What DUNNER SA does

DUNNER SA is a family-owned Swiss precision tooling manufacturer founded in 1935 in Moutier, Berne, the historical birthplace of automatic turning. The company designs and produces a complete tooling portfolio for automatic lathes (decolletage machines), spanning bar feeding, guide bushings, main-spindle and pick-off collets, tool holders, clamping heads, insert holders, and the proprietary DunnAir air-powered guide bushing system. Core technical differentiators include carbide, ceramic (NewSurf, Certech, Surf) and bronze guide bushings reaching Ultimate Ultra Precision (2 microns runout), patented AirFlex flexible bushings with a 0.50 mm working range versus 0.03 mm for conventional bushings, and a Swiss-patented (2002, internationally extended 2006) large-opening collet.

The business operates a B2B, quote-based hardware sales model in CHF with no public pricing. Go-to-market combines direct sales in Switzerland (a small in-house sales and logistics function) with a network of 45+ authorized distributors and certified system integrators spanning 30+ countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania, complemented by exclusive European distribution rights for partner products such as Masa Tool's Microconic. More than half of production is exported. The customer base is segmented horizontally around use cases — general automatic lathe operators (primary), medical device manufacturers, and watchmaking/micromechanics companies — served through direct relationships and through OEM machine builders including Tornos, Citizen, Index, DMG MORI, and Star Micronics.

The company is controlled entirely by the Dünner family across four generations, with no external investors or parent entity. Current management comprises Daniel Dünner (President, 3rd generation), Yoni Dünner (Production Manager, 4th generation), Sébastien Dünner (Administrative Manager, 4th generation), and Catia Dünner (Accountant), supported by two sales-and-logistics staff (six employees in total). Strategic priorities visible from the recent record include progressive broadening of the DunnAir platform across machine sizes and capacities, deepening of the partner ecosystem for complementary tooling lines, and operational modernization following the 2017–2018 facility relocation and LEAN reorganization.

Name

DUNNER SA

Legal name

DUNNER SA

Website

https://dunner.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DUNNER SA is a fourth-generation Swiss precision tooling manufacturer founded in 1935 in Moutier, producing guide bushings, collets, and the proprietary DunnAir system for automatic lathes used in medical device manufacturing, watchmaking, and general bar-turning applications, distributed through 45+ partners in 30+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Moutier

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Precision Tooling Sales: Sale of precision tooling products including guide bushings, collets, tool holders, and specialized systems for automatic lathes. Products sold directly and through international distribution network.
2. Custom Manufacturing: Custom modification and manufacturing services for collets including boring, profiling, grooving, and other customizations. DUNNER is authorized to modify Schaublin products and offers threading insert profiling services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

DUNNER SA manufactures and sells precision tooling components for automatic lathes (decolletage machines). Its product range includes guide bushings, collets, pick-off collets, tool holders, bar feeder tooling, clamping heads, insert holders, and the patented DunnAir pressurized lubrication system. The company also distributes complementary partner products such as the Microconic system for workpiece clamping.

Product overview

DUNNER SA is a precision tooling manufacturer for automatic lathes (bar turning/decolletage machines), producing a comprehensive portfolio of eight core product categories that work together across the machining process. The product lineup includes: Guide Bushings (carbide, ceramic, or bronze inserts, with Ultra Precision and Ultimate Ultra Precision variants), Main Spindle Collets (in-house or Schaublin), Pick-off Collets (sub-spindle work, including MASA Tool Microconic™), Tool Holder Tooling (ER collets and blocks, including Rego-Fix distribution), Bar Feeder Tooling (Vogatec products), Clamping Heads (DT Technologies products), the proprietary DunnAir System (air-powered guide bushing system with AirFlex technology), and Insert Holder Tooling (Swiss Tool Systems SWISS-MICRO). These products span from bar feeding through to finished part output, with key differentiators being ultra-precision tolerances (down to 2 microns), proprietary innovations like the patented DunnAir system (increases tool life by 30%), and partnerships enabling comprehensive coverage of automatic lathe tooling needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DunnAir: Patented air-flexible guide bushing system for automatic lathes that replaces the machine's original rotating guide bushing holder, solving material variation and seizing issues

