Capsa, the giant of miniature

Enthusiastic about its tradition and innovation, Capsa likes to call itself the «giant of miniature». Totally independent, the enterprise benefits from flexibility which enables it to guarantee the rapid response and dynamism that are so highly appreciated by its clients. Striving constantly to develop cutting edge technologies, the firm is regarded as the leading producer of small components for watch exteriors and movements.

Behind the 120 daily order lines, Daniel Streit, company CEO, and his 180 staff members are hard at work operating more than 400 machines. Their mission is to anticipate needs, guarantee a measure of flexibility and supply a wide range of products.

History
The history of Capsa began as that of a... bicycle manufacturing company. Camille Piquerez SA was founded in 1935 in Bassecourt in the Canton of Jura. Wishing to change its field of activity the company moved to La Neuveville (Bern) and began to make watch components in 1951. At that time it employed ten persons in the factory, fifteen home workers and operated fifteen machines.

To concentrate its energies on a single segment, Capsa began to manufacture sprung bars for watch cases in 1958, becoming the first enterprise to automate certain operations and use machines incorporating a new technology of the Esco type. With its steep increase in productivity, the firm rapidly became the world’s biggest producer of bars for the watch industry.

True to its commitment to innovation, in 1975 Capsa went on to invent the system of tubes + slotted pins which was to be used later all over the world for the assembly of watch straps. On the eve of the year 2000, Capsa industrialised its assembly department by developing and manufacturing robots and automatic units. Enlargement then became essential. The company set up a technical office and thirty new machines. In 2002 the firm introduced innovative very high speed machining technologies and diversified its production. In 2004 it expanded once again, moved more than 180 machines and grouped its workshops, stock, despatch and invoicing departments together. Continuing its momentum, Capsa diversified further by extending its activity to include the production of components destined for watch movements.

In addition to the 10,000 m² obtained by the enlargement of its premises in 2014, the company put up a new 5,000 m² building in 2016 designed to support its long-term development.

Expertise
The quality, precision and fine design of the products signed by the company hold the key to its reputation; it specialises in high precision profile-turning, micro-profile-turning and milling. Not only does it develop its own automatic machines, it also modifies standard machines enabling them to be adapted to specific needs.

Its long experience and the diverse nature of its activities enable it to supply a broad selection of products (over 150,000 references in the 0.1 to 12 mm diameter range) from a unique prototype to series of several million pieces, ranging from the simplest to the most complex.

The Research and Development Department accompanies clients on their specific projects. From the outset, or while their work is in progress, Capsa deploys all its skills at the service of its clients to lead the orders placed with it through to a successful conclusion.

Production, methods and processes
Acquired over its many years of activity, Capsa’s experience enables it to occupy a leadership position on the watch components production market. Its installed machinery includes traditional Tornos and Esco-type (from 3 to 13 coordinates) profile-turning machines, CNC machining centres (5 coordinates), loading robots, correcting machines and automatic assembly units.

To provide a comprehensive service, Capsa also offers operations to back up profile-turning and milling, such as heat treatment, polishing, fine-brushing, blocking (black polishing) nickel-plating, gilding, blueing, engra-ving, burnishing, cutting and lacquering. To meet its clients’ orders, the company works in materials such as gold, platinum, palladium and silver, as well as stainless steel, titanium and sometimes even synthetics.

Some years ago Capsa introduced lean management in its industrial organisation system in order to enhance its performance and staff development. Its twofold objective is to ensure complete satisfaction of its clients’ wishes, while also assuring the success of each employee. To that end, several actions have been conducted including, in particular, the introduction of a steering system for the workshops known as the Manufacturing Execution System (MES, see at the bottom of the page).

Exterior parts
Developed by Capsa, watch exterior parts - fixing, decorative or functional elements - make up the bulk of its activity. This activity involves not just profile-turning but also milling, lathe working, assembly, bending and stamping.

Movement components
Capsa has diversified its production to manufacture high precision components for use in watch movements; that part of its activity is growing rapidly today. To that end, the firm has acquired the necessary facilities in terms of machinery, processes and human resources. It includes specialities such as cutting and burnishing. Elements to fix the movement, parts for the mechanism, transmission and various pivoting components complete the range supplied by the company. At the very limit of visible components, the enterprise is engaged in the universe of small parts without which the movement could not work.

Benefiting from a regional heritage of manual skills and high micro-mechanical precision, Capsa continues to train apprentices every year, so playing its part in the development and future of its region. Constantly updating its machinery and tools, the enterprise is at the cutting edge of modern technology. Through mechanical and manual quality control, it meets the highest possible standards. Rigour, elegance, high precision: the company is a genuine technician at the service of creators - a discreet partner of master watchmakers.

Key dates

• 1935 Incorporation of the Camille Pique-rez Company Limited in Bassecourt (Jura) with production of Jurassia and later Stella bicycles.
• 1951 Camille Piquerez SA moves to La Neuveville and branches out into the ma-nufacture of watch industry components.
• 1958 The firm confines its activity to the production of sprung bars for watch cases.
• 1975 Invention of the tubes + slotted pin system.
• 1990 Construction of Factory 3.
• 1998 Daniel Streit appointed Director.
• 2002 Integration of new machining techniques.
• 2004 Factory 3 is enlarged.
• 2005 The company diversifies its range of activities.
• 2009 Patented system for locking watch exterior parts.
• 2014 Award of Responsible Jewellery Council certification guaranteeing compliance with ethical, environmental and human standards.
• 2016 Construction of a new building on the former site of Factory 2.

MES: more than 100 machines connected today
Communication between production resources and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) remains difficult because their objectives, time bases, users and technologies differ. That is why Capsa has developed the MES concept which establishes a link between the production resources and the ERP, taking on board all the information about production. This makes real time analyses possible while potential production deviations from the initial planning can be anticipated.

Once the first pieces have been made, the system analyses the production rate and takes due account of imponderables to calculate a dependable final delivery date in the light of the real production parameters. MES is fed from the outset with the manufacturing orders sent by ERP. It goes on to determine the sequences of operations to be performed and transmits manufacturing directives or instructions. In order to analyse and control costs, quality and delivery dates, MES recovers a range of data concerning manufacturing, passage times and cycles, verifications made, production downtimes and maintenance. The workshop performance is therefore measured by means of an overall indicator known as TRS (Synthetic Yield Rate). These decision-making elements are essential to steer a modern and dynamic production site, so enabling Capsa to guarantee a constant rapid response and precise communication with its clients.

November 10, 2016