Audemars Piguet Inaugurates its New Arc Manufacture in Le Brassus

The 23,700 m2 building, 321 metres long and designed by Giuli & Portier architects, brings together under one roof nearly 700 employees who were previously spread across several industrial sites in the Vallée de Joux. Construction began three years ago and was entrusted to the company Totale Alpenda.

This new factory aims to offer the brand improved performance in terms of production flow, working comfort and synergies between departments, in order to optimise the brand's technical expertise. According to CEO Ilaria Resta, the need is not so much to increase production as to focus on innovation. She explains: ‘Thanks to a flexible organisation of spaces and working methods, as well as optimised production flows, we are anticipating future developments and continuing to build the brand's future.’ The press release states: ‘Characterised by its open spaces bathed in natural light, glass partitions and numerous areas for interaction, [the building] promotes communication, creative synergies and innovation.’ On this point, Lucas Raggi, Chief Industrial Officer, explained last September to Luxury Tribune: "I had the opportunity to contribute to this key stage, with the mission of rethinking the organisation of spaces to encourage exchanges between professions and expertise. The layout was designed with people at its heart, featuring meeting and relaxation areas. While the production flow remains logically structured, the novelty lies in bringing administrative functions (R&D, industrialisation, HR, for example) closer to the workshops. These teams, which previously interacted remotely, now share the same environment."

The new factory also incorporates a state-of-the-art storage unit, capable of reducing each operation by 15 seconds. Equipped with a Goods to Person (GTP) system, it uses shuttles to transport components and parts to the right workshops. Standing 15 metres high and equipped with 66 robots, this automated tool can perform up to 350 movements per hour (1,200 by 2030). ‘The aim is to streamline operations by reducing interruptions. Beyond the operational gains, it's about giving meaning back to everyone's work by reinforcing the value of their contribution within the production chain,’ explained Lucas Raggi.

Efforts have also been made to improve the energy management of the Minergie Eco-certified building in order to limit its environmental impact: green roof, heat recovery from machines, wood heating, photovoltaic panels, electrochromic facades providing natural light adapted to the brightness of the surroundings – the latest technologies have been incorporated throughout.

Finally, in an innovative move that will support the brand's innovation, Audemars Piguet's industrial division has developed ‘different prototype manufacturing units that are independent of existing production facilities. These new bespoke capabilities will be divided between Le Locle and Le Brassus,’ Lucas Raggi explained exclusively to Luxury Tribune. ‘We are now equipping ourselves with bespoke innovation capabilities, and consequently with a number of machines and employees for movement, finishing and the development of new materials. We call these Fab Labs.’

Based in Le Brassus since 1875, Audemars Piguet celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2025. It is the oldest independent, family-owned manufacturer in the Haute Horlogerie watch industry (the Audemars and Piguet families). Today, it produces nearly 51,000 watches per year, with a turnover of more than 2.3 billion Swiss francs in 2025.