What ZEVAC does

ZEVAC AG is a privately held Swiss engineering company specializing in precision rework machines for the electronics manufacturing industry. Founded in 1978 in Germany and relocated to Switzerland in 1988, the company is now headquartered in Grenchen with a sales-focused branch in Grasbrunn, Germany. Its core technology centers on hot gas rework and selective soldering systems used to repair and rework surface-mount (SMT) and through-hole (THT) printed circuit boards, enabling electronics manufacturers to salvage defective assemblies rather than scrap them. All development is conducted in Switzerland and approximately 95% of production is Swiss-based, with the remaining production handled in collaboration with long-standing partner Infotech AG, which co-locates SW/HW development and manufacturing.

ZEVAC's product portfolio is organized around two main lines. The ONYX series addresses SMT rework and ranges from manually controlled soldering/desoldering units (ONYX 24, 25, 29) to fully automated inline repair systems for standard and large-format PCBs (ONYX 500, ONYX 1000), plus the ONYX MILLING add-on for precision component removal. The SSM series (SSM 9, SSM 4A) covers automated THT rework. The November 2024 launch of the ONYX 49 and ONYX 1000 extended capability into large SMD boards up to 800mm x 630mm, with the ONYX 1000 marketed as a fully automated rework solution operable "at the click of a mouse." Over 6,000 machines have been installed worldwide since the company's founding.

The business model is predominantly one-time equipment sales supplemented by service, training, and support revenue, delivered through a global partner network spanning roughly 25 countries across the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and customers contact ZEVAC or regional partners for quotes. The customer base is horizontal across electronics manufacturing, with no publicly named reference accounts. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors and is led by CEO Florian Chervaz, Board President Ernest Fischer, and Finance/Administration lead Daniela Hunziker.

Name

ZEVAC

Legal name

ZEVAC AG

Website

https://zevac.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ZEVAC AG is a Swiss manufacturer of precision hot gas rework and selective soldering machines for SMT and THT printed circuit board repair, serving electronics manufacturers globally through a network of regional distribution partners across roughly 25 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Solothurn

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. PCB Rework Machines: Sale of SMT and THT rework machines including ONYX and SSM product lines. Machines range from manual to fully automated systems for electronics manufacturing customers.
2. Service and Support: Technical support, practical training, and reliable service provided through worldwide partner network for ZEVAC machines.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ZEVAC develops and manufactures precision machines for component placement, assembly, and soldering processes within the electronics manufacturing industry. The company's core offerings are SMT (Surface Mount Technology) and THT (Through-Hole Technology) rework/repair systems for printed circuit boards, sold under the ONYX and SSM product lines, ranging from manually controllable soldering/desoldering machines to fully automatic inline repair systems.

Product overview

ZEVAC develops and manufactures machines for component placement and assembly, including soldering processes, with a primary focus on printed circuit board (PCB) repair systems within the electronics manufacturing process. The product portfolio consists of two main product lines: ONYX machines for Surface Mount Technology (SMT) rework covering models from standard PCB repair (ONYX 24) to fully automated large board rework (ONYX 49, ONYX 500, ONYX 1000), plus ONYX MILLING for precision component removal; and SSM machines for Through-Hole Technology (THT) rework including SSM 9 (automated) and SSM 4A. Development is 100% in Switzerland with production at 95% in Switzerland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ONYX: Series of SMT rework machines including ONYX 24, 25, 29, 49, 500, 1000, and MILLING for component placement, assembly, and repair of printed circuit boards.
• SSM

Products and services

• ONYX 1000 Fully automated SMD PCB repair machine designed for large boards up to 800mm x 630mm, allowing the entire rework process to be completed autonomously at the click of a mouse. Targeted at electronics manufacturers needing high-volume, large-format SMD rework.
• ONYX 49 Repair machine for large PCBs with robust design and fully automatic axes ensuring maximum process accuracy and repeatability, supporting boards up to 800mm x 630mm.
• ONYX 500 Fully automated SMD PCB repair machine for high-volume production environments.
• ONYX 25

