IWC new roof capping plant - to celebrate the completion of the new production center

Schaffhausen, Switzerland, May 5, 2017 IWC held a grand ceremony to mark the completion of the main construction of the new IWC IWC production center and thanked the participating project staff for their hard work. Starting in October this year, the IWC case and movement components manufacturing division and the home-made movement assembly division will gradually relocate to Merishausertal, a suburb of Schaffhausen. IWC Chief Executive Christopher Grainger-Herr and IWC Chief Operating Officer Andreas Vol The new IWC IWC plant will produce for the existing self-made movement of the new IWC, including the 69000 movement series. The center is equipped with state-of-the-art production technology to provide a high level of quality and precision, helping to ensure that Swiss watchmaker IWC continues to grow globally. "The internal movement of the R & D and strategic expansion of expertise is our top priority, and I am pleased that everything is proceeding as planned, the project is the largest investment in the history of the company, not only cash on the company location Schaff The commitment of the city of Hausen also highlights our firm belief in the future of producing high quality mechanical watches. IWC has a history of nearly 150 years in the city. Our watch products make Schaffhau The city of Sensen is known around the world, "said Christoph Grainger-Herr, chief executive of IWC IWC at Schaffhausen. IWC new roof capping plant - to celebrate the completion of the new production center Advanced production methods First, IWC's new production center, with a total gross floor area of ​​13,500 square meters, can be used to bring together production areas previously in different locations to further optimize existing production processes and structures. IWC also set aside room for further development in the future. "Here, we combine traditional watchmaking expertise with state-of-the-art manufacturing methods and innovative technologies to ensure long-term high quality of our mechanical watches and a competitive edge in the international market." Schaffhausen IWC Said Andreas Voll, COO of IWC. When construction is complete, the Merishausen manufacturing facility will house 400 employees for the brand. IWC new roof capping plant - to celebrate the completion of the new production center Many prominent representatives from political and business circles and more than 100 watchmakers attended the summit celebration. The current IWC case and movement components manufacturing unit in Neuhausen will be relocated to the new center starting in October 2017 and the IWC IWC movement in Baumgartenstrasse in the Old Town of Schaffhausen The assembly department will begin relocation in January 2018. The official opening celebration of IWC's IWC production and technology center is tentatively scheduled for June 2018, when the Schaffhausen Citizens Open Day will be established. These events are expected to be one of the highlights of the 150th anniversary of IWC. Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Why IWC IWC to set up a new production center? With IWC business in the past 15 years a substantial increase in business, the company's existing headquarters space has been unable to meet the expansion needs. At the same time, IWC has decided to strategically expand its research and development and expertise in its internal movement. In view of these two factors, the need for a new factory, the company decided in the future IWC home-made movement (such as the 69000 series movement) all the production will be carried out in the new production center. The new production center brings together previously dispersed production areas while further optimizing the production process. In addition, IWC has reserved space for future growth. The investment cost of the construction project is 42 million Swiss francs, making it the largest investment in the nearly 150-year history of IWC. 2. Which departments need to move to Merishausen Production Center? Case production and surface processing, case assembly and movement components production department will be relocated from the rented Neuhausen watch factory to Merishausen. The current movement assembly in Schaffhausen will also be relocated to the new production center. Watch assembly and customer service departments and special functions will continue to stay in Schaffhausen. How Merishausen Production Center Will Benefit Production? With a total gross floor area of ​​13,500 square meters, the Merishausen manufacturing center will give IWC an opportunity to further optimize its manufacturing processes and structures. In addition, the new center uses advanced production technology to ensure a high standard of quality and accuracy, laying an important foundation for the company to continue to achieve global growth. 4. Why did IWC choose Merishausen as a new plant? Founded in Schaffhausen in 1868, IWC has been headquartered there. However, the headquarters are located in the Old City and have limited room for expansion. Although it has successively expanded the East and West wings in 2005 and 2008, it has been unable to further expand the plant area. As a result, IWC began to find ways to expand its presence around the new plant and eventually secured the right to develop a 20,000-square-meter site in Merishausertal. The location is close to the headquarters and public transport is very convenient and the location is very favorable. 5. How will the space vacated by Schaffhausen be utilized? After the movement's move from Schaffhausen to Merishausen, the headquarters of Schaffhausen's Old Town will be empty. IWC plans to use the vacated space for other businesses, such as customer-focused events. At the same time, the company will cease leasing its factory premises after the production of watch cases and dials, the assembly of watch cases and the production of the movement components from the rented Neuhausen watch factory. 6. What does the new production center mean for company visitors and guided tours? Schaffhausen IWC will provide a rare behind-the-scenes process of turning watchmaking into a visitor experience through the new Merishausen "Glass Open Production Center." At the new Visitor Center, visitors will be presented and demonstrated through the multimedia system, movies, showcases and hands-on practices. For example, after visiting the production department of movement components, guests will have the opportunity to experience the tabulation process firsthand, retouch the parts under the guidance of their staff, and process operations such as round scrubs or inlaid gemstones. 7. Does IWC cooperate with local suppliers? IWC is willing to cooperate with local suppliers as far as possible according to the company's sustainable development strategy. About 75% of IWC IWC suppliers are local business partners in Schaffhausen and Zurich. Only steel structure and facade construction partners come from outside the region. Designed by RMA (Reichardt-Maas-Assozi-ierte), the new center is run by ATP architekten ingenieure Architects in Zurich. 8. The rest of the schedule how to arrange, when the relocation process started? June 2016: The formal laying of the cornerstone / foundation stone concrete pouring May 4, 2017: Capping ceremony / main structure construction is completed October 2017: Start of relocation - All departments of Neuhausen (case manufacturing, dial face machining, case assembly and movement parts production) January 2018: Movement assembly department relocated from Schaffhausen to Merishausen June 2018: Official Opening Ceremony and Schaffhausen Open House - One of the highlights of the 150th anniversary of the IWC Universal Watch Total Time: 21 months