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Xavier Fourny on the demands of high precision in the luxury watch industry
Xavier Fourny on the demands of high precision in the luxury watch industry
Once again this year, Pureon participated in EPHJ in Geneva, the international trade fair for high precision. For 21 years, this has been the world’s only platform for innovation, bringing together professionals from the fields of watchmaking-jewelry, microtechnologies and medical technology. The event thus provided the perfect setting to present the company’s own product portfolio. On site and in conversation with customers and interested parties was: Xavier Fourny, Regional Sales Director at Pureon.
Mr Fourny, what products does Pureon offer its customers in the luxury goods industry?
Pureon’s product range is broad and multi-faceted – we offer the right solution for every application. Our range is divided into four families: Powders, suspensions, polishing pads and pastes. All products are available both with and without diamonds. Originally, our core business was the processing of diamonds. Since then, we have significantly expanded our know-how as a manufacturer and developed a range of unique solutions. Customers benefit from our expertise, especially when it comes to extremely high precision requirements.
In your opinion, what is the importance of precision in this market and what does this mean for a company like Pureon?
For more than four centuries, tradition, know-how, cutting-edge technology and innovation have enabled the Swiss watch industry to maintain its leading position on the world market. The Swiss Made label, which can be found on many luxury watches, stands for quality and craftsmanship worldwide. In this context, precision is one of the key features that distinguish luxury watches from ordinary timepieces. It has also become an important part of the identity of luxury watch brands and their reputation. With over 70 years of experience, we are able to provide our customers with the level of expertise they require: We have demanding standards in terms of quality and customer satisfaction. Therefore we are continuously improving our solutions – with precision to µm accuracy.
Polishing is an essential process step in the luxury watch industry. At the same time, there is often an understanding that polishing is only used to make the visible part of the watch shine.
That is what many think – in fact, polishing is essential for the smooth functioning of the movement’s mechanics. If the components are not perfectly polished, it will significantly affect the accuracy of the watch. That’s why the demands brands place on their subcontractors have also risen sharply in recent years. Moreover, polishing is a very complex and sensitive environment: in the search for perfection, every single criterion plays an important role. Pureon’s culture is precision. The structure of our portfolio is therefore strictly focused on the essentials – performing polishing work with extreme and consistent precision.
Polishing is an essential process step in the luxury watch industry. At the same time, there is often an understanding that polishing is only used to make the visible part of the watch shine.
That is what many think – in fact, polishing is essential for the smooth functioning of the movement’s mechanics. If the components are not perfectly polished, it will significantly affect the accuracy of the watch. That’s why the demands brands place on their subcontractors have also risen sharply in recent years. Moreover, polishing is a very complex and sensitive environment: in the search for perfection, every single criterion plays an important role. Pureon’s culture is precision. The structure of our portfolio is therefore strictly focused on the essentials – performing polishing work with extreme and consistent precision.
What products does the company have in its portfolio specifically for polishing?
For example, we offer four different cloths for Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP). For lapping, polishing and fine polishing, the range consists of cloths with different compositions: with woven or non-woven, rolled or non-rolled filaments, to meet the requirements of the most precise polishing work. The stability of the materials prevents the formation of beads. In order to reflect the hardness of the plates, our polishing cloths have correspondingly thin material thicknesses. Some needle felt mats can also be provided with single or double impregnation. Furthermore, our range can be tailored to the customer’s needs not only in terms of the variety of dimensions, but also in terms of perforation, grooving and embossing options. Because of these quality standards, major players in other demanding industries, such as the semiconductor and optical industries, have now adopted our products.
Pureon has decades of experience in the luxury goods industry. In your opinion, has the perception of the company in the market changed over the years?
We have maintained business relationships with sapphire crystal manufacturers for over 30 years. Through the merger with the renowned American technology leader Eminess Technologies, Pureon now also has its own pads manufacturing facility in Monroe, USA. Thanks to its complementary product ranges and combined expertise, the company offers seamless surface processing solutions from a single source. Pureon is demonstrating its ability to innovate in a sector where few venture. From discussions with customers, I can say quite clearly: this has once again significantly changed the perception of our company, even in the luxury goods industry. Large companies in the industry have intensified their collaboration with Pureon, as they benefit directly from our extended expertise.
How does the company manage its collaboration with its customers?
We always work transparently by disclosing the composition of our products. With this knowledge, our customers can optimize their processes and correct the required parameters. Pureon is an independent manufacturer with one-stop production – this not only gives us full control over the production process and the quality of our products, but also the freedom to further develop our product range without restrictions. In addition, we consistently invest in research & development, processes, and professionals. This enables us to accompany our customers in the long term.
