Precision is one of the essential elements in high precision turning. Therefore companies looking for ultra precision feed their machines with bars whose dimensions and surface finishes are fully mastered and guaranteed. A company provides these to them. Meeting with Ms. Anne-Marie Liechti, Director of the company of the same name located in Moutier, in the heart of the world of high precision turning.
Deep understanding of the material "The company was founded in 1939 in order to make machines and tooling and from this time we had to learn to master grinding. As early as 1969 we’ve started the activity of centerless grinding" says Ms Liechti. With 42 years of experience in this type of operations, we may think that the company "knows everything" but no. Ms. Liechti seeks tirelessly to improve processes and develop the company. She says: "I grew up with this company, the metal we are dealing with is not inert and over the years, we have learned to really feel it, we are really in affinity with it".
At the micron scale And it’s better to be in affinity with the material to be able to machine it with such quality. Precision as well as surfaces finishes are of course dependent on the requests of customers. We talk about dimensional tolerances in the order of a few microns on bars long of several meters and surface finishes in the order of Ra 0.10 or 0.20 Ra.. Finished parts reach also high specifications, for example Ms. Liechti shows me an automotive injection component whose diameter should stay in a range of 2 microns.
No doubt about quality… When we produce in so tight tolerances, any drift leads very quickly out of range. For this reason, the company controls 100% of its production. Ms. Liechti says: "In the example of the automotive part that I’ve shown you, we have a margin of two microns, each piece coming out of the machine is controlled and must reach +/-1 µ, i.e. being in the centre of the tolerance. If a drift is found, the next piece is corrected. We check also 100% of the bars we machine". And it is not without pride that Ms. Liechti explains that for several decades, she has no memories of any return of machined merchandise.
Liechti SA is looking for people To cope with the growth of its activities, the company is looking for one or more skilled professional in technology or microtechnology. The profile? A person with good base of mechanics, age about 30 years and looking for a stable position. Workplace: Moutier (Switzerland). In case of interest, you can contact Ms. Liechti at the coordinates indicated at the end of the article.
A rare combination Liechti SA combines two essential elements that make up its success*. This combination is no secret, there is nothing revolutionary, but its implementation is not that simple. At Liechti SA, it works… and wow in what a way!
Liechti SA 2740 Moutier Tel: + 41 32 493 13 86 Fax: + 41 32 493 57 52 [email protected]
* Yep... to tell you the company’s recipe, we will publish a complete article on Liechti SA in our next issue!
PS: Guess what? This is one of those companies that gave me the idea to say working is better than winning lottery! (see here)
