2 µm (positioning) | – | – | – | watch components (main plates, bridges, pinions, wheels, |
| Lanternage of staff pivots (adjustment by deformation)Assembly | repeatability ±2 µm; Z-axis accuracy 0.01 mm | – | – | – | – |
| Resistance welding of dial feetJoining | – | – | – | prototypes and small series possible | – |
| Laser welding of watch components (microtechnology, e.g. hairsprings and sleeves)Joining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Laser welding, laser cutting, laser marking, laser engraving (3 axes, 4th axis optional)Joining | repeatability ±2 µm | 200 mm × 200 mm | – | – | – |
| Machining of mechanical parts, single or in series (subcontracting)Machining | – | – | – | 1 part (single) – series | – |
| Microtechnology assembly / assembly of equipmentAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Cleaning of movement components and small parts (washing, drying, degreasing)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mise en plaques of watch components for lapping and polishingAssembly | repeatability < 0.01 mm | – | – | 30 parts/minute | – |
| Measurement and accelerated ageing of chronograph functions / crown push-pull testingTesting | positioning resolution ±0.005 mm | – | – | 1 component – 5 components | – |
| Accelerated ageing / winding of watches and movements / reset / dial shock 5000GTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dimensional measurement (Uniscope)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Research and development, software development, realization of special machinesEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
14 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garnissage machine (force- and position-controlled press) | UNIMEC SA | – | 40 x 40 mm; stroke 12 mm; max force 200 N | – | CH-2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Lanternage machine | UNIMEC SA | – | sensor 0–500 N, repeatability ±2 µm | – | CH-2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Resistance welding machine (dial feet) | UNIMEC SA | – | peak power 4 kA / 10 V / 25 kW; applied force 0–50 N | – | CH-2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Microtechnology laser welding machine | UNIMEC SA | – | 230 V - 10 A | – | CH-2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| 3-axis laser machine (4th axis optional), fibre ms/ns and femtosecond | UNIMEC SA | – | travels 300 x 200 x 200 mm; repeatability ±2 µm; load 20'000 N | – | CH-2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Ultrasonic cleaning machine (6 baths, ATEX) | Horotec VIBRATO | – | baskets Ø 80 mm, up to 5 baskets; ultrasonics 50 W, 40 kHz | – | CH-2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Mise en plaques machine (automatic loading) | UNIMEC SA UNIFEED 3400 (feeding system) | – | rate 30 parts/minute, repeatability < 0.01 mm | – | CH-2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Servo press | UNIMEC SA | – | – | – | CH-2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Measurement and ageing machine ChronoTest/CouronneTest | UNIMEC SA ChronoTest (1 or 5 heads) | – | max force ±50 N, stroke 18 mm, resolution ±0.005 mm | – | CH-2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Industrial robots | UNIMEC SA BE66 | – | – | – | CH-2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Linear motor axis | UNIMEC SA AML68 | – | – | – | CH-2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Electric rotary tables | UNIMEC SA UNIDRIVE 4805-010 / 4805-010M | – | – | – | CH-2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Movement winding machine | UNIMEC SA Movements Winding Machine | – | 5 holders, 0.1–180 rpm | – | CH-2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| ASDI 500 - automated spectral diamond inspection | UNIMEC SA ASDI 500 | – | – | – | CH-2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds |
Additional services
Reference customers