The Mikron Group develops and markets machining and automation solutions for high-precision manufacturing processes, thus enabling its customers to enhance productivity and quality. It is all about making the ideal solution available to customers, says Bruno Cathomen, CEO of the Mikron Group. "Our customers always demand the highest quality combined with the highest productivity. This is one of Mikron's core competencies as a company." However, it must be clarified that Mikron is not simply a company specialising in delivering products and services. The company consists of two divisions, each with its own specialists who work on different, highly specialised products to serve its distinct markets. First, there is the Mikron Machining division. "This division comes into play when customers are looking to optimise their high-volume machining processes," says Axel Warth, Mikron Machining's head of marketing and business development. Mikron Machining is the leading supplier of customised, highly productive machining solutions for the manufacturing of complex high-precision components made of metal. The high-performance cutting tools required for optimal work are also engineered and produced in-house by Mikron Machining. For example, a customer operating in a typical machining factory and making precision metal components would need 10 machining centres for production. "These can be replaced by one highly productive system from Mikron Machining," Warth says. What previously required 18 people working on a three-shift system in a 200-square-metre space can now be achieved by three employees in a space of just under 100 square metres. The customer saves money, works more efficiently and, thanks to the solution from Mikron, does so with maximised precision and the highest possible output. Approximately 8 million vehicle components are produced per day on high-performance Mikron systems around the world. "We work with our five standard base machines," Warth adds. "The company then builds on this foundation to create exactly the manufacturing solution the customer needs, complete with the right high-precision cutting tools. We obviously need a great deal of engineering expertise to build these machines." The level of precision at which these manufacturing solutions operate is shown by the performance figures for the writing instruments market. Stainless steel ballpoint pen tips are produced at speeds of 80 units per minute for single-cycle operation, and up to 300 units per minute are possible for nickel silver or brass in double-cycle operation. These items are manufactured to an accuracy of ±0.002mm. This quality has won the industry's long-term loyalty - 95 per cent of all ballpoint pen tips produced worldwide, or approximately 145 million each day, are manufactured using a Mikron high-performance system. "That makes Mikron the undisputed market leader in this field," Warth says. Automation for extremely demanding customers The company's second division, Mikron Automation, stands out as one of the world's leading manufacturers of customer-specific, high-performance automation solutions. The automation solutions built by Mikron are based on three core competences: precise high-speed assembly and test processes, complex process integration and high quality. "Our production solutions run seven days a week, 24 hours a day. These solutions can deliver assembly speeds from six up to 400 finished devices a minute," says Jean-François Bauer, head of marketing and business development at Mikron Automation. Approximately 45 million products a day are assembled worldwide using Mikron automation solutions, which are used primarily in the pharmaceutical, medical devices, automotive and electric/electronics industries. The standard platforms used for Mikron's automation solutions are suitable for cleanroom production and specially certified for the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries in accordance with strict standards from regulatory bodies such as the US Food and Drug Administration. For instance, 100 per cent quality and reliability are vital for the assembly of disposable insulin injection devices. Patients need absolute certainty that the selected dose is exactly right, as their life could depend on it. More companies are looking to automate their assembly processes even as labour costs remain competitive. The advantages of going to full automation are numerous - ensuring constant quality, reliability of the complex processes and high productivity. Another aspect is the floor space required, which is far smaller than what is required for a manual assembly layout. Mikron's customers include many blue-chip companies from the automotive industry and medical devices sector, and manufacturers of writing instruments. Although the type of machining and assembly work and requirements of its customers may vary, Mikron manages to offer the right solution for every customer. Separate, but with strengths in common Mikron's machining and automation divisions have one very important thing in common: both create value with passion for precision. The divisions focus on high-volume, high-precision and high-quality production, with the aim of generating added value not just for customers and investors, but also for employees. The two businesses focus on different technologies and operate by and large independently of each other. "This allows us to cater specifically to our respective customers, and to do so with the greatest possible efficiency," Cathomen says. However, Mikron strives to harmonise its tools and processes such as those relating to the company's information technology infrastructure. "Most important of all are our shared values, which are based on Swiss innovation and a quality culture," Cathomen says. "Mikron Automation is the market leader in Europe, and we intend to maintain and develop this position," Bauer says. In order to achieve this goal, the division will continue to develop solutions while still preserving its core criteria of precision and quality. In Asia and the US, it intends to strengthen its market position further by applying its proven technology. "Mikron Machining's goal is likewise to maintain and develop further its strong leadership in the market," Warth says. Presence in Asia Mikron Automation has been physically present in Asia since 2008. The acquisition of an existing company in Singapore was the first step in Mikron Automation's strategy to build up its presence in the region. The second step was to develop an automation platform that fits the needs of the Asian market. This goal was achieved in 2010 with the introduction of the EcoLine assembly platform. The third step was the setting up of a factory in Shanghai to best serve the Chinese market. Today, the Shanghai facility is equipped to build complete automated solutions with a team of salespersons and service technicians ready to fully support customers. Mikron Automation has sold assembly and test solutions not only to European customers moving out to China, but also to Chinese companies in the pharmaceutical/medical and automotive industries. Mikron Machining has a track record in China for selling high-speed ballpoint pen tip manufacturing systems since the 1980s. Today, Mikron is the world leader for this application. In addition, Mikron Machining has sold machining solutions to Chinese automotive customers. In past years, Mikron has experienced strong growth in its cutting tools business. "Mikron's vision is clear: we want to be a partner of choice for Chinese companies that need our kind of machining and automation solutions. We want to enable them to enhance both productivity and quality," Cathomen says. About the Mikron Group The Maschinenfabrik Mikron engineering workshop was founded in Biel, Switzerland in 1908. With its gear-cutting machines and tools, Mikron contributed significantly to the industrialisation of the Swiss watchmaking industry in the first half of the last century. From 1960 onwards, Mikron expanded its industrial operations to include, among other things, milling machines, plastic components and machining systems. The company took over two Swiss companies: Haesler in Boudry, which primarily manufactured transfer machines for the watchmaking industry, and Albe in Agno, which with their rotary transfer machining units is the world leader in the provision of machines for the manufacture of ballpoint pen tips. In 1976, the Boudry facility started to design and manufacture assembly machines. Mikron went to the Swiss stock exchange in 1983, and today the Mikron Group has seven production facilities located around the world to best serve its international customers. During the last few years, the company has developed into a global technological leader in the supply of machining and automation solutions for the manufacture of high-precision products in large quantities. Mikron Group http://www.mikron.com