Customer testimonial - Gilbert Petit-Jean

State-of-the-art equipment for renowned watch movements

Petitjean des Brenets, a company specializing in watch movement assembly for 45 years, supplies up to 400,000 movements annually to renowned watch brands. Such quantities would be unthinkable without the use of appropriate tools. This led to a fruitful collaboration with the Biel-based company Lecureux more than 30 years ago.

Lecureux SA's reputation is largely due to the invention of the first electric screwdriver for the watchmaking industry in the early 1960s. Although the company has since expanded its product range, the screwdriver remains a bestseller and a benchmark for many watchmaking companies.

Guaranteed productivity and quality

The meticulous work involved in assembling a watch movement includes picking up and driving in an average of twenty screws. These operations, performed manually with tweezers, are particularly delicate and, above all, time-consuming. The use of an electric suction chuck screwdriver has significantly reduced the time required for setting and driving the screws, while simultaneously improving the quality considerably.

Philippe Petitjean, the company's managing director, estimates that productivity has increased fivefold thanks to this equipment. "The fact that the fitters can now do without tweezers was a major step forward. However, Lecureux's real strength lies in the fact that they have combined their screwdrivers with various automated systems, transforming them into true production tools." Operations such as driving screws, applying oil, or measuring clearances can thus be carried out during downtime.

The company from Les Brenets, long accustomed to high-volume production, has regularly invested in Lecureux products and now owns around 150 screwdrivers and 120 machines of all generations. This extensive machinery includes two automation lines acquired a few years ago, soon to be supplemented by a third, which has already been ordered. These are significant investments, but the price-performance ratio is very attractive. "These systems wouldn't be suitable for small batches or for watch movements with single screws. On the other hand, they are perfectly suited to our production volumes and to watch movements that use multiple screws of the same size," explains Philippe Petitjean.

The importance of state-of-the-art equipment becomes even clearer when you consider that the company processes up to 25,000 screws per day, depending on current orders. "The most important criterion is the tightening and loosening torque. Once correctly adjusted, Lecureux screwdrivers perform their function reliably over the long term and without any loss of precision."

Continuous development

The Biel-based company listens to its customers and continuously develops innovative solutions. "Lecureux has always improved its tools based on customer feedback. The new generation of screwdrivers, for example, allows for better control of the screw force, and the quality of the bits has also been improved. These changes significantly reduce the risk of damaging screws."

Ergonomic improvements are also regularly implemented to facilitate use. "Using electric screwdrivers takes some getting used to. However, once you've mastered the technique, they quickly become indispensable." Nevertheless, this drive for innovation doesn't mean that tried and tested methods are being discarded.

Unlike many of today's products that quickly become obsolete—whether planned or not—Lecureux screwdrivers have the advantage of being repairable. Simply discarding a model from a few years ago is therefore out of the question. "From bits to sockets, Lecureux guarantees spare parts—regardless of the screwdriver's age," confirms Philippe Petitjean. "With minimal maintenance, these products are extremely reliable, which has naturally contributed significantly to the manufacturer's reputation." This has enabled Petitjean SA to meet its customers' high demands for quality and on-time delivery for decades.

Human relationships and service quality are crucial.

Quality, reliability, and price are, of course, important components of a product – but without good service, the overall package wouldn't be complete. "We've always had excellent contact with our supplier, both with management and with the technicians. Response times are outstanding, and the technical support is extremely competent. If a problem can't be resolved over the phone, a technician is on-site within 24 to a maximum of 48 hours. Knowing that you're taken seriously and that your concerns are heard is a real added value."

The future looks promising

The watch industry, which is regularly subject to fluctuations, had to cope with an unprecedented crisis this year – like many other industries.

Philippe Petitjean explains: “ Suppliers to the watch industry are accustomed to reacting to changes within brands. Unfortunately, periods of euphoria with high staffing needs are often followed by more difficult times in which job cuts become unavoidable. The challenge then lies in meeting deadlines with small teams while simultaneously being ready to respond to new demands. We are currently experiencing another such phase of increasing demand – a significant resumption of activity has been noticeable since mid-August. ”

This gives hope for many more years of cooperation between Petitjean and Lecureux.