IWC Manufakturzentrum

Perspectives

05 Feb 2020・3 MIN READ

Join us every Wednesday as we survey the horological landscape around the world. From museums in Switzerland to sundials in India, we’ll be drawing attention to locations that ought to be on every horologists list of places to visit. View all entries here.

Location: Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

The Swiss town of Schaffhausen may not lie directly on the conventional tourist trail, but it’s well worth the detour. Located just a 40-minute drive or train ride from Zurich, the historical town is truly beautiful, brimming with architecture that dates back as far as the 11th century. It’s also synonymous with IWC Schaffhausen, which has been headquartered here since the company’s inception in the late 1800s. The watchmaker’s newest manufacturing facility – the IWC Manufakturzentrum – lies a few minutes outside central Schaffhausen and stands in stark contrast to its historical surroundings: the Manufakturzentrum’s contemporary form, sharp angles and forward-thinking construction are decidedly futuristic compared to the Medieval buildings that crowd Schaffhausen’s town centre.

While the IWC Manufakturzentrum itself is certainly a visual marvel, it’s what lies behind its construction that makes it an attraction worth visiting. Opened in 2018, the Manufakturzentrum is a monumental feat of sustainable development. It operates on 100 percent renewable energy (thanks to the 2000 square metres of solar panels that sit on the rooftop) and incorporates a suite of other environmentally friendly design features: smart shades that reflect sunlight and maintain the building’s internal temperature, LED lighting and electric vehicle charging stations are just some of the Manufakturzentrum’s highlights. When it comes to the actual watchmaking, around 400 of the company’s staff operate from the Manufakturzentrum. Here, IWC constructs cases, as well as components for the 52000 and 82000 movements and the 59000 and 69000 movement families, and the building acts as a base for IT, logistics and infrastructure.

You can take a full-day tour of IWC’s facilities to check out both the impressive Manufakturzentrum and the watchmakers in action. The package includes a series of presentations on IWC Schaffhausen and its history, a trip to the IWC Schaffhausen Museum in central Schaffhausen, a guided tour of the Manufakturzentrum, and a presentation of IWC’s collection. You may even get the chance to put the finishing touch on an IWC watch with the help of an expert watchmaker. The experience is a must for IWC aficionados, design buffs and sustainability enthusiasts alike.

Manufakturzentrum Tour

IWC organises guided tours in English and in German for enthusiasts and watch aficionados. The tour includes: