News With establishments between the Neuchâtel mountains, Val-de-Ruz and Vallon de Saint-Imier, the company Nivavox-FAR, which today employs around 750 people, is set to invest massively in its expansion in Fontaines and in the industrial optimisation of the building constructed by Jean Nouvel in Villeret early in the 1990s for Cartier, and bought by the Swatch group in 2004. Into the bargain: the creation of around 165 new jobs over the next three to four years.
After an in-depth examination of the current situation, the Swatch Group subsidiary has decided firstly to transfer its Saint-Imier activities to Villeret (BE), enabling it to put in place optimal industrial conditions for the production of timed oscillators (including production of the balance-spring), an increase in production space, and the chance to offer better working conditions to personnel (car park, company restaurant, air conditioning). The 105 employees based in Saint-Imier (+10 compared to 2005) will keep their jobs, while an increase in manpower of around 30 people is planned over the next four years. The transfer will take place towards the end of 2007 or the beginning of 2008, after major conversion work scheduled to last about a year.
In parallel, Nivarox-FAR has decided to build, in Fontaines (NE), to the west of its existing building, a second industrial building with a floor space of 3,000 m2. This step will allow it to strengthen its research and development activities and to expand its new activities (applique dials, barrel springs and watchmaking screws). After the extension, the workforce in Fontaines will be increased from 160 at present (+37 compared to 2005) to more than 300 employees over a four-year timescale.
November 21, 2006