Joint Technology Center for Surface Treatment and Cleaning of Precision Parts

The equipment of the multi-bath ultrasonic cleaning system includes all procedures and technologies used in the watch industry and by its suppliers for efficient, process-safe, and environmentally compatible cleaning. (Image source: Ecoclean GmbH)

For a perfectly adapted design and optimization of mass finishing processes, the new technology center offers various machines and process techniques as well as a wide range of media. (Image source: Forplan AG)

At the opening of the joint technology center at the end of March 2025, numerous guests also inquired about the possibilities of contract manufacturing. (Image source: Forplan AG)

With the new Technology Center, which Swiss Forplan AG and Ecoclean GmbH / UCM AG opened in Biel at the end of March 2025, the companies are jointly expanding their capacities for process development and optimization as well as contract processing in the areas of vibratory finishing and fine cleaning of precision parts. The combined processing capacities, which complement each other in manufacturing steps, enable customers and interested parties based in Switzerland from the watch industry, medical technology, fine mechanics, as well as general precision parts manufacturing to conduct relevant tests in a concentrated and local manner.

Increasing demands on the surface quality and cleanliness of precision parts require customer- or part-specific, economical, and sustainable solutions both in vibratory finishing and component cleaning. It seems obvious to offer customers and interested parties test and processing capacities for the complementary manufacturing steps under one roof. This idea has been realized by the Biel-based Forplan AG and Ecoclean GmbH/UCM AG with a joint test center. It was established at Forplan's headquarters in Biel and covers the entire manufacturing chain of precision parts production, especially in the watch industry, medical technology, fine mechanics, and general parts manufacturing.

State-of-the-art technology for vibratory finishing and cleaning

The new center is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and plant technology. Various machines and process techniques are available for vibratory finishing, as well as a wide range of processing media (abrasive and polishing bodies, powders, compounds, pastes, and granulates). This diversity allows processes to be precisely tailored and optimized according to specific requirements.

For part cleaning, a UCMWatchLine multi-bath ultrasonic cleaning system tailored to the requirements of the watch industry and its suppliers has been integrated. The equipment of this cleaning system includes all procedures and technologies used in this industry for efficient, process-safe, and environmentally compatible cleaning. This allows for the development of the technically and economically optimal cleaning solution for specific tasks, such as removing grinding and polishing pastes. Additionally, trials are offered with systems that, due to their equipment and flexibility in process design, meet the high requirements for cleaning components from the medical technology sector and other industries with strict cleanliness specifications. This includes, for example, the Pulsated Pressure Cleaning (PPC) process, which ensures that contaminants are reliably removed even from very complex geometries, narrow lumens, and fine structures.

Surface finishing and component cleaning as a service

In addition to trials for designing and optimizing system technology and processes, the companies in the technology center also offer contract processing in vibratory finishing and cleaning. This is particularly interesting for companies when investing in appropriate equipment for a new series part is not yet economical due to batch sizes. It is also relevant when new processes need to be developed to meet increased cleanliness requirements or for parts that have higher cleanliness specifications than the rest of the product range. In both cases, customers benefit from the fact that, unlike traditional contract processing, the developed vibratory finishing or cleaning processes can be delivered immediately with a later investment in plant technology.