Z-Axis

What Z-Axis does

Z-AXIS is a privately held US electronics design and contract manufacturer headquartered in a 32,000 sq. ft. ISO 9001:2015 certified facility in Phelps, New York, near Rochester. Founded in 1989, the company pivoted from CRT display manufacturing in the late 1990s and 2000s into high-mix electronics manufacturing services (EMS), and is now co-owned by President Michael Allen and Robin Allen following a 2014 management buyout from Video Display Corp. Z-AXIS offers an integrated design-to-production model — circuit design, PCB layout, microcontroller and mechanical engineering, RF and magnetics design, prototyping, and full PCBA / box build / cable and wire assembly — supported by Mycronic pick-and-place equipment, Kurtz Ersa selective soldering, robotic conformal coating, UV laser depaneling, and X-ray inspection. The company's wholly-owned BEAR Power Supplies sub-brand designs and manufactures custom commercial, industrial, and medical power supplies.

The company serves aerospace (30% of revenue), medical, defense, commercial/industrial, and select startup customers, with named logos including Alstom, Baxter, Crosman, Astronics, L3 Harris, and Vista Dental. Its revenue model combines project-based manufacturing quotes, defined-rate engineering services, and BEAR-branded hardware sales. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales supplemented by referral partnerships with FuzeHub and Rev: Ithaca for vetted startups; Z-AXIS engages roughly 3-4 startups per year. The company carries ISO 9001:2015, IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, IEC 60601-1, UL 60950, and ITAR registrations, which gate entry into regulated programs. As of October 2024, Z-AXIS employs over 90 people, is growing at approximately 20% annually, and is executing Phase 2 of a self-funded $1.5M capacity expansion.

Name

Z-Axis

Legal name

Z-AXIS, Inc.

Website

https://zaxis.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Z-AXIS is a US-based electronic design and contract manufacturer providing integrated engineering and production services for aerospace (30% of revenue), medical, defense, and industrial customers at its ISO 9001:2015 certified Phelps, NY facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Phelps

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electronic Contract Manufacturing (ECM): Manufacturing services for printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA), box builds, cable and wire assemblies, and electromechanical assemblies. Revenue generated from production runs ranging from prototypes to large-volume orders, priced per project based on complexity, volume, and services required.
2. Electronic Design Services: Full engineering department services including circuit design, PCB layout, mechanical design, microcontroller hardware/software, RF design, specialty magnetics, and DFM consulting. Charged at a defined rate for design work, with customers owning source code, Gerber files, and BOM.
3. BEAR Power Supplies: Design, manufacturing, and sale of commercial, industrial, and medical power supplies under the BEAR Power Supplies brand — a business unit of Z-AXIS.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Z-AXIS provides integrated electronic design and contract manufacturing services in the USA, combining in-house electronic/PCB/mechanical design engineering with PCB assembly (SMT, through-hole, mixed technology), box builds, cable and wire harnesses, prototyping, and electronic product redesign from a single 32,000 sq. ft. ISO 9001:2015 facility. The company also sells custom commercial, industrial, and medical power supplies through its wholly-owned BEAR Power Supplies sub-brand.

Product overview

Z-Axis provides comprehensive electronic design and manufacturing services as an integrated platform, combining design engineering and contract manufacturing under one roof. The core offering includes Electronic Design Services (circuit design, PCB layout, microcontroller design, mechanical design), Prototyping Services, Electronic Manufacturing/Contract Manufacturing Services (PCB assembly, box builds, cable assembly), and Electronic Product Redesign. The company also operates BEAR Power Supplies as a sub-brand for custom power supplies. Additional services include feasibility studies, concept development, and value-added services like RoHS compliance testing and parts sourcing. The integrated model enables seamless transition from concept through prototyping to full-scale production, all manufactured in the USA at their ISO 9001:2015 certified facility near Rochester, NY.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BEAR Power Supplies: Business unit of Z-AXIS that designs, manufactures and sells commercial, industrial and medical power supplies.

