Silex Microsystems

What Silex Microsystems does

Silex Microsystems is a pure-play MEMS foundry headquartered in Järfälla, Sweden, that manufactures micro-electro-mechanical systems exclusively for external customers and designs no products of its own. Founded in 2000 by PhD researchers from Chalmers University of Technology and KTH, the company operates the world's largest cleanroom of its kind and was the first pure-play MEMS foundry to offer a dedicated 8-inch wafer production line. It serves global technology customers across four verticals: consumer electronics (mobile phones, MicroLED, image stabilization), life sciences and healthcare (medical pressure sensors, DNA sequencing, drug delivery), telecommunications (optical transceivers, silicon photonics, RF filters), and industrial/automotive (LiDAR, thermal imaging, spectrometers).

The technology platform combines proprietary process modules including Sil-Via® and Met-Via® through-silicon via technologies in high-volume production since 2004, through-glass vias, wafer-level packaging with direct, eutectic, thermocompression, anodic, and polymer bonding, CMOS and silicon photonics integration with precious metal processing, PiezoMEMS with PZT/AlN processing developed in partnership with ULVAC, advanced lithography, and custom MEMS testing that delivers 100% Known Good Die. The company monetizes through wafer processing fees on a direct enterprise B2B basis, with ISO 9001-certified quality and rigorous IP protection protocols framed as a customer trust differentiator under Swedish law.

FY2024 revenue was SEK 1,226 million with a 28% EBIT margin, reflecting a 17% sales CAGR since 2015. A Swedish consortium led by Bure Equity and Creades acquired a ~55% majority stake from Chinese owner Sai Microelectronics at a SEK 5.5 billion debt-free valuation in July 2025, restoring Swedish majority control. In May 2026 the company completed an IPO on Nasdaq Stockholm (ticker SILEX), raising approximately SEK 2 billion ($220 million) at a post-money valuation of roughly SEK 10.9 billion. IPO proceeds are earmarked for a ~35% expansion of Järfälla cleanroom capacity and the acquisition and conversion of a U.S. integrated circuit fab subject to CFIUS approval.

Name

Silex Microsystems

Legal name

Silex Microsystems AB

Website

https://silexmicrosystems.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Ipo

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Silex Microsystems is a pure-play MEMS foundry based in Järfälla, Sweden, providing custom micro-electro-mechanical systems manufacturing services to global technology customers across consumer electronics, healthcare, telecommunications, and industrial/automotive sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

MEMS Foundry Services / Semiconductor Wafer Fabrication

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

MEMS & Sensor Foundries (HDAHACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser) (HDAHACAG), MEMS Actuators & Micro-Mechanisms (Micromirrors/Microfluidics) (HDAHALAJ)

Keywords

• Pure-play MEMS foundry
• Wafer fabrication services
• MEMS process technology
• Semiconductor foundry services
• Through-silicon via technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. MEMS Foundry Manufacturing Services: Pure-play MEMS foundry providing manufacturing services to external customers. The company designs no products of its own, specializing exclusively in producing MEMS for other companies' innovations. Revenue is generated through wafer processing fees, with customers ranging from high-volume consumer applications to specialized medical and telecom products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Silex Microsystems operates as the world's leading pure-play MEMS foundry, providing end-to-end custom manufacturing services for Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems from concept to volume production. The company does not design or sell its own products; instead, it fabricates MEMS devices designed by its customers using specialized process technologies including patented via interconnects, PiezoMEMS, wafer-level packaging, CMOS integration, and advanced lithography, all executed in the world's largest dedicated MEMS cleanroom in Järfälla, Sweden.

