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Tornos and the Arc Upper School of Engineering establish the Tornos Research Center

Tornos and the Arc Upper School of Engineering (HE-Arc Ingénierie) have signed an agreement to establish the Tornos Research Center. This new form of cooperation between two of the major players in the Arc Jurassien region will enable innovative ideas to be turned into technologies applicable to the machine tools of tomorrow. This partnership will allow researchers to secure financial support and to access modern industrial equipment while fostering the creativity of students.

Headed by a director from the group based in the Moutier region, Dr. Pierre Voumard, this research centre places a strong emphasis on the already close relationship between Tornos, the Arc Upper School (HE-Arc) and TT-Novatech.

It focuses on the long-term consolidation of innovation, academic expertise and commercial intelligence within a single entity in order to encourage a shared approach to major technological challenges.

The financial and technological support that HE-Arc and its students will receive each year will be exploited to the full in the context of common projects and other joint ventures. This will give those involved the chance to have a significant impact on the economy of their region.

A major innovation

"Tornos is an important part of the industrial fabric of our region, and engineering schools such as HE-Arc are crucial pillars of local expertise", explains Philippe Jacot, CEO of Tornos SA.

"We are inspired by the same values and passion", he continues. With the Tornos Research Center, which is a first in our field, we are trying to create intellectual competition between our partner, HE-Arc, and the engineers in our company. This new entity will strengthen the collaboration, not only through carrying out R&D projects, but also by stimulating ideas on strategic roadmaps in terms of technology"

According to Brigitte Bachelard, executive director of the Haute Ecole Arc, "the Arc Upper School of Engineering and Tornos have the same history". The creation of this research centre represents an opportunity for the machine tools sector and provides fertile ground for competition and innovation"

"In addition, this partnership corresponds fully to the missions assigned to the HESs (universities of applied sciences) in terms of the close links they need to establish with the world of industry"

The projects to be carried out at the Tornos Research Center will call on the competencies of HE-Arc in the fields of mechanical design, machining processes, advanced testing and mechatronics, as well as modelling and simulation.

ST-IMIER - Switzerland - 24 February 2011

For more information please contact :

Mathias Froidevaux Communication manager at Haute Ecole Arc Tel. +41 32 930 11 07 | +41 (0)76 557 11 07 Mathias.froidevaux [at] he-arc.ch Brice Renggli Marketing And Competitive Intelligence Manager TORNOS S.A T: +41 (0)32 494 46 86 | Mobile: +41 (0) 79 528 29 78 renggli.b [at] tornos.com

Haute Ecole Arc

HE-Arc is the only intercantonal institution forming part of the HES-SO (Haute École Spécialisée de Suisse Occidentale - University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland). Its influence extends across the entire Arc Jurassien region and it brings together the skills of HESs in the cantons of Berne, Jura and Neuchâtel. The university fulfils the 4 missions defined by the HES: "basic education", "postgraduate and continuing education", "applied research and service delivery" and "national and international relations".

HE-Arc provides education in 4 areas (Conservation/restoration, Management, Engineering and Health) and offers 7 Bachelor's programs to a community of almost 1800 students (of which around 1200 are enrolled on Bachelor's courses). HE-Arc Engineering itself offers three HES-SO Bachelor's courses in Microtechnology, IT and E-Designer Engineering over seven training profiles.

It also has five research institutes, including two in Saint-Imier (Institute of Industrial Microtechnology and Institute of Information and Communication Systems) with direct links to partners in the economy.

Tornos

Tornos has been developing, manufacturing and selling single-spindle and multi-spindle automatic turning machines since 1880. Its primary business is in the following sectors: automotive, micromechanics, electronics and medical.

Single-spindle machines with sliding headstock and guide bush, traditionally known as turning machines, are used to machine long parts according to their diameter. They are equipped with numerous tool systems and devices which allow highly complex parts to be manufactured at a high rate.

The multi-spindle machines, which are equipped with 6 or 8 spindles, enable optimal sequencing of operations and are capable of production rates 4 to 6 times higher than single-spindle turning machines.

TT-Novatech

Established just 13 years ago, the TT-NOVATECH multidisciplinary institute has close links to the Arc Upper School of Engineering and is a fundamental contact with whom partners within the economy can undertake applied research and development projects, or benefit from service provision, support and consultancy services. These closely linked services aim to strengthen competition and the proliferation of cutting edge companies.

TT-NOVATECH is able to use its own resources as well as those of the Arc Upper School of Engineering (professors, laboratories, equipment, etc.) to design, develop, improve and even manufacture products of all types requiring specialist and/or multidisciplinary activity in the fields of mechanics, microtechnology, electronics and information and communication technology.