nanoTRONIC

What nanoTRONIC does

nanoTRONIC AG is a privately held Swiss engineering services and embedded systems company founded on 1 August 2000, headquartered in Lyss with a branch in Zürich. The firm specialises in developing complete embedded systems and VHDL designs for highly regulated industries, principally space/aerospace, medical technology, automotive, rail and industrial automation. Its technical practice spans SoC, FPGA and ASIC design (including mixed-signal ASICs on Xilinx ZYNQ/Virtex/Spartan, Microsemi ProASIC3, and Intel Cyclone parts), PCB layout, an ISO 7 clean room for assembly, soldering and test, and the proprietary nT SW Framework that abstracts hardware and OS dependencies across STM32Fx, ATMEL SAM Vxx, SPARC, PowerPC, Windows and Linux targets.

The company's revenue mix combines fee-based engineering development services (from concept and specification through industrialisation) with sales of proprietary hardware products — the S-SADE, K-SADE and C-SADE redundant drive electronics for solar array drive mechanisms (radiation-hardened to ≥100 kRAD TID), the GMR-based Space Encoder System, and STM32 evaluation/prototyping boards — and a worldwide distribution arrangement for Sensitec space-sector magnetic sensor products. Go-to-market is consultative enterprise sales driven by direct engagement (department-specific emails for hardware, software, microelectronics, finance and sales), customer references, and certifications rather than broad digital marketing. Named customers and projects include ESA's LISA Pathfinder and CASSIS Mars camera, GPS/Galileo/Beidou satellite constellations, the Sukhoi Superjet 100 data acquisition card, LUNA gas mass spectrometers, plus MedTech and industrial references (hearing aids, blood analysis devices, pipettors, ABB, Stromer, lift control systems, fuel cell HMI, automotive motor-filter PCBs produced at 5M+ units/year).

nanoTRONIC AG operates under ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016, IQNET and ISO 7 clean room certifications, is a member of Swissmem, and is recognised as a Swiss training company. It is led by Managing Director Philippe Hersberger, employs 60+ people across Lyss and Zürich, and continues to expand its space-grade proprietary product family while extending into the MedTech vertical.

Name

nanoTRONIC

Legal name

nanoTRONIC AG

Website

https://nanotronic.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

nanoTRONIC AG is a privately held Swiss engineering firm (Lyss/Zürich, 60+ staff) that designs radiation-hardened embedded systems, SoC/FPGA/ASIC hardware, and proprietary space-grade products for aerospace, MedTech, automotive, rail, and industrial customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Embedded Systems Engineering Services

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation (DCS/PLC/SCADA, SIS, Metering) (EUAEAFAC), Assembly & Packaging Services (Wirebond/Flip-Chip/FCBGA) (HDAHADAA)

Keywords

• Embedded systems engineering
• FPGA and ASIC design
• Space-grade electronics
• Medical device development
• VHDL hardware design

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyss

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering Development Services: nanoTRONIC provides full-cycle engineering services from conceptual design through to production and life cycle management. Services include system concepts, technology studies, technology management, specification, implementation, PCB design, prototyping, commissioning, verification, industrialisation, testing, and materials procurement. Services are delivered by interdisciplinary project teams across electronics, microelectronics, software, mechanics and electromechanics.
2. Own Product Sales: Sale of proprietary space-grade products including S-SADE, K-SADE, C-SADE (Solar Array Drive Electronics), Space Encoder System, STM32 evaluation boards, and nT SW Framework. Products target space, hi-rel, and embedded systems applications. Distribution of Sensitec products for the space sector worldwide is also handled.
3. Consulting and Personnel Augmentation: nanoTRONIC offers advice, tests, reviews, and extra personnel to cover customer capacity shortages. Services include project management for microelectronics development, sub-project management, system engineering, and coordination with partners such as ESA.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

nanoTRONIC AG is a Swiss engineering company that develops complete embedded systems and VHDL designs for highly regulated industries. The company provides end-to-end engineering services from concept through specification, development, PCB design, prototyping, verification, industrialisation, and life cycle management, alongside proprietary space-grade products including the S-SADE, K-SADE, and C-SADE Solar Array Drive Electronics, the Space Encoder System, STM32 evaluation boards, and the nT SW Framework. It also acts as worldwide distributor of Sensitec space products.

