There is no doubt that IWC's new integrated facility is its pride and joy, and one that it is proud to show to the world. In our second outing to the heart of German-speaking Switzerland for the opening of the IWC Manufakturzentrum, there are absolutely no limits on photography or video-recording, and we practically breathe down the necks of some of the watchmakers. This is a far cry from four years ago, when we visited IWC's headquarters and its other key facility at nearby Neuhausen, and strict restrictions were placed on photography, as well as where we could venture.
We would want to show it off, too: Located in Merishausen, a Schaffausen municipality just a ten-minute drive away from the brand's headquarters on Baumgartenstrasse, the 13,500 sqm facility makes a definite first impression. Amid a thoroughly verdant setting, it is a long, low-lying building with a facade dominated by floor-to-ceiling glass windows and rigorously rectangular white concrete structures. Partly designed by the brand's CEO, Christoph Grainger-Herr "an architect and interior designer by training" the facility is meant to see IWC at least 50 years into the future.
06. CLEAN WARDROBE
Watchmakers have to change into special, anti-static coats before entering the class-seven clean room where movement assembly takes place.
Explains Voll: “This means you have a tenfold air exchange per hour. In our 1,200 sqm movement assembly area, that means we have an exchange of 50,000 cubic metres of air per hour. We have two separate airlocks that employees and the watchmakers have to pass before getting into the room.” Also, the pressure here is kept above atmospheric levels, which further helps to keep dust out.
