Fondarex

What Fondarex does

Fondarex SA is a Swiss industrial equipment manufacturer founded in 1946 in Montreux, Switzerland, and headquartered in St-Légier-La Chiésaz. The company designs, manufactures, and services vacuum, jet cooling, and squeeze technologies for high-pressure die casting (HPDC) and plastic injection molding. Its core product platform, the FX Series, comprises FX VAC vacuum systems (Model 4 with up to 4 channels and Model 12 with up to 12 independently movable channels), FX JET jet and conformal cooling systems (Model 4 and Model 8, with energy-saving frequency-controlled pumps delivering up to 24 bar and flow rates of 50-100 l/min), and FX SQUEEZE systems that operate up to 12 independent squeeze cylinders to control shrinkage porosity. Supporting die accessories include FX JET Type DRC stainless steel nozzles (sourced via a strategic partnership with Wonjin), SCS Steel Vents (up to 400,000 cycles service life), Kinetic Valves, and hydraulic vacuum valves with position sensor or stroke transducer control. The portfolio also includes the PLAST system for plastic injection molding, the ZAMAK system for hot-chamber die casting, and legacy products (ONE/TWO, FX PREMIUM, MODULAR).

Fondarex operates a global direct field sales model combined with wholly-owned subsidiaries in Germany (Fondarex Europe GmbH, founded 2022, in Überherrn) and China (Fondarex (Wuxi) Machinery Co., Ltd, founded 2021), supported by a representative network spanning more than 20 countries across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. The company reports 5,000+ completed vacuum application projects and serves named enterprise customers in automotive HPDC and EV gigacasting, including repeat orders from a leading automotive casting manufacturer in Mexico and four FX VAC units supplied to an EV manufacturer (Space Race) in the United States. Revenue is generated through capital equipment sales, technical support and training services (mold design, installation, start-up, on-site training, simulation, remote assistance), and aftermarket spare parts. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company is privately held, with no evidence of institutional investment, public listing, or a controlling parent entity, and is led by an engineering workforce of 11-50 employees that delivers direct on-site support to customers. As part of its 80th anniversary in 2025-2026, Fondarex launched a Global Training Tour 2026, replacing traditional trade show presence with direct customer engagement across Sweden, Korea, India, Mexico, and the United States, and it is a member of the Foundry Star Alliance with research collaboration ties to the Austrian Foundry Institute (ÖGI).

Name

Fondarex

Legal name

Fondarex SA

Website

https://fondarex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fondarex SA is a Swiss manufacturer, founded 1946, of vacuum, jet cooling, and squeeze systems for high-pressure die casting and plastic injection molding, serving enterprise customers in automotive, EV/gigacasting, and plastics across more than 20 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

High-Pressure Die Casting Equipment

NAICS

Fluid Power Cylinder and Actuator Manufacturing (333995)

akta.pro primary industry

Pneumatic Components (FRLs, Cylinders, Valves) (IMAHAGAC)

Keywords

• High-pressure die casting equipment
• Vacuum die casting systems
• Foundry vacuum technology
• Die casting accessories
• Plastic injection molding vacuum

Headquarters

HQ city

La Chièsaz

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Die Casting Equipment & Systems: Sale of vacuum systems, jet cooling systems, squeeze technology systems, valves, and die accessories for high-pressure die casting applications. Available in mobile, cell, and central configurations.
2. Technical Support & Training Services: On-site technical support including mold design, installation, start-up, on-site training and maintenance services. Also includes simulation services and remote assistance.
3. Spare Parts & Aftermarket: Supply of spare parts and replacement components for die casting equipment including jet nozzles, valves, and other accessories.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fondarex manufactures and supplies vacuum systems, jet cooling systems, and squeeze technology for high-pressure die casting (HPDC) and plastic injection molding. Its core portfolio centers on the FX Series (FX VAC, FX JET, FX SQUEEZE) in mobile, cell, and central configurations, supplemented by die accessories such as valves, steel vents, and jet nozzles, plus dedicated systems for hot-chamber die casting and plastic injection molding.

Product overview

Fondarex delivers advanced vacuum, jet cooling, and squeeze technologies for high-pressure die casting (HPDC) and plastic injection molding. The core product portfolio centers on the FX Series including FX VAC (vacuum systems in Model 4 and Model 12 variants), FX JET (jet and conformal cooling systems in Model 4 and Model 8 variants), and FX SQUEEZE (shrinkage porosity reduction). Supporting products include die accessories (jet nozzles, steel vents, kinetic valves, hydraulic valves), products for hot-chamber die casting (ZAMAK), and legacy systems (ONE/TWO, FX PREMIUM, MODULAR). The company also serves the plastic injection molding market with the PLAST system. Fondarex's technology portfolio addresses gas and shrinkage porosities while enhancing efficiency and stability in die casting operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FX VAC: Vacuum system for high-pressure die casting, available in mobile, cell, and central configurations with up to 12 independently movable vacuum channels
• FX JET
• FX SQUEEZE
• PLAST
• ZAMAK
• MODULAR
• FX PREMIUM
• ONE / TWO

