History
1992
Establishment of Forplan AG by Walter Forster sen. based in Biel/Bienne.
Main activities: Planning and Engineering of machinery projects for the screw industry.
1994
Presentation of the first in-house development by Forplan AG:
The Forplan Multi magnetic feeding system for the automatic parts feeding of roll forming machines.
1998
Move to location Bernstrasse 18 in Bruegg.
Partnership with CABER Impianti Srl, Carate Brianza / Italy:
Sales of continuous washing machines for cleaning of mass goods.
2004
Beginning of the strategic partnership with LM Finishing Systems:
Automated treatment systems for cold-formed parts: washing, coating, de-oiling, sealing, drying.
2006
Beginning of the mass finishing technology.
Sales of equipment and processes for the automatic mass finishing technology.
Establishment of a laboratory for the development of customized and part-specific solutions in the mass finishing technology.
2011
Mass Finishing Laboratory moves to location Bernstrasse 24 in Bruegg.
2013
Company handover from the founder Walter Forster sen. to his sons
Bruno, Walter jr. and Adrian Forster.
2014
Presentation of the first rack-dip-spin coating system for zinc flake coatings.
2016
Presentation of the ergospin+ planetary vibratroy finishing system.
For highest demands in the areas polishing and deburring of parts in the following business sectors: Medical industry, watch industry micro mechanics, jewellery industry, pharmaceutical and automotive industry.
Partnership with ABT Söhne AG in Zofingen:
Manufacturing of self-designed equipment.
2017
Establishment of the branch office Forplan Technology AG in Villingen-Schwenningen / Germany.
Activities: Project management, engineering and purchasing.
2018
Premiere of the self-designed planetary coating line FORPLANET 515 for highest demands in regard of coating of mass goods - enables outstanding coating results combined with significant lower paint consumption.
With the acquisition of company Abt Söhne AG in Zofingen, Forplan AG is now able to fully produce large systems in-house for the first time.
2019
Forplan constists for the first time of a team of 50 colleagues.
2020
Presentation of the high-performance coating system Forplanet XXL.
Revolutionary overall concept with the potential to revolutionize zinc flake coating.
2021
Delivery of the first complete Forplanet XXL coating system to EOT Oberflächentechnik.
2022
U.S. market expansion in partnership with company Hanna Finishing Solutions on site, in the field of coating and pretreatment.
2023
Grant of the German patent for the Forplanet XXL coating system.
Relocation of our headquarters to new premises in Biel/Bienne, at the heart of Swiss watchmaking.
2024
Grant of the European patent for the Forplanet XXL coating system.
Delivery and commissioning of Forplanet XXL system no. 10 to company to Bulten in Poland.
Commissioning of our newly established process development laboratory.
Partnership with company Ecoclean, a globally active enterprise headquartered in Germany, specialized in high-end cleaning technologies.
The three brothers and their friends founded company 5er GmbH out of passion, which produces and distributes the gin of life. www.5er-gin.ch
2025
Installation of a fully automated cleaning system (WatchLine model) from Ecoclean.
Presentation of a new mass finishing system named varyon.
Market development in the U.S. in the field of mass finishing.