Picture of Peter, our Tour Guide:
Peter told us a bit about the history of IWC but unfortunately, there was a problem with the sunblinds and there was too much light to view the video, so we decided to start the factory tour.
At the factory, it wasn't allowed to take pictures in most of the places. Peter explained to us that this was because of the detailed drawings laying around. We started our tour in the room where casebacks were made and we got a detailed explanation about the machinery and tools involved. We learned that the raw milling of the back of an Aquatimer takes the machine four minutes. The machine is fed with rods of steel or titanium and has tools that can work on both sides of the case. For each material, differend tools are needed, this is because of the specific hardness and heat dissipation properties of the different materials.
Machining the other parts of the case, involves much more work for the computer-controlled CNC machines. The machines are loaded with a few (we saw four) raw cases at a time and then the milling process is done in turn on each of the mounted raw cases. Peter handed me a raw case of the new Da Vinci Chrono or Perpetual and I was surprised about the weight. It turned out to be a Platinum case! I carefully passed it on to the others in our group and finally Peter put it back safely where it belonged.
During our visit, we saw several new milling machines that were being installed. Obviously, IWC is working hard to get the production up, which will reduce the waiting time for their customers.
We went up to a higher level in the building and had a closer look at the machines making the smaller parts by cutting them with an electrical wire, the so-called Electric Discharge Machine. Some of these parts are so small and delicate that they have to be kept under oil to avoid corrosion. After this high-tech department, we went to the more labour-initiative Surface Finishing department. Here we were allowed to take several pictures as there were no drawings that could accitentally be photographed.
Albert, the group photographer
Where can I buy such a great wall clock?
Peter explained us why the cases we saw there were covered by a purple coating: the coating is there to protect parts of the surface that don't need treatment. The reason the coating has such a bright colour is to make it easier to spot remains after finishing. Peter also told that a good coating has to meet several contradictive criteria: It has to stay put but it also has to be removed easily after processing.
We went back to the other building and to my great surprise, we were invited to visit the new museum! Before we left, I had read on the Forum that the museum would not be ready during our visit so I didn't expect to see it. IWC had decided to let us visit the Museum as first group of non-IWC persons. Needless to say that this was an unique experience! Peter, our guide, gave us a short introduction about the newly developed user-interface and it only takes a few moments to get used to it.
The museum is splendid and there is a whealth of information available and I guess IWC collectors can spend the best part of the day absorbing all this information. Below are several pictures of the Museum.
Part three, Lunch, a boat trip and the second part of the factory tour.