Tornos France, a subsidiary of the Swiss Tornos Group, is a long-established machine tool manufacturer specializing in bar turning, particularly with sliding headstock lathes. With over 140 years of experience and a presence in more than 20 countries, the Group boasts thousands of installations worldwide in high-precision sectors such as the automotive, medical, and luxury industries. Thanks to its state-of-the-art machine park, Tornos is today a leading technology partner for complex, high-value-added applications.
The synergy between Eural and Tornos underscores the industry’s growing interest in lead-free aluminum solutions that combine high performance with stable and reliable machining processes. Added to these advantages is surface quality, which is particularly important in this sector, as it demands high and consistently maintained aesthetic standards over the long term. In this context, the material’s ability to ensure shiny and homogeneous surfaces—which serve as an ideal base for subsequent treatments and coatings with precious metals such as gold, silver, or palladium—is a key factor in further enhancing the quality and aesthetic appeal of the final product.
Eural’s 2033 alloy opens up new possibilities for the luxury and watchmaking industries
In the luxury and watchmaking industries, which have traditionally relied on other alloys such as leaded brass, there is a growing recognition of the need to use more sustainable materials—in response to legal, environmental, and safety requirements regarding skin contact. In this scenario, lead-free aluminum offers a concrete alternative that combines technical performance, lightness, and greater sustainability while maintaining consistent quality standards. At the heart of the project is the Eural 2033 alloy, which is characterized by excellent machinability in terms of chip formation—a decisive factor in automated machining and, at the same time, the greatest operational challenge. Added to these advantages is the assurance of greater operational continuity, which leads to a reduction in tool breakage or wear. The 2033 alloy thus represents a solution that anticipates market developments and is the ideal choice for the most demanding market segments.
Practical application, tangible results: the field test of alloy 2033
At Simodec, and to demonstrate the alloy’s qualities, Tornos put its Swiss XT turning machine through a live demonstration to produce a practical, lightweight, and durable object that showcases the potential of both the machine tool and the material used. The choice fell on a pocket knife, where functionality and aesthetics go hand in hand, to highlight not only machining performance but also the final result in terms of surface quality and material yield—aspects that are becoming increasingly important in the respective industries of both companies. The product, designed from the outset according to a “full-metal” philosophy, has succeeded in maximizing the alloy’s properties without heterogeneous materials compromising performance. Unlike the most common versions, which feature plastic or wooden inserts or components, every element is made exclusively of metal: the handle is made of 2033 alloy, the blade and ring are made of stainless steel, and the screw is made of titanium.
Specifically, the handle was machined through turning, milling, drilling, and threading, followed by a final finish via tumbling, which produced a particularly glossy surface. The use of tools designed for steel, combined with an increased cutting speed, also contributed to improved chip removal. The results achieved demonstrated high machinability and production continuity, as well as unparalleled surface quality. Added to this is the end product’s solid mechanical strength, even under impact, and its full compatibility with surface treatments such as anodizing and decorative surface finishes.
Patrice Armeni, Managing Director of Tornos France, explains: “This application has demonstrated the potential of Tornos machines and their actual efficiency in the precision machining of a high-performance material such as Eural Gnutti’s 2033 alloy in practice.” And he adds: “Even though material selection is not within our area of responsibility, the insights we’ve gained lead us to recommend this alloy to our customers.”
Sébastien Vadillo, Sales Manager for France at Eural Gnutti, comments: “I would like to thank the Tornos team for their fruitful collaboration, which enabled us to quickly determine the optimal parameters and confirm the value of the 2033 in new application areas as well.” He concludes: “The contribution of Eural’s Machining Trials Service, which supports customers, made it possible to guide the selection toward the most suitable alloy and thus accelerate the transition from concept to production.”
