A large proportion of the production of the two Swissmetal plants consists of machinable alloys, a fact that can be explained by the historical evolution of machining technology. In a development paralleling that in the watchmaking industry, the first rudimentary metal cutting machines were operated by homeworkers in a region stretching from the Haute Savoie across the entire Jura chain to the Black Forest.

The advent of industrialization increased demand for shaped metal parts, in response to which the Boillat factory began producing brass rods at the beginning of the 20th century. Expansion of this branch of business coincided with the development of the first automatic sliding lathes in Moutier, and later also in Germany and France. The high global standing of these machines plus the high standards demanded (especially by the watchmaking industry) spurred on the factories – now part of Swissmetal – to continually improve the quality of their products. Hence our reputation for top quality and reliability worldwide.

Many developments were initiated in Switzerland over the past decades, and most are now regarded as setting world standards. The Swissmetal plants have succeeded to this day in retaining their lead in quality and performance. Our aim is to continuously upgrade our production processes so that we can offer our customers products for machining that meet the most stringent standards.

By perfecting alloy variants with good machinability and excellent mechanical properties for cold forming, and by developing to market maturity high-strength machining alloys made from environment-friendly metals, the Swissmetal plants have provided solid proof of their innovative strength and performance.

Swissmetal products industry of machine and appliance feature a wide variety of alloys of different shapes and strengths to match the wide range of customer specifications. Copper alloys – especially leaded brass, special brass, nickel silver, aluminium bronze and also lowalloy copper alloys – offer solutions to many problems. Even complex production processes can be rationalized by using sections that have been developed jointly with the customer.Customers can achieve high added value by working together with Swissmetal at an early stage to identify the best solutions in terms of materials and costeffectiveness.

There is virtually no limit to the types of machines and appliances in which copper alloys can be used in advantage – thanks to their specific properties or combinations of properties and/or matched section shapes. The most important properties, some can be combined, are as follows.

For further processing:

• Outstanding machinability
• Excellent hotworking properties (near netshape forming)

For applications:

• Special frictional characteristics
• Great strength at high temperatures
• Corrosion resistance
• Non-scaling even at high temperatures
• Non-sparking Amagnetism

Wire erosion machines are indispensable in metal processing today. All the requirements for the further development of this process centre around the eroding wire used as the tool. Swissmetal enjoys an excellent reputation as a supplier of wire stock which is subsequently shaped into eroding wire by specialized companies. Its excellent shaping properties are attributable to leadfree brass of the highest purity and constant monitoring of quality during all operations. Under the new regulations, lead may only be present in water in minuscule quantities. Swissmetal offers special leadfree grade hotworking and that can machining properties replace the traditional leaded brasses in coffee machines and other appliances using water. It can be used in all applications where certification is required that the liquid (coffee, tea, water) has not absorbed lead.