Products and services

• Electronic Design Services Full in-house electronic design engineering services including analog, digital, mixed-signal, linear, and power-supply circuit design, PCB layout, microcontroller hardware/software design, mechanical design, RF design, specialty magnetics, and DFM consulting. Customers own the resulting IP (source code, Gerber files, BOM). Target customers are OEMs needing outsourced engineering capacity or a full contract design team.
• Electronic Manufacturing / Contract Manufacturing Services Electronics contract manufacturing services including PCB assembly, box builds, cable and wire harness assembly, full product production, parts sourcing, obsolete/hard-to-find parts procurement, consigned inventory handling, RoHS compliance testing, and custom ESD trays at an ISO 9001:2015 USA facility. Customers are OEMs across aerospace, medical, commercial, and industrial sectors.
• PCB Assembly Services (PCBA) Printed circuit board assembly services covering surface mount technology (SMT), through-hole technology (THT), and mixed-technology PCB assembly. Delivered to aerospace, medical, commercial, and industrial customers in volumes ranging from prototypes to large-scale production runs.
• Box Build Services Electromechanical box build assembly ranging from simple PCB-in-enclosure assemblies to complex systems integrating multiple boards, cable assemblies, displays, and switches, with sourcing, supply chain management, prototype, production, testing, and packaging support. For commercial, industrial, medical, aerospace, and defense OEMs.
• Cable and Wire Assembly Custom cable and wire harness assembly using automated and semi-automated equipment, including coaxial, tri-axial, multi-layered cables, over-molded strain relief, and continuity testing. Sold to OEMs requiring custom harnesses paired with their electronic products.
• Prototyping Services Prototype PCB and electronic product builds with in-house IC programming, specialty magnetics, and wire assembly capabilities. Used by OEMs moving from concept to production and by startups building first-generation products.
• Electronic Product Redesign Electronic product redesign services to extend product life, meet new requirements, reduce size, improve performance, cut cost, overcome parts obsolescence, and achieve lead-free/RoHS compliance. For OEMs modernizing existing electronic products.
• BEAR Power Supplies Custom-designed and manufactured commercial, industrial, and medical power supplies sold under the BEAR Power Supplies brand — a wholly-owned business unit of Z-AXIS. Power supplies are fully EMI-tested and certified, with medical models certified to IEC 60601-1. Sold to power-supply OEMs and end customers needing agency-certified custom units.
• Feasibility Studies Concept feasibility studies including breadboard or test circuit design to demonstrate key features and functions, with performance and cost trade-off analysis. Used by OEMs and startups to validate product feasibility before committing to full design.
• Concept Development Product concept development services transforming rough ideas into detailed product development proposals with performance targets, cost estimates, and timeline projections. For OEMs and startups planning new electronic products.

Quantifiable outcome

• SMT capacity doubled during Phase 1 of $1.5M expansion through 15 new pieces of equipment
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MycroniccoreTechnology or Integration · 15 October 2024Z-AXIS is the first company on the U.S. East Coast to install Mycronic MYPro A40DX pick-and-place machines for PCB assembly. Z-AXIS operates seven Mycronic machines and has two additional units on order. Also invested in MYTower 6x component storage systems and MYPro S30 stencil printer. Z-AXIS has a 25-year relationship with Mycronic.
• FuzeHub (Manufacturer Solutions Program)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZ-AXIS receives startup referrals through FuzeHub's Manufacturer Solutions Program. Early-stage companies vetted by FuzeHub receive preferential consideration for Z-AXIS's electronic design and contract manufacturing services. FuzeHub is a regional organization supporting advanced manufacturing in New York State.
• Rev: IthacaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZ-AXIS participates in panel discussions at Rev: Ithaca, a business incubator in Ithaca, NY, and receives referrals of vetted startups seeking electronic design and manufacturing services. Companies referred through Rev: Ithaca have been vetted through formal instruction or expert assistance programs.
• Kurtz ErsacoreTechnology or IntegrationZ-AXIS uses Kurtz Ersa Versaflow 3/45 selective soldering system — a high-end system with multiple pre-heating stages, three solder fountains, and pure nitrogen environment. Also uses Ersa Pyramax reflow ovens.
• Apollo Seiko (J-CAT Stellar)coreTechnology or IntegrationZ-AXIS uses Apollo Seiko J-CAT Stellar robotic soldering system for controlled, repeatable soldering processes with quick changeover and ability to run multiple jobs simultaneously.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IEC Electronics: US-based, publicly traded mid-market EMS provider focused on aerospace, defense, and medical with integrated design and manufacturing capabilities — the closest publicly comparable peer to Z-AXIS in size, customer mix, and integrated services model.
• Kimball Electronics: Mid-market EMS provider offering design + manufacturing services with significant medical, industrial, and aerospace exposure. Comparable to Z-AXIS in vertical mix and integrated service model, though larger in scale and publicly traded.
• SigmaTron International: US-headquartered mid-market contract electronics manufacturer offering PCB assembly, box build, and cable assemblies across industrial, medical, and consumer markets. Closely comparable service scope and customer profile to Z-AXIS.
• Benchmark Electronics: Global EMS provider with US manufacturing footprint offering design, engineering, and production services to aerospace, medical, and industrial OEMs. Comparable integrated services model, though larger scale and broader geographic reach than Z-AXIS.
• Creation Technologies: Privately held mid-market EMS provider with design + manufacturing services focused on aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial customers across North America. Highly comparable to Z-AXIS in scale, customer mix, and integrated model.
• SMTC Corporation: Mid-tier North American EMS provider offering PCB assembly, box build, and supply chain services to industrial, medical, and aerospace customers. Comparable in size and service scope to Z-AXIS.

Broad incumbents

• Flex (Flextronics): One of the world's largest EMS providers offering comprehensive design, manufacturing, and supply chain services across all major verticals including aerospace and medical. A broad incumbent against which Z-AXIS competes for mid-market programs requiring US-based execution.
• Jabil: Global tier-1 EMS provider with extensive design, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities serving aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial markets worldwide. Large-scale incumbent providing price and capacity competition across Z-AXIS's verticals.
• Sanmina: Global EMS provider with strong aerospace/defense and medical divisions offering integrated design, manufacturing, and after-market services. Represents the scale-tier competitor Z-AXIS most frequently encounters in regulated-vertical pursuits.

Emerging players

• Vicor Corporation: US-based designer and manufacturer of high-performance modular power components and systems for industrial, aerospace, and defense applications. Comparable to Z-AXIS's BEAR Power Supplies sub-brand in the custom/specialty power supply niche with similar vertical focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ZAXISInc

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Z-Axis