Products and services

• FX VAC Model 4 All-round vacuum system for modern high-pressure die casting, available in mobile, cell, and central configurations with up to 4 independently movable vacuum channels. Used by automotive and industrial die casting operations.
• FX VAC Model 12 Advanced vacuum system targeted at e-mobility and gigacasting applications, available in cell and central configurations with up to 12 independently movable vacuum channels. For large-scale aluminum die castings such as EV battery housings and structural components.
• FX JET Model 4 Jet and conformal cooling system with precise control over flow, temperature, and heat dissipation at each jet nozzle, featuring an energy-saving frequency-controlled pump delivering up to 24 bar and 50 l/min flow rate.
• FX JET Model 8 Jet and conformal cooling system with energy-saving frequency-controlled pump delivering up to 24 bar and 100 l/min flow rate, supporting up to 64 jet nozzles across 8 movable distribution cabinets.
• FX SQUEEZE Squeeze technology system that complements FX VAC and FX JET, capable of controlling and operating up to 12 independent squeeze cylinders to locally feed alloy shrinkage during solidification and reduce shrinkage porosity.
• FX JET Type DRC Jet Nozzles Stainless steel jet nozzles ensuring corrosion resistance and durability while maintaining compatibility with existing FX JET systems; available in a wide range of sizes including custom models.
• SCS Steel Vents Steel vents with an optimized aerodynamic profile that maximizes air evacuation efficiency and minimizes gas entrapment during casting, with a proven service life of up to 400,000 cycles.
• Kinetic Valves Mechanical vacuum valves representing the latest evolution of Fondarex valve technology, delivering maximum simplification, exceptional reliability, and outstanding evacuation capacity.
• Hydraulic Vacuum Valve Hydraulic vacuum valve with exceptional operational reliability, full compatibility with existing systems, and piston stroke control via position sensor or stroke transducer for advanced process control.
• ZAMAK Vacuum system specifically adapted for the hot-chamber die casting industry, based on the FX Premium concept. Designed for Zamak alloys and hot-chamber foundries.
• ONE / TWO Vacuum system following the 'less is more' principle, supporting up to two independently controlled vacuum channels in mobile or central configurations.
• FX PREMIUM High-end evolution of Fondarex vacuum systems built on proven VACUPAC and HIGHVAC technologies, featuring two fully independent and movable vacuum channels with advanced monitoring.
• MODULAR Giga Casting vacuum solution for high-pressure die casting with flexible, modular architecture and up to six individually configurable vacuum channels for large casting cells.
• PLAST Vacuum System Vacuum system designed for active venting within the cavity during plastic injection molding, delivering high-efficiency extraction of gases to minimize contamination and extend tool maintenance intervals.

Quantifiable outcome

• SCS Steel Vents deliver proven service life of up to 400,000 cycles
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Foundry Star AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundry Star Alliance is a group of leading companies in their specific field of activity who decided to cooperate and combine efforts, with the aim of better supporting the rapid growth of global light alloy HPDC markets. Members collaborate to provide comprehensive solutions to the die casting industry.
• Austrian Foundry Institute (ÖGI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Austrian Foundry Institute for research and development in foundry technologies and die casting innovations.
• WonjincoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic partnership for jet nozzles. Wonjin is a partner specializing in advanced nozzle technology, supplying high-performance jet nozzles including FX JET Type DRC models. Fondarex delivers these through strategic collaboration with Wonjin.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• StrikoDynarad (Westermann & Partner): StrikoDynarad is the most direct competitor to Fondarex, specializing in vacuum systems, melt cleaning, and process optimization for high-pressure die casting foundries. It sells comparable vacuum technology and aftermarket components to the same HPDC foundries that buy Fondarex FX VAC systems.

Broad incumbents

• Bühler Group: Bühler is a global leader in die casting equipment and cells, with a broad portfolio spanning HPDC machines, automation, and process technology. While not a pure vacuum-specialist, Bühler competes at the system level for HPDC retrofit/spec wins where vacuum and die-cooling performance are key decision criteria.
• Idra Group: Idra manufactures cold-chamber and hot-chamber die casting machines, including mega-tonnage presses for gigacasting. As EV and structural mega-castings scale, Idra's press offerings increasingly dictate the ecosystem for vacuum and squeeze systems like Fondarex's.
• Oskar Frech GmbH + Co. KG: Frech is a long-established German HPDC machine manufacturer serving automotive die casters with cold- and hot-chamber presses, process automation, and integrated cell solutions. It competes indirectly with Fondarex when specifying complete die-casting cells that bundle ancillary process equipment.
• ItalpresseGauss: ItalpresseGauss designs and manufactures die casting machines, automation, and complete foundry cells. As a competitor in turn-key HPDC systems, it overlaps with Fondarex on integrated vacuum, cooling, and process-monitoring solutions for high-end automotive casting facilities.
• UBE Machinery Corporation: UBE Machinery produces die casting machines and related equipment for the global automotive market. Its large-tonnage presses compete for the same gigacasting and structural-component programs that Fondarex serves with FX VAC and Modular systems.
• Shibaura Machine (formerly Toshiba Machine): Shibaura Machine supplies die casting machines, including large-tonnage presses used in automotive structural casting. Its turnkey HPDC offerings bundle process technologies that intersect with Fondarex's vacuum and squeeze systems.

Emerging players

• Wotan Werkzeugbau / mold cooling specialists: Conformal cooling and jet-cooling specialists serving HPDC and plastic injection mold tooling partially overlap with Fondarex's FX JET product. These tooling firms develop cooling channel designs and additive-manufactured inserts that compete at the cooling-performance level for both die casting and injection molding customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondarex-sa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 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 Fondarex