Vuichard SAS is pushing the boundaries of the infinitely small
Founded in 1967, Vuichard SAS continues to grow in the field of precision micro machining. Its most recent investment is a next-generation laser machine supported by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region.
A pioneer in electrical discharge machining since 1968—one year after Michel Vuichard founded the company in the basement of his home—Vuichard SAS has never stopped innovating. Thanks to this process, no fewer than 2 million lighters from the luxury brand ST Dupont have passed through the company over the course of twenty-seven years. Over the years, the company has expanded twice, but has always remained based in the hills above Dingy-en-Vuache, near the family home. When Philippe Vuichard succeeded his father as head of the company in 1998, armed with a degree in mechanical engineering, he established a specialization in micro-drilling to complement the company’s expertise in precision micro-machining.
Today, as Philippe Vuichard points out, the company is one of the few to use 20-micron wire in wire EDM and to produce components weighing less than 0.001 grams.
« Our expertise in die-sinking EDM remains unmatched in France,” the executive emphasizes. “We are the only company in France capable of drilling holes one micron in size—the size of a bacterium—which are invisible to the naked eye, invisible under a magnifying glass, and invisible even under a microscope with a magnification of less than 500 times. »
Specializing in laser micro-cutting
In 2014, the SAS reached a new milestone with the acquisition of a micro-laser cutting machine to meet customer demands for micro-machining and high precision. In 2026, the laser division continued to evolve. Thanks to a grant from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region awarded as part of the “Relocation Package” (40,000 euros), the company purchased a new laser machine (200,000 euros).
« We’re continuing to innovate with an investment in waterjet-guided laser technology,” Philippe Vuichard explains to Christophe Fournier, who was visiting the company’s offices on Thursday, May 7. “This allows us to achieve impeccable cutting quality. »
The only company working on the infinitely small
In order to cope with the decline in business in the watchmaking sector—a trend that became evident in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic—the company now operates in a wide range of industries. These include jewelry, cosmetics, medical devices, aerospace, the automotive industry, defense, as well as specialty materials and the mechanical engineering industry. “We fulfill orders from about a hundred customers a year,” explains the CEO, noting that these are single-unit orders or small production runs. “The parts arrive here already machined. We focus on the details. We can achieve a much higher level of precision in cutting than our competitors,” attests Philippe Vuichard. “Up to ten times smaller,” he asserts.
Brilliant Inventor
Philippe Vuichard continues to put his engineering skills to work for his company by developing his own machines. He reveals that he also developed the concept of micro-turning using electrical discharge machining—a concept he invented in 2018. “This allows us to turn all electrically conductive materials.” This is a significant advantage.
Source: Article excerpted from *Le Messager*, Thursday, May 21, 2026, by Stéphane Grosjean.
