Extremely slim, at times discreet and at others fully in view, the barrel spring mainspring is a component requiring the most demanding and meticulous care. Over the last three years, the firm has doubled its turnover and almost doubled its staff. It is a key watch industry player with more than 10, active references, new creations per year and around 30 micromechanical and micro-precision operations per reference. The business was acquired by the Acrotec group in and has since benefited from the know-how of its sister companies.
Production is no longer confined to just the spring, but encompasses the complete barrel. This approach offers us advantages in terms of communication, deadlines, flexibility, responsiveness, etc. Today, the complete barrel is our first product. The company has the know-how and the expertise enabling it to do far more than merely execute a plan. This starts with a simulation of the spring using an in-house algorithm. This is followed by careful analysis of the plans of bar-turned components.
When the operator receives a manufacturing order, the data is accompanied by a technical sheet detailing each successive operation. These operational procedures also enable the rapid onboarding of new personnel. It also takes on trainees, mainly from regional technical schools. Nivaflex and Bioflex Since the s and s, the production of barrel springs has been based on the use of Nivaflex.
While this alloy boasts excellent properties, it also has certain risks. Firstly, the fact that there is only one manufacturer worldwide β in Germany β which supplies the entire Swiss watch industry is itself a potential threat to continuity of supply. This material is also composed of beryllium, a material not currently subject to any REACH regulations, but nonetheless a topic of fierce debate, meaning that restrictions or even a long-term ban on use cannot be entirely ruled out.
This alloy has demonstrated superior mechanical performance to Nivaflex, with the direct effect of optimising the power reserve and chronometric precision timekeeping performance of the timepiece.
