22/11/2007
Exclusive watches in classic carbide from CERATIZIT
The Swiss watch manufacturer Rado relies on scratchproof cases from CERATIZIT. Including interview with customer! |
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What do the punctual departure of a train, a tenancy agreement, a game of chess and New Year’s Eve have in common? They are all subject to time. A contribution on the ‘time on the wrist’, the innovative watch manufacturer Rado and CERATIZIT’s role in the production of scratchproof watch cases.
The presentation of the first scratchproof watch in 1962 represented the start of Rado’s success story. Everything began when Rado chief designer at the time, Marc Lederrey, put forward a totally new idea. He was constantly irritated when gold and steel watches, which at the beginning looked beautiful, often showed scratches after only a few days and subsequently had to be polished frequently. Then, tungsten and titanium carbides were only known as extremely resistant materials in the field of high-tech production of special tools. “Making a watch out of this material - that would be the solution," said Lederrey. And Dr. Paul Lüthi, who was at that time the boss of Rado, gave the go-ahead for this development. The result: the first scratchproof watch in the world!
High-tech materials in watch production
Today Rado is one of the most important watch manufacturers in Switzerland. The Rado group has been part of the Swatch group since 1983 and already has more than 300 service centres and more than 8,000 sales points.
While other watch manufacturers apply conventional materials such as gold, copper or steel, Rado counts on high-tech materials of the future. Lanthanum, ceramic, sapphire crystal, high-tech diamond and last but not least carbide. The level of scratch resistance of a material depends on its hardness. Hard materials make scratches in softer materials: diamond makes scratches in sapphire, sapphire in glass, and glass in metal. The harder a material, the more brittle it is, and thus more sensitive to impact. Resistance to scratches therefore is not the same as indestructibility.
Rado has never only focused on beautiful watches. The main decision has always been the selection of the material. In this way design and material combinations are developed which perfectly combine the two functions of a watch: a modern piece of jewellery and a functional time indicator.
Carbide from CERATIZIT for the top watch brand Rado
CERATIZIT has supplied Rado with carbide cases for decades. The development and the production of the cases started at the beginning of the 1960's at the Reutte site. Now they are produced in Mamer, Luxembourg and are then subjected to several machining processes at Rado’s subcontractors until they become high-quality watches. Marc Lanners, production manager of the watch case line in Mamer: “The most tricky thing when producing watch cases is aesthetic quality. The preparation of the feedstock (a mixture of powder and binder) is of maximum importance in order to be able to fulfil the quality requirements. Both surface and form have to be absolutely perfect. This is why quality control is obviously extremely important for these products. We have very precise control systems.”
“We produce tens of thousands of carbide watch cases per year, today we have five models,” says Hans Müller, business segment manager of special industrial wear parts. “Even for these high-quality products the life cycle is continuously decreasing. We must therefore react ever faster. The latest case model was developed within only four months by CERATIZIT.”
Interview with Peter Oppliger, Rado Purchasing Manager
How did the partnership with CERATIZIT start?
Oppliger: The partnership began in the middle of the 1980’s. After carrying out a detailed study about batch production of our model ’The Original’ whose success has been unparalleled since 1962, we decided to modify our production method. We no longer wanted to produce the watch crown of our top model through pressing but through injection moulding. So we referred to Cerametal in Luxembourg.
Why does Rado count on carbide from CERATIZIT?
Oppliger: CERATIZIT has a reputation as a reliable business partner. Its extensive know-how in the field of carbide injection moulding enables embossing of our logo in the watch case. In this way it’s also easier for us to proceed against counterfeits.
What is important with regard to the watch cases? What are the special characteristics and properties?
Oppliger: Since its foundation 50 years ago Rado has always been a watch manufacturer who has focused specifically on technology and innovative batch production processes. At the time of the market launch the objective was to create a watch on which time would leave no traces, i.e. a scratchproof watch. For this purpose you need a hard and sufficiently shockproof material. Carbide combines these characteristics and in addition is a visually pleasing material, which is extremely important for watches.
What are the current projects and further developments?
Oppliger: Following its pioneering spirit Rado is working on several projects simultaneously; however, we are unable to discuss anything particular about them right now. CERATIZIT has offered us a very interesting new carbide which is light and hardly releases any nickel. So it can continuously be in contact with the skin. This new material allows us to think about many possible applications for the future.
Are there any materials which compete with carbide?
Oppliger: In a certain respect high-tech ceramic manufacture which was introduced in the watch industry by Rado, is a carbide competitor. Its lightness and hypoallergenic properties make this ceramic a material which can be easily worn on the wrist without complications.
What would CERATIZIT have to optimise in order to score additional points and to get more business?
Oppliger: As for every other supplier for us it seems important to maintain close cooperation and good communication. As these are luxury articles where aesthetics and quality are basic requirements it is obviously decisive to guarantee consistent and impeccable quality.
The Rado Story
- In 1917 in Lengnau (canton of Bern, Switzerland) the watch producer Schlup & Co. was founded by the Schlup brothers. Later on, this subcontractor for the watch industry becomes Rado Uhren Co. Ltd.
- In 1957 the first watch collection is presented under the brand name Rado.
- Today the Rado products are available all over the world in 180 countries.
- The brand has about 8,000 sales points and more than 300 service centres.
- Rado has around 300 employees.
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