Content - History
History
Maschinenfabrik Mikron AG was founded in the Swiss town of Biel in 1908. In the first half of the last century, Mikron played a key role in the industrialization of the Swiss watchmaking industry with its gear-cutting machines and tools. From 1960 onwards, Mikron gradually expanded its activities into new areas, such as milling machines, plastic components, and machining systems. Mikron took over Haesler SA in Boudry (Switzerland), which in particular manufactured transfer machines for the watchmaking industry, and Albe SA Agno (Switzerland), which was a global market leader in machines for the manufacturing of ballpoint pens with its rotary transfer machining units. Mikron went public in 1983.
1908
Maschinenfabrik Mikron AG is founded in Biel, with 35 employees
1921
Mikron launches the first universal gear-cutting machine
1961
Mikron Holding AG is founded
1962 Mikron takes over the transfer machine manufacturer Haesler SA in Boudry, Switzerland
1963
Mikron takes over the gear tester manufacturer J. Goulder & Sons Ltd, UK
1965
Mikron begins volume production of a first type of transfer machine
1970
Mikron enters the production of plastic components
1977
Mikron develops its first assembly machines
1978
Mikron establishes a sales company in the United States, which later becomes a production site
1981
Mikron sells the gear testers product line (Goulder) to an American company
1983
Mikron is floated on the stock exchange
1986
Mikron takes over Albe SA in Agno, Switzerland, the world market leader in production machines for ballpoint pen tips
1989
Mikron launches its first machining center
1989
Mikron concentrates the production of machining systems in Agno, Switzerland
1990
Mikron greatly expands its plastic injection moulding activities by acquiring two Italian firms
1990
Mikron is able to fight off a hostile takeover bid by a group of shareholders and retains its independence
1991
Mikron takes over the gear-cutting machine manufacturer CIMA S.p.A in Bologna, Italy
1994
Mikron sells off its gear-cutting machine business
1995
After the crisis years at the start of the decade and heavy losses in the milling machine business, Mikron Holding AG's shareholders vote in favour of restructuring
1998
Mikron establishes a separate new company, Mikron Tool SA, to operate the cutting tools business
1999
Mikron greatly expands its plastic components business and takes over the Scandinavian group Iplast
2000
Mikron sells its milling machines and machining centers division to the Agie Charmilles Group
2001
Mikron takes over the Dutch group Axxicon, a manufacturer of plastic injection moulds
2002
Massive overcapacity on the world market forces Mikron into restructuring, workforce reductions and plant closures
2005
Mikron sells off its plastic components business
2007
To complete Mikron Machining's product portfolio, Mikron acquires a smaller company in Switzerland and adds a production site in Singapore to Mikron Automation
2009-2011
The two divisions Mikron Machining and Mikron Automation bring innovative, highly promising products and services onto the market
2012
Acquisition of IMA Automation Berlin GmbH