Product overview

nanoTRONIC is an engineering company specializing in developing complete embedded systems and VHDL designs. Their product portfolio includes space-grade electronics: the S-SADE, K-SADE, and C-SADE series (2-axis redundant drive electronics for solar array drive mechanisms with radiation hardening up to 100kRAD TID), the Space Encoder System (GMR-based rotary/linear position encoder for space applications), STM32 evaluation boards, and the proprietary nT SW Framework (platform-independent embedded software). They also serve as worldwide distributor for Sensitec space products. Services span conceptual design, specification, development, PCB design, prototyping, verification, and industrialization for aerospace, MedTech, automotive, industrial, and rail sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• S-SADE Solar Array Drive Electronics 2-axis redundant drive electronics for stepping motor-based actuators (mainly SADM) in space applications. Features MIL-STD-1553B bus interface, full cold redundancy, single-point-failure-free design, radiation hardness ≥100kRAD TID, modularity, interface flexibility, and compact size. Targeted at satellite prime contractors and space agencies.
• K-SADE Solar Array Drive Electronics 2-axis redundant drive electronics for stepping motor-based actuators (SADM) in space applications, commanded by frequency, direction, and on/off commands rather than bus-based. Features full cold redundancy, single-point-failure-free design, modularity, compact size, and radiation hardness up to 100kRAD TID.
• C-SADE Solar Array Drive Electronics 2-axis redundant drive electronics for stepping motor-based actuators (SADM) in space applications with MIL-STD-1553B or CAN bus interface. Features full cold redundancy, single-point-failure-free design, and radiation hardness of 100kRAD TID.
• Space Encoder System Position encoder system for space and hi-rel applications available in absolute and incremental variants for rotary or linear position measurement. Uses Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) contactless technology offering increased lifetime compared to potentiometers, with 1mm encoder pitch and 0.5mm teeth.
• STM32 Evaluation and Prototyping Board Evaluation and prototyping board featuring STM32F103RFT6 or STM32F103RGT7 microcontrollers with individual pin placement and compatibility with the nT SW Framework. Targeted at embedded systems developers.
• nT SW Framework Platform-independent software framework that abstracts all hardware and OS dependencies, enabling applications to be implemented regardless of underlying platform. Supports STM32Fx, ATMEL SAM Vxx, SPARC, PowerPC, Windows, and Linux, with automatic reusability and testability integration. Includes bare metal support for high-reliability space environments with lean and stable implementations.
• Embedded Systems Engineering Services End-to-end engineering services covering system concepts, technology studies, technology management, specification, implementation, PCB design, prototyping, commissioning, verification, industrialisation, testing, and materials procurement. Delivered by interdisciplinary project teams across electronics, microelectronics, software, mechanics, and electromechanics for space, MedTech, automotive, industrial, and rail customers.
• Consulting and Personnel Augmentation Services Consulting offering that includes advice, tests, reviews, and extra personnel to cover customer capacity shortages. Services include project management for microelectronics development, sub-project management, system engineering, and coordination with partners such as ESA.
• Sensitec Space Products Distribution Worldwide distribution of Sensitec products for the space sector, including magnetic field sensors and position measurement systems. nanoTRONIC handles all product and price inquiries for Sensitec space products globally.

Quantifiable outcome

• Motor filter PCB production exceeded 5 million units per year, demonstrating large-scale industrialisation capability.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SensiteccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributornanoTRONIC AG serves as the worldwide distributor of Sensitec products for the space sector. Sensitec manufactures magnetic field sensors and position measurement systems. nanoTRONIC handles all product and price inquiries for Sensitec space products globally. This distribution relationship enables nanoTRONIC to offer a broader portfolio of space-qualified components alongside its own products (S-SADE, K-SADE, C-SADE, Space Encoder System).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Thales Alenia Space: European joint venture prime manufacturer of satellites, space systems and orbital infrastructure. Sets the requirements and primes the programmes where nanoTRONIC supplies subsystems and engineering services.
• Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space): Swiss-headquartered supplier of space structures, mechanisms and electronics to ESA and commercial primes. Direct geographic and customer overlap with nanoTRONIC, but with a much broader portfolio and larger scale.
• Terma: Danish aerospace and defense electronics specialist supplying mission-critical electronics, space mechanisms and avionics. Closely comparable to nanoTRONIC in hi-rel embedded electronics for space and defense, but larger and broader in scope.
• ALTEN: European engineering services and technology consultancy active across aerospace, automotive, rail and life sciences. Competes with nanoTRONIC for embedded-systems and FPGA/ASIC design mandates, though at a much larger and more generalist scale.
• HENSOLDT: German-listed defense electronics group active in sensor solutions, optronics and electronic warfare. Comparable in delivering hi-rel electronics and FPGA-based subsystems to European defense and space primes.

Direct peers

• ScioTeq (Barco): Belgium-based designer of ruggedized display, computing and electronic subsystems for aerospace and defense. Comparable in delivering embedded hi-rel electronics into the same regulated end markets as nanoTRONIC.
• Jena-Optronik: German developer and manufacturer of space-grade sensors, cameras and optoelectronic subsystems, including star trackers and mechanism control electronics. Directly comparable product scope to nanoTRONIC's space-grade encoder and drive electronics.
• Sensitec: German manufacturer of GMR-based magnetic field sensors and position measurement systems, and nanoTRONIC's principal distribution partner for the space sector. Operates in the same hi-rel sensor niche and shares many of the same space customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 nanoTRONIC