Although the production of forged knives involves the same skilled trades as before, the manufacturing methods have changed tremendously.
Today whenever a new range of knives is launched, this is systematically preceded by a study, analysis and virtual design phase, and production is launched on lines that are automated to a considerable extent.

From design...

The design phase is crucial in the development of a range of knives. Indeed, it is the design that governs the whole success of the future range.

The first phase consists of discussions around the needs of the users and the market in general. Consumer surveys and clarification of emerging culinary trends and the technical innovations that become available are essential stages.

The second phase covers the materialisation of the concepts, that often relies on a design study. The design office staff consult each other and suggest possibilities on how the needs detected could be satisfied. The team are guided in this task by a designer whose role is to put these ideas into physical form, as sketches then with dummies.

Once the dummy has been approved the CAD (computer assisted design) service takes up the challenge. The industrial draughtsman creates a 3D model of the future knife, reproducing the designer's sketch and dummy as faithfully as possible. This is the concretisation phase for the future knife, during which the technical difficulties liable to arise during production are anticipated.
The draughtsman then provides detailed drawings of the various parts of the knife, validates the feasibility and produces the variant references desired. The purpose of this work is to make it easier to develop the production tools for the knife (forging tool, handle or handle-side moulds, etc).

The last step before launch on the production lines consists of a prototype phase, meaning the manufacture of a very realistic version of the future knife.

SABATIER Diamant has a design office and R&D department whose task it is to carry out the whole design phase, from the study of requirements to the production of prototypes.