Product overview

Silex Microsystems operates as a pure-play MEMS foundry platform offering custom manufacturing services and specialized process technologies. The core offering consists of MEMS foundry services augmented by proprietary technology brands including Sil-Via® and Met-Via® for TSV applications, plus specialized capabilities in PiezoMEMS, Wafer Level Packaging, CMOS/Silicon Photonics integration, advanced lithography, and custom testing. The company does not manufacture its own products but specializes in producing MEMS devices designed by customers, making it a pure-play foundry rather than an IDM. The platform is anchored by the world's largest cleanroom dedicated to pure-play MEMS production in Järfälla, Sweden, serving markets including consumer electronics, life science, telecom, and industrial/automotive sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MEMS Foundry Services End-to-end custom MEMS fabrication services from concept to high-volume production, executed on the world's largest dedicated MEMS cleanroom in Järfälla, Sweden. Customers own the MEMS designs while Silex handles wafer processing, packaging, and testing.
• PiezoMEMS Foundry Service Foundry service for piezoelectric MEMS with PZT and AlN processing, developed in partnership with ULVAC for high-performance sputter-deposited PZT integration including deposition, etching, measurement, and analysis.
• Sil-Via® Through-Silicon Via Foundry Service Patented highly-doped silicon via (TSV) technology for through-silicon via applications, pioneered since 2004 for 2.5D interposers and mobile phone applications.
• Met-Via® Metal TSV Foundry Service Metal through-silicon via technology in silicon substrates for low-resistance applications.
• Through Glass Via (TGV) Foundry Service Metal vias in glass substrates for low parasitic capacitances in high-voltage and high-frequency applications.
• Wafer Level Packaging Foundry Service Complete wafer-level packaging offering including Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE) and multiple bonding technologies covering direct bonding, eutectic bonding, thermocompression bonding, anodic bonding, and polymer bonding.
• CMOS and Silicon Photonics Integration Foundry Service Advanced integration and post-processing of CMOS wafers and silicon photonics devices, including precious metal processing, Au/Sn soldering, optical coatings, and III-V material processing.
• Advanced Lithography Foundry Service High-precision lithography services including mass production of laminated dry films, advanced polymer production, double-sided alignment in steppers, and spray coating in deep cavities.
• Custom MEMS Testing Service Fully customized MEMS testing services including advanced automated optical inspection and die-level testing for optical, mechanical, or electrical parameters, delivering 100% functional Known Good Die (KGD).

Quantifiable outcome

• Sales CAGR of 17% since 2015
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ULVACcoreTechnology or IntegrationSilex has close collaboration with ULVAC to develop high-performance sputter-deposited PZT for PiezoMEMS applications. This partnership enables Silex to offer comprehensive PZT process integration services including deposition, etching, measurement, and analysis.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• X-FAB Silicon Foundries: Pure-play analog/mixed-signal semiconductor foundry with significant MEMS process offerings. Closest direct competitor to Silex's pure-play MEMS foundry model, serving similar fabless customers across automotive, medical, and industrial end markets.

Broad incumbents

• GlobalFoundries: Large established semiconductor foundry with MEMS, RF, and silicon photonics process offerings. Competes for the same fabless MEMS customers as Silex but as part of a much broader logic and specialty technology portfolio.
• TSMC: Dominant global semiconductor foundry that has expanded into MEMS and specialty processes. Represents a structural threat to pure-play MEMS foundries like Silex given its scale, capex capacity, and ability to subsidize MEMS with logic demand.
• Tower Semiconductor: Specialty foundry offering analog, RF, MEMS, and silicon photonics processes. Now operating under Intel; comparable to Silex in serving fabless customers in communications, industrial, and consumer markets.

Emerging players

• SkyWater Technology: US-based semiconductor foundry offering MEMS, photonics, and advanced packaging services. Comparable emerging player serving fabless innovators, though smaller and less MEMS-specialized than Silex.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT Memsfab): European R&D foundry with MEMS wafer fabrication capabilities serving startups and researchers. Comparable niche pure-play MEMS foundry serving similar fabless customer segments, though smaller in scale than Silex.
• IHP Microelectronics: German research-driven semiconductor foundry offering SiGe, MEMS, and specialty processes. Comparable European specialty foundry serving fabless customers in communications and sensor markets.

Others

• STMicroelectronics: Major IDM that designs and manufactures its own MEMS products. While not a foundry, it is both a potential customer competing on the same end-product axis and a benchmark for the MEMS market Silex serves.
• Robert Bosch (MEMS division): World's largest MEMS manufacturer producing in-house for automotive and consumer markets. Serves as both a competitor in end markets and an indirect validator of the MEMS foundry opportunity that Silex addresses.
• Teledyne Technologies: Diversified industrial and scientific instrumentation company with semiconductor, MEMS, and photonics capabilities. Compares to Silex in adjacent high-reliability MEMS and photonic component markets, though Teledyne operates as an IDM rather than a pure foundry.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/silex-microsystems
• Xx.com/silexmicro

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors4 records

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 Silex Microsystems