The services of the Forum de l'Arc

While SIAMS remains the most important showcase, the premises offer many other possibilities for companies in the Jura Arc.

Acquired by the town of Moutier and the SIAMS SA company, the former Tornos Professional Centre, now the Forum de l’Arc, has since 2008 been home to the Technical Watchmaker Show which goes by its French name Salon des industries de l’automation, de la machine-outils et de la sous-traitance (SIAMS for short), organised by the Fondation Arc Jurassien Industrie (FAJI SA). In order to ensure the smooth running of this space, the owners have set up a new Board of Directors whose task is to manage, enliven and make the building profitable. Catherine Hahn, a specialist in property management, chairs this new body.

Four areas of activity offered
The business hotel consists of office space and workshops. The FAJI Foundation already rents office space there and there are still many square metres available for co-working spaces or for one or more small SMEs. As far as the workshops are concerned, negotiations are underway with a company to rent a floor. It goes without saying that these solutions are linked to permanent areas that do not have to be emptied every two years
for SIAMS.

The activity hotel offers many possibilities for those wishing to organise sports activities or rent surfaces and are for example currently used for tennis, golf, dog training, cycling club as well as the rental of parking spaces for camper vans.

The exhibition area is known because of the SIAMS and Moutier expo, but many other events are possible and organisers are working on setting up new concepts.

The congress hall is regularly used during SIAMS, but the Forum officials want to offer more. Investments have been made in the refurbishment of the premises and the large hall has been equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual and scenographic systems to accommodate congresses for up to 200 people. Numerous partnerships have also been established to provide all the related services.

Young designers to the rescue
To develop the new image of the Forum de l’Arc, the organisers have decided to give a chance to newly graduated young designers. Pierre-Yves Kohler, who is in charge of communication for the Forum de l’Arc, explains: “With FAJI and the Forum de l’Arc, our mission is to promote companies and regional skills, which we do very strongly with SIAMS. But we also want to support the next generation in technical professions, in particular with the #bepog programme. It seemed only natural to us to give young enthusiasts the chance to create a new image for this tool, which is dedicated to serving the Jura Arc.”

Because Moutier is worth it
Moutier has become known worldwide due to the SIAMS, albeit in a very targeted microtechnical way, which is why the Forum de l’Arc aims to further strengthen the reputation of the city and the region. In conclusion, Catherine Hahn, a Neuchâtel native who has lived in England, explains: “Moutier and the entire Jura Arc region offer fertile and exciting soil. We are a far cry from bling-style extravagance and it is a pleasure to work in this region where people keep their word, where common sense prevails and which is a great place in which to live and do business. This region is worth our efforts to help develop it in a positive way and with the Forum de l’Arc we are promoting this cause to the best of our ability.”

The Forum de l’Arc was born thanks to SIAMS
In 1988, a few local industrialists, supported by the Chamber of Public Economy of the Bernese Jura, set up a local event – in a garage – to enable them and their peers in general to get to know each other better and potentially work together. The event was a success and the idea of creating a “real” industrial exhibition in Moutier was launched.

The aim of this event, which was originally expected to be a one-off, was to promote the region’s industries among various economic stakeholders, as well as the population, with a view to enhancing the economic image of the Jura valleys.

Everything happens every fast
The first edition of SIAMS was organised in 1989 at the Moutier ice rink, attracting 86 exhibitors mostly representing industrial companies from the local economic fabric. It was immediately adopted by participants who called for a second edition.

The exhibition adopts a biennial rhythm
The second edition took place in 1990, still in the ice rink but with an already different approach. Taking into account the experiences of the previous edition, the exhibitors implicitly decided to present their products and expertise with a view to marketing them. This second edition drew about hundred exhibitors and several thousand visitors. The organisers thus decided to make it a biennial industrial exhibition.

From ice rink to tent village
From 1992 to 2006, SIAMS grew in size. At each edition, an additional tent had to be built around the ice rink in order to meet demand from new exhibitors. In 2006, the tenth edition featured 530 exhibitors occupying a surface area of 8,600sqm and more than 10,000 visitors took part. During this period, the organisers were constantly making sure that the exhibitors were selected according to their activities so that the exhibition remained truly focused on microtechnology, including means of production. On the other hand, a significant effort was made to promote the show among potential European visitors. In order to definitively establish the exhibition on the competitive European scene, it became a limited company – SIAMS SA – with a more resolutely professional organisation.

A new building for a new stage
Unfortunately, the available infrastructure (tent village) no longer met the requirements dictated by the growing importance of the event for exhibitors and visitors alike. It was in this context that the town of Moutier and the company SIAMS acquired the premises and land of the former Tornos Professional Centre. The latter was converted accordingly and a new building comprising two 4,500 sqm floors was built.

SIAMS in the modern era
Between 2008 and 2018, considerable efforts were devoted to continuously improving the quality and diversity of the exhibitors – while remaining very focused on those active in the microtechnology production chain – as well as the services offered to both exhibitors and visitors. SIAMS continued to become ever more specific and demanding in terms of the products exhibited. This trade fair with its modest scale and an atmosphere combining relaxation, high-quality exchanges and business contacts, stands out as the specialist in products and services for the entire microtechnology production chain. The quality of the visitors and their degree of satisfaction – both of which are regularly measured – prove that SIAMS meets their expectations perfectly.

2018, 2020 and beyond
In 2018, the sixteenth edition of SIAMS attracted 450 exhibitors and 14,000 visitors. The 2020 edition, which will take place from November 10th to 13th, has been sold out for a year in terms of rented space

April 09, 2020