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 6000 successfully installed machines worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Infotech AGcoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-standing partnership since 1999. Infotech handles SW- and HW-development as well as production of ZEVAC machines in the same building at the Solothurn/Switzerland location. This proximity enables quick, flexible, and efficient use of additional resources.
• Air-Vac Engineering Inc. USAcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership established in 1978 at the founding of ZEVAC in Germany. Long-standing technology partnership for SMT rework solutions.
• Zevatech AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose partnership began in 1988 when ZEVAC moved headquarters from Germany to Switzerland.
• Regional Distribution PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorldwide network of competent partners and experts who provide individual consultation, practical training, reliable service and support on ZEVAC machines. Partners include: mactech.com.ar (Argentina), intract.com.br (Brazil), air-vac-eng.com (USA), infotech-automation.com (USA), aga88.com (China), innotronics.in (India), lechamp.com.sg (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand), ats-eng.com (Israel), bessco.co.kr (Korea), schmidtek.com.tw (Taiwan), davumtmc.com (Tunisia, France), neurotechnology.ae (UAE), att.co.at (Austria, Hungary, Romania), ep-teq.com (Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Netherlands), honeystone-tec.co.uk (England), timnordic.fi (Finland), elettronicadpi.it (Italy), mann.pt (Portugal), ivtec.ru (Russia), vtech-smt.co.uk (Scotland), infotech.swiss (Switzerland).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Quick (Suzhou Quick Laser): Quick is a Chinese-based manufacturer of soldering and rework equipment, including hot-air rework stations for SMT components. It competes with ZEVAC's ONYX line mainly on price in Asian EMS and consumer electronics segments.

Broad incumbents

• Hakko: Hakko is a Japanese manufacturer of soldering, desoldering and rework stations used widely in electronics production and repair. While not a direct ONYX-class competitor, Hakko overlaps with ZEVAC's lower-end manual and semi-automated rework products for THT and SMT rework.
• Rehm Thermal Systems: Rehm is a German manufacturer of reflow, vacuum and condensation soldering systems for electronics manufacturing. Its selective soldering and thermal processing equipment overlaps with ZEVAC's selective soldering technology at the process level within a broader thermal solutions portfolio.
• Martin (ASYS Group): Martin SMT, part of the ASYS Group, produces SMT rework equipment, screen printers, and handling systems for electronics manufacturing. Its rework stations overlap directly with ZEVAC's THT/SSM and ONYX lines within a broader electronics process equipment portfolio.
• Ersa (Kurtz Ersa): Ersa is a long-established German manufacturer of soldering and rework equipment, including the well-known IR/PL rework stations. It is the most direct global competitor to ZEVAC in PCB rework machines, serving overlapping EMS and OEM customers with a broader equipment portfolio.

Direct peers

• Finetech: Finetech manufactures precision rework and bonding systems for SMT components and microelectronics, including automated rework stations for BGAs, QFNs and large-format boards. It directly competes with ZEVAC's ONYX line on precision rework automation for high-mix, high-value PCBs.
• Air-Vac Engineering: Air-Vac Engineering is a US-based manufacturer of SMT rework and assembly equipment, and a long-standing technology partner of ZEVAC since 1978. Its ONYX-branded products are sold in the US through the same Air-Vac channel that also resells ZEVAC machines, making it a closely adjacent competitor/partner.
• VJ Electronix: VJ Electronix (formerly VJ Technologies' SMT division) supplies automated rework and X-ray inspection systems for PCBs. It competes with ZEVAC's ONYX 49/500/1000 automated rework systems, particularly for high-mix EMS and OEM customers.
• PDR (Product Design & Repair): PDR designs and builds SMT rework stations, including infrared and hot-air systems for BGA/QFN rework, used widely in defense, aerospace and EMS. It overlaps directly with ZEVAC in precision hot-gas rework for SMD/THT components.

Regional players

• Manncorp: Manncorp is a US-based supplier of SMT equipment including rework stations, pick-and-place, and reflow ovens. Its rework product line competes with ZEVAC's lower-volume ONYX machines primarily in the North American EMS and small-batch OEM market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrfoqYSSVXaoy826dVc0f-w/videos

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 ZEVAC