BenchTech & Benchalist Partnership: 11 Years of Watchmaker’s Bench Development for Swiss Workshops

Since 2015, BenchTech in Biel and Andreas Görg of Benchalist have combined in-depth industry knowledge with extensive expertise in ergonomic furniture design. What began more than a decade ago through personal contact with the company founder has developed into a close development and distribution partnership for the Swiss watchmaking and jewellery industry. Continuous dialogue with professionals working in workshops has led to the ongoing refinement of watchmakers’ benches that combine outstanding ergonomics with technical flexibility. Workshop managers and watchmakers benefit from durable workstation solutions precisely tailored to the intricate requirements of micro-assembly.

In the workshops of the Swiss watchmaking and jewellery industry, the pursuit of perfection is paramount. When assembling, regulating and restoring complex timepieces, fractions of a millimetre can determine the proper functioning of a movement. The physical demands on skilled professionals are considerable, as working for hours in a hunched position without the right workstation setup can quickly lead to tension in the neck and shoulders. A modern watchmaker’s bench, known in Swiss industry terminology as an établi, therefore serves as the central interface between the watchmaker and their craft. The combination of local market expertise and in-depth design know-how provides the foundation for healthy, highly precise work.

Imagine a watchmaking workshop where craftsmanship and ergonomics work in perfect harmony. The watchmaker sits at their bench, which can be adjusted in just a few simple steps to suit their body dimensions, eye level and preferred working posture. All accessories, including tools, media connections for compressed air or vacuum, and the stereo microscope, are positioned within easy ergonomic reach. There are no obstructive cables, while continuously adjustable armrests provide effective support for the forearms during delicate tasks. Concentration remains consistently high even throughout complex work processes, while muscle tension and premature fatigue are systematically reduced.

Enabling precisely this kind of working environment is at the heart of the partnership between BenchTech and Benchalist. Where conventional standard furniture reaches the limits of customisation, their joint developments go further. The combination of decades of experience in furniture design and direct access to decision-makers and specialists within the Swiss watchmaking industry makes it possible to create workbenches precisely tailored to the day-to-day requirements of watch manufacturers.

The partnership began in 2015. Daniel Paul Allemann, CEO of BenchTech Allemann AG, was introduced to Andreas Görg through a mutual contact in the watchmaking industry. At the time, Görg had already been working extensively on the development of watchmakers’ benches and was looking for a reliable partner in Switzerland to bring his concepts to the market.

Even at that time, BenchTech had an extensive network and a deep understanding of workflows in Swiss workshops through its various industrial projects. The initial discussions quickly developed into a partnership. The objective was clearly defined: to develop professional watchmakers’ benches that fully meet the exceptionally high standards of the Swiss watchmaking industry in terms of stability, vibration-free performance and ergonomics.

The first major joint project for a renowned player in the industry followed in 2016 and 2017. While the details of the project remain confidential, the success of this milestone laid the foundation for the ongoing development of the joint product range.

Image: Benchalist employees at a reference project alongside several high-quality watchmakers’ benches.

To select the right watchmaker’s bench for your workshop, it is worth considering the different models, which are continuously refined in close collaboration with professionals working in the workshops.