What Sigatec does

Sigatec S.A. is a Swiss precision micro-fabrication company founded in 2006 as a joint venture between luxury watchmaker Ulysse Nardin and precision micromechanics firm Mimotec, headquartered in Sion, Switzerland. The company manufactures silicon micro-mechanical components using Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE), which achieves near-micron precision and complex geometries through photolithography and plasma etching of silicon wafers, supplemented by KOH wet etching for crystalline-structured parts such as optical fiber connectors. All fabrication occurs in cleanroom environments, and the company offers add-on surface finishing (oxidation up to 3µm, nanocrystalline diamond coating, and decorative/holographic micro-etching) as well as three tiers of assembly (manual, semi-automatic, fully automatic) for delivering integrated sub-assemblies.

The core product portfolio is anchored by silicon watchmaking components — escape wheels, anchors, and spiral balance springs — that exploit silicon's mechanical properties (three times lighter than steel at 2.33 kg/dm³, hardness, elasticity of 130–170 GPa, and amagnetism) to improve precision and magnetic resistance in mechanical movements. Beyond watchmaking, Sigatec serves the optical industry (fiber optic connector platforms, micro-hole filters and diffusers), biomedical industry (microfluidic channels, cell traps), and aerospace industry (precision micro-components), with ISO 9001:2015 certification achieved at the end of 2023.

Sigatec operates a B2B custom manufacturing model with quote-based pricing tied to project specifications, complexity, and volume. The company is privately held, owned by Ulysse Nardin and Mimotec, and sells primarily through direct enterprise engagement without disclosed pricing or a public marketing channel mix. Its distribution is regional (Europe) and concentrated in the Swiss watchmaking supply chain, with no reported public funding, M&A activity, or external investors.

Name

Sigatec

Legal name

Sigatec S.A.

Website

https://sigatec.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sigatec is a Swiss precision micro-fabrication company founded in 2006 that manufactures silicon micro-components using DRIE and KOH etching technologies. It primarily serves the Swiss mechanical watchmaking industry with escape wheels, anchors, and spiral springs, and also supplies optical, biomedical, and aerospace customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Silicon Microfabrication

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441)

SIC

Miscellaneous Manufacturing Industries (3990)

akta.pro primary industry

Silicon Wafers (Prime/Test/SOI) (HDAHAGAA)

Keywords

• Silicon microfabrication
• Precision micro-components
• DRIE etching services
• Watchmaking silicon parts
• Micromechanical components

Headquarters

HQ city

Sion

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Silicon Micro-component Manufacturing: Custom manufacturing of silicon micro-components using DRIE and KOH technologies. Sigatec produces precision parts for clients across multiple industries, working from single prototypes to large production series. The company also assembles components into functional sub-assemblies for delivery to customers.
2. Assembly Services: Manual, semi-automatic, and automatic assembly operations providing customers with ready-to-install sub-assemblies such as escapement assemblies or anchors, adding value through component integration.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Sigatec is a Swiss custom manufacturer of precision micromechanical silicon micro-components. The company fabricates parts using Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE) and KOH wet etching technologies, achieving near-micron precision, and delivers finished components or assembled sub-units such as escapement parts, anchors, and spiral springs primarily for the Swiss watchmaking industry, with additional applications in optics, biomedical, and aerospace sectors.