Quantifiable outcome

• Cutting tool lifespan increased by up to 30% on machines equipped with DunnAir system
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Swiss ToolsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Swiss Tools, based in Bürglen, Switzerland (Thurgau), develops modular boring systems and insert holder solutions. Partner since 2021, Swiss Tools is DUNNER's preferred partner for modular tool holders and insert holders. Their innovative quick-change system (SWISS-MICRO) helps reduce machine downtime and maximize productivity.
• DT TechnologiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019DT Technologies, based in Marnaz, France (Arve Valley), develops and manufactures high-performance clamping heads for machine tool manufacturers and end users. Products are compatible with single-spindle and multi-spindle lathes. DUNNER has been distributing their products since 2019. DT Technologies also supports DUNNER in customization of these products.
• Masa ToolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017MASA Tool, based in Oceanside, California, USA, pioneered the Microconic™ clamping system for small components. DUNNER obtained exclusive distribution rights for Masa Tool products in Europe (excluding Germany and UK) in 2017. The partnership provides innovative solutions for pick-off operations and precision clamping requiring fine adjustment of gripping force.
• REGO-FIXcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1990REGO-FIX is a globally recognized company based in Tenniken, Switzerland, known for ER collets and complete tool holding systems. Both companies share family-owned values and commitment to product excellence. DUNNER has been distributing REGO-FIX products since 1990 and serves as an official distributor of their full program. DUNNER always keeps ER collets in stock to meet urgent needs.
• SchaublincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1950Schaublin, now part of the RBC Group, has been manufacturing collets for over 100 years. Located in Delémont, less than 15 km from DUNNER SA. DUNNER has been distributing Schaublin products since 1950. The long-standing local partnership enables customized solutions for customers based on Schaublin products.
• VogatecminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVogatec, founded in 1986 by René Galli and based in Lajoux, Switzerland, specializes in collets and rotating tips. Products are used for bar feeder equipment (FMB, IEMCA, LNS compatible) manufactured since 1986. Vogatec contributes to preserving regional expertise in precision tooling and enables DUNNER to offer a complete range of bar feeder equipment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Schaublin SA: Swiss manufacturer of collets and workholding equipment for over 100 years, based in Delémont. DUNNER is an authorized distributor and modifier of Schaublin products, making them both partner and direct peer in precision collet manufacturing.
• REGO-FIX: Swiss family-owned manufacturer of ER collets and complete tool holding systems based in Tenniken. DUNNER has distributed REGO-FIX products since 1990, and both compete in the precision tool holder market for automatic lathes and machining centers.
• Vogatec: Swiss manufacturer of collets and rotating tips for bar feeder equipment (FMB, IEMCA, LNS compatible), based in Lajoux. A direct peer in bar feeder tooling, also serving as a DUNNER partner since 1986.
• DT Technologies: French manufacturer of high-performance clamping heads for lathes, based in Marnaz. Direct peer in clamping head manufacturing; DUNNER has distributed DT Technologies products since 2019.
• Masa Tool Inc. US manufacturer of the Microconic overgrip collet system for precision clamping of small components. DUNNER holds exclusive European distribution rights, making them a direct precision clamping peer and channel partner.

Broad incumbents

• Citizen Machinery: Japanese manufacturer of CNC automatic lathes (e.g., L12, L238). DUNNER's DunnAir system has been progressively adapted to Citizen platforms, making Citizen both a major customer and an ecosystem peer in the Swiss-type lathe market.
• Star Micronics: Japanese manufacturer of Swiss-type CNC lathes, distributed through Star Micronics GB/Switzerland. Serves as both a partner in DUNNER's distribution network and a participant in the same precision lathe tooling ecosystem.
• Tsugami: Japanese manufacturer of precision CNC lathes, including Swiss-type machines. Serves similar precision parts manufacturers and represents a comparable machine tool platform that drives demand for DUNNER's tooling.
• Tornos SA: Swiss manufacturer of automatic lathes and multispindle machines, headquartered in Moutier. The first DunnAir system was developed for Tornos's Deco 20, and Tornos serves as both customer and channel partner, making it a closely related participant in the same ecosystem.
• Traub (INDEX Group): German manufacturer of automatic lathes and turning machines, part of the INDEX Group. Operates in the same Swiss-type and fixed-head automatic lathe market that DUNNER's tooling serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dunner-sa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DUNNER SA