The central bank last month abandoned its cap on the Swiss franc, causing the currency to strengthen and prompting firms across Switzerland to warn of a plunge in profits. The 1.20-per-euro cap had protected the export-reliant economy from the effects of a strong currency since 2011.

"We did the math, and would have gone into the red from normal profitable numbers this year if we hadn't done anything," said Adrian Fuchser, the head of Schneeberger AG Lineartechnik, a maker of precision machinery.

The small family-owned firm of 230 employees is typical of one whose products became far more expensive to euro zone customers overnight.

Ripples of the currency cap removal are expected to spread in the coming months, from the tourism sector that took an instant hit, to banking and engineering.

Some think tanks such as the KOF Swiss Economic Institute have warned that the move economy could tip the economy into recession this year, with exports sliding and the unemployment rate rising to 3.4 percent - still low in comparison with the rest of Europe.

CREATIVE APPROACH

Analysts estimate that most global players on the Swiss blue-chip index <.SSMI> will be spared a major hit from the strong franc because their global footprint means their sales and costs are spread out over a variety of currencies. But small- and medium-sized companies have fewer natural defenses.

Schneeberger's Fuchser said he had no choice but to respond aggressively to the central bank's decision. Based in Roggwil, roughly 70 kilometers west of Zurich, the company draws the majority of its supply in Swiss francs, but sells roughly 40 percent into the euro zone.

It has cut prices by 12 percent to keep its clients and is seeking similar discounts from suppliers. Also, it is asking staff to work 42 hours a week instead of 40, effectively cutting wages, and will cut temporary jobs, Fuchser said.

Other companies are getting similarly creative. Dental implant maker Straumann (>> Straumann Holding AG) has asked employees who commute from Germany or France to accept payment of their salaries in euros instead of francs.

Nearly 289,000 people work in Switzerland but live in neighboring countries such as Germany, France and Italy.

Straumann is also cutting bonuses for Swiss-based staff and is asking some of its suppliers to cut prices and invoice in euros instead of francs.

"We want to convince our suppliers that they should carry the currency risk. That will make us better prepared for situations like what we've seen in the past few weeks," said Chief Executive Marco Gadola.

Private bank Julius Baer, which analysts estimate generates about 60 percent of its costs in francs while more than 80 percent of its revenues are in other currencies, announced plans this week to cut about 200 jobs in response to the SNB decision.

Wage cuts will be hotly contested by unions, but the government has approved a compensation scheme that will allow companies to cut production by shortening the working hours of employees without their staff losing their pay.

Lawmakers also agreed to debate relaxing stiff regulations on shop hours for the tourism industry, which were the first to report cancellations following the franc surge.

Farmers have asked the government to top up the "chocolate law", a system of subsidies meant to convince chocolate and dairy producers to use domestic milk and other products.

'SWISS-MADE' IMAGE

In the Joux Valley near the French border in the east, companies are more relaxed about the franc.

"What you need in this situation where you have more competition is to be more innovative, reinforce your 'Swiss-made'," said Nick Hayek, the chief executive of Swatch (>> The Swatch Group SA), whose brands include Breguet and Omega.

The high-value image of Swiss-made brands such as Rolex and Patek Philippe is part of a sales argument for the watch industry and their suppliers.

"Just imagine if you give your customers a tour of the watch factory and they see that you're using cheap Chinese machines," said Walter Fust, who owns 45 percent of watch part maker Tornos (>> Tornos Holdings S.A.), which he said would still make a profit this year.

Hayek said Swatch would not follow other industries in cutting jobs to combat the strong franc.

"We want to hire more people, we need more people, in Switzerland and worldwide," he said.

(Additional reporting by Alice Baghdjian and Ruppert Pretterklieber; editing by Anna Willard)

By Maria Sheahan and Katharina Bart