Product overview

Sigatec is a Swiss precision micro-fabrication company founded in 2006 as a joint venture between Ulysse Nardin and Mimotec. Its core offering is silicon micro-component manufacturing using DRIE (Deep Reactive Ion Etching) and KOH wet etching technologies, which enable micron-level precision and complex geometries. The product portfolio is organized around two manufacturing technology pillars — DRIE and KOH etching — complemented by three surface finishing add-ons (Surface Oxidation, Diamond Deposition, and Decorative/Holographic Etching), and three assembly service tiers (Manual, Semi-Automatic, and Automatic Assembly). Sigatec's primary end-market products include silicon watchmaking components (escape wheels, anchors, spiral springs) for the Swiss mechanical watch industry, connector platforms for optical fiber, micro-hole filters and diffusers, and biomedical microfluidics/cell traps. The company operates a cleanroom facility in Sion, Switzerland, and its ISO 9001:2015-certified quality management system covers all manufacturing and assembly operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DRIE Fabrication (Deep Reactive Ion Etching) Custom silicon micro-component fabrication using Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE) technology, achieving near-micron precision and complex geometries on wafers for clients in watchmaking, optics, biomedical, and aerospace industries.
• KOH Etching Fabrication Wet etching using potassium hydroxide that follows the crystalline structure of silicon to produce parts with defined angles, primarily used for optical fiber connector applications and other components requiring crystallographic structuring.
• Silicon Watchmaking Components (Escape Wheels, Anchors, Spiral Springs) Custom-manufactured silicon micro-components for Swiss mechanical watch movements, including escape wheels, anchors, and spiral balance springs that enhance chronometric precision, reliability, and magnetic resistance.
• Connector Platforms for Optical Fiber Silicon connector platforms (connector platins) for optical fiber applications, leveraging the precision structuring capability of DRIE and KOH etching to achieve sub-micron alignment accuracy.
• Micro-Hole Filters and Diffusers Silicon or metal-replicated components with micrometer-sized holes for diffusion and filtration applications across multiple industries.
• Biomedical Microfluidics and Cell Traps Silicon micro-components for biomedical applications including microfluidic channels and cell traps, enabled by the extreme precision of silicon machining combined with metal replication for medical device manufacturers.
• Assembly Services (Manual, Semi-Automatic, Automatic) Tiered assembly services including manual gluing operations, semi-automatic riveting/pressing on servo-controlled presses, and fully automatic riveting/pressing for high-volume production, delivering ready-to-install sub-assemblies such as escapement assemblies and anchors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Precision near micron level through DRIE technology
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Ulysse NardincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUlysse Nardin is a co-founding partner of Sigatec, established in 2006. As a Swiss watch manufacturer, Ulysse Nardin leverages Sigatec's silicon micro-component manufacturing capabilities for their mechanical watch movements, particularly for silicon escapement components and regulating organs. This partnership provides Sigatec with a stable foundation customer while enabling Ulysse Nardin to access proprietary silicon components for their high-end timepieces.
• MimoteccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMimotec is a co-founding partner of Sigatec, established in 2006. Mimotec is a technology company specializing in precision micromechanics. The partnership enabled the establishment of silicon micro-fabrication capabilities, combining Mimotec's micromechanics expertise with silicon manufacturing technology to serve the Swiss watch industry and other precision markets.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Mimotec: Swiss precision micromechanics specialist and Sigatec's co-founding partner. Directly comparable as a precision micro-component manufacturer serving Swiss watchmaking, with overlapping competencies in micro-machining though focused on metal LIGA/UV-LIGA rather than silicon DRIE.
• Silex Microsystems: Swedish MEMS foundry offering silicon DRIE-based wafer-level micro-fabrication services. Directly comparable as a contract DRIE/silicon micromachining provider, though more diversified into consumer/biomedical MEMS and operating at significantly larger scale.
• Innovative Micro Technology (IMT): US-based MEMS foundry providing silicon DRIE, wafer bonding, and micro-fabrication services. Comparable as a contract manufacturer of silicon micro-components for biomedical, optical, and industrial customers with similar technology stack.
• Tronics Microsystems (TDK): French MEMS components and foundry services company acquired by TDK. Comparable as a silicon MEMS micro-fabrication specialist serving aerospace, biomedical, and industrial markets with similar DRIE-based capabilities.
• MEMSCAP: Provider of MEMS-based products and custom MEMS foundry services using silicon micromachining. Comparable as a silicon micro-component contract manufacturer with focus on custom and small-batch MEMS production.

Broad incumbents

• STMicroelectronics: Global semiconductor leader with a MEMS product and foundry business using silicon DRIE at massive scale. Overlaps with Sigatec in silicon micro-fabrication technology and some end-markets (biomedical, industrial), but operates across a far broader portfolio.
• Bosch Sensortec: In-house MEMS manufacturing arm of Bosch producing millions of silicon MEMS sensors annually using DRIE. Overlaps technologically with Sigatec but operates at consumer-electronics scale with far broader product lines.
• Sensonor (formerly Colibrys): Norwegian MEMS manufacturer specializing in silicon precision sensors for aerospace, industrial, and biomedical applications. Comparable as a high-precision silicon micro-component specialist serving regulated, mission-critical end-markets similar to Sigatec's aerospace/biomedical push.

Regional players

• Variosystems: Swiss-based precision electronics manufacturer offering custom micro-electronics, assembly, and test services. Comparable as a Swiss precision-manufacturing peer serving medical, industrial, and aerospace customers, though focused on electronics rather than silicon micro-components.

Others

• CSEM (Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique): Swiss R&D and technology transfer center operating silicon MEMS and micro-fabrication processes. Comparable as a Swiss-based silicon micro-fabrication capability, often working with watchmaking and biomedical clients, though primarily an R&D institution rather than contract manufacturer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sigatec-suisse

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Sigatec