Presentation of the company Cendres+Métaux

The firm’s main activity was processing precious metals from the watchmaking and jewellery industries. Its focus was on recycling precious metals. Its French name stemmed from the ashes and metals resulting from burnt waste. Cendres+Métaux intensified its international development during the latter half of the 20^th century. Expansion took centre stage during the early 2000s and over ten companies have joined the group over a ten-year period. Today, Cendres+Métaux Holding SA comprises the Medtech and Luxury+Industry business units, which are still headquartered in Biel/Bienne. Since 2022, the Group has been headed by Philipp von Büren.

Cendres+Métaux’s core competencies lie in the precise manufacturing of high-quality semi-finished and finished products using micromechanical processes, as well as in the recycling and processing of precious metals. This means the company masters the entire value creation chain.

Watchmaking, jewellery and other industries
Cendres+Métaux has extensive expertise in precious metals recycling and micromechanical manufacturing. The group sells semi-finished and finished products in high-quality materials to customer specifications, in both large and small series. The company also contributes its expertise and know-how to the development of new products, thereby offering an additional service to its customers.

Thanks to the acquisition of various companies, Cendres+Métaux has a solution to suit every need. Active in the watchmaking, jewellery and other industries, the companies within the group are as follows:

• Cendres+Métaux Lux for the manufacture of oscillating weights, links, finished or semi-finished products and the recycling of precious metals.
• Queloz for the development and manufacture of top-of-the-range watch cases in small and medium-sized production runs, where technology and aesthetics are paramount.
• Cronal, specialising in chemical, laser (2D for simple engraving, 3D laser for texturing) and mechanical engraving processes.
• Cornu & Cie for the development and machining of folding clasps, pin buckles and metal bracelets.
• R. Schlierholz, a partner for high-quality, durable surface coatings in the medical, telecommunications, watchmaking and jewellery industries.

Dental and medical technology sectors
In the Medtech sector, Cendres+Métaux is also a trusted partner for customers in the medical and dental sectors worldwide. The company develops and produces proprietary products as well as customer-specific products and services. As a leading partner in the design of implantable components, it meets clients’ wishes with individual, ready-to-use products.

Cendres+Métaux group strategy
Cendres+Métaux has been pursuing a development strategy for almost ten years. Its objectives are stability, healthy growth, competitiveness and job security. The Group aims to control the entire production chain and to continue to diversify into the Luxury goods and Medtech sectors in order to better manage fluctuations. The size of the enterprise favours stability and flexibility.

Cendres+Métaux intends to continue to grow, both organically and through acquisitions. The group is investing in well-established companies and in areas known to management. The firms acquired all offer synergies with Cendres+Métaux and are part of a clear integration plan. In most cases, the group has got to know the companies, management and culture over a long period. Acquisitions are targeted at companies that enable the group to grow in a healthy manner and to remain stable, as well as contributing to maintaining its competitiveness.

Cendres+Métaux as an employer
The group is a modern, sustainable employer with an over 550-strong workforce spanning many years of experience and highly specialised expertise in a wide range of fields. As an ambitious custom manufacturer in the Luxury Goods and Medtech sectors, the group is committed to tailor-made solutions that are produced with respect for people and the environment, with certificates and quality labels of the highest order (ISO 13485, ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, RJC CoP, RJC CoC, L&M-Aba-R, etc.). The company is also a member of the Convention patronale de l’industrie horlogère (Employers’ Association of the Swiss Watch Industry – CP) and the Swiss Association of Manufacturers and Traders in Precious Metals (ASFCMP).

The four values of Cendres+Métaux are expressed through the following characteristics:

• ambitious: precision through know-how and technology;
• authentic: successful partnerships based on quality and trust;
• aware: respect for people and the environment;
• different: added value from diversity and creativity.

Cendres+Métaux devotes great importance to its contribution to the environment and to health and safety in the workplace. In line with its quality and environmental policy, the group applies the following principle: “Quality is an important factor for the protection of people and the environment”. Energy is an important resource for the firm in the manufacture of its products. CO₂, water consumption and other environmental factors also play an important role. In its day-to-day work, the company follows environmental rules in order to meet quality requirements. To this end, the group has drawn up a quality and environmental policy charter.

December 21, 2023