What Etchform does

Etchform BV is a Netherlands-headquartered precision contract manufacturer founded in 1980, specializing in thin metal components produced via two core processes: precision (photo) chemical etching of metal sheets from 0.003 to 1.5 mm thickness, and galvanic nickel electroforming for parts up to approximately 200 micrometers thick. The company operates three centers of excellence — Hilversum (precision etching and headquarters/R&D), Dortmund (electroforming), and Dongguan (photo etching) — enabling it to serve semiconductor, medical, aerospace/space, defense, and high-tech machine building customers worldwide. Etchform has held ESA qualification since 1983 and is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001, with notable program participation including the Leonardo-led JUICE (Jupiter ICy moons Explorer) mission and the BAE Systems Australia NULKA missile project.

Etchform generates revenue through project-based, quote-driven custom manufacturing rather than standardized catalog sales. Pricing combines one-time tooling/mask costs (with masks retained as Etchform property and replaced free of charge after roughly three years of regular use) and per-unit pricing on finished parts, supplemented by value-added services such as assembly, bending, laser welding, laser cutting, surface treatment, and heat treatment delivered through a full-service partner network. The go-to-market is technical sales-led, with dedicated Sales Engineers and Technical Account Managers handling feasibility assessment and quotation for enterprise customers; marketing relies on the company website, trade shows, and direct relationships rather than digital channels. Since 2019, Etchform has been part of the international Etching Group (aligned with the Micrometal network under the Wickeder Group, a German industrial group with 1,100+ employees globally), providing access to broader European resources while operating as an independent BV.

The company's stated differentiators are its specialized etching-plus-electroforming combination under one roof, ability to work with a broad range of metals and exotic alloys, burr-free and stress-free products, complex geometries achievable at near-zero marginal tooling cost, and tolerance capabilities as tight as plus-minus 0.01 mm with feature sizes from 10 nm to 1 mm. Etchform functions as an engineering partner during customer development phases and a series supplier in production phases, embedding itself into long-lifecycle regulated programs where qualification costs create switching friction.

Name

Etchform

Legal name

Etchform BV

Website

https://etchform.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Etchform BV is a Netherlands-based precision contract manufacturer founded in 1980 that produces thin metal components via chemical etching and electroforming for semiconductor, medical, aerospace, and high-tech machine building customers across facilities in Hilversum, Dortmund, and Dongguan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Metal Manufacturing

NAICS

Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring (332813), Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing (3327), Special Die and Tool, Die Set, Jig, and Fixture Manufacturing (333514), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (3328), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (33281)

SIC

Sheet Metal Work (3444), Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490), Screw Machine Products (3451)

akta.pro primary industry

Etchants & Cleaning Formulations (RCA, Piranha, Specialty Cleans) (IMAEAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Etch & Strip Equipment (Dry/Wet/Ashing) (HDAHAEAC), PCB & Electronics Manufacturing Chemicals (Desmear, micro-etch, plating, fluxes) (IMAEAKAL)

Keywords

• Precision metal etching
• Electroforming services
• Thin metal parts
• Photolithographic manufacturing
• Custom metal components

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilversum

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Precision Metal Parts Manufacturing: One-time/per-project manufacturing of custom thin metal precision components using etching and electroforming techniques. Pricing based on quote requests with project-specific tooling costs and production pricing.
2. Full Service / Additional Processing: Additional value-added services including assembly, bending, precision machining, laser welding, laser cutting, surface treatments, and heat treatments managed through supply chain network.
3. Tooling/Mask Production: Product-specific mask creation for photolithographic processes. Masks remain property of Etchform, exclusively for customer use. Replacement provided free of charge after 3 years for regular use.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Etchform is a contract manufacturer of custom thin metal precision parts using two core technologies: precision chemical (photo) etching of metals with thicknesses 0.003–1.5mm, and galvanic nickel electroforming producing parts up to 200µm thick. The company additionally offers custom photolithographic tooling/masks, R&D engineering partnerships, and a full-service network covering assembly, bending, laser welding/cutting, surface and heat treatment. Output is used by high-tech customers in semiconductor, medical, aerospace, defense, and machine building.

Product overview

Etchform is a specialized manufacturer of thin metal precision components using two core manufacturing technologies: Precision Etching (chemically dissolving metal guided by photolithographic patterns) and Electroforming (galvanic nickel deposition). The company operates three centers of excellence in Hilversum (precision etching), Dongguan (photo etching), and Dortmund (electroforming). Additional services include R&D engineering partnerships, Full Service supply chain management (bending, surface/heat treatments, laser processing, assembly), and Tooling (custom masks for photolithography). The portfolio serves high-tech industries including semiconductor, medical, aerospace, and precision engineering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Precision Etching (Maatwerk Etsen) Precision chemical etching of thin metal components with thicknesses from 0.003mm to 1.5mm, applicable to a wide range of metals including copper, brass, stainless steel, aluminum, gold, molybdenum, nickel, titanium, and silver. Uses photolithographic masks to dissolve metal in defined areas, producing burr-free, stress-free parts with tight tolerances. For B2B customers in semiconductor, medical, aerospace, and high-tech machine building.
• Electroforming (Elektroformeren) Galvanic nickel electroforming process that produces high-precision metal parts up to 200µm thick with tolerances of ±5%, offering trumpet, cylinder, and two-stage profiles in hard or soft nickel. Achieves atom-by-atom replication for micro and nano scale precision. For B2B customers needing replication tools, micro-nano structures, masks, nozzles, filtration sieves, contact probes, encoder discs, and stencils.
• Research & Development Services
• Full Service
• Tooling

Quantifiable outcome

• Thickness range 0.003 - 1.5mm with tolerances as low as +/-0.01mm
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, minor and supporting.

• Etching Group (Micrometal)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019International etching group that Etchform became part of in 2019. Provides network and shared expertise in precision metal etching technologies.
• LeonardomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Selected by Leonardo for the JUICE (Jupiter ICy moons Explorer) project - a major European Space Agency space exploration mission to Jupiter's icy moons.
• BAE Systems AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Qualified for NULKA missile project by BAE Systems Australia in 2005 - defense industry qualification.
• EU-CRAFT Project ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Partner in EU-CRAFT project G6ST-CT2002-50321 SYSCOP - European collaborative research project.
• AEGmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Qualified for ESA satellite program by AEG Wedel, Germany in 1983 - early aerospace industry recognition.
• Wickeder GroupcoreOthersParent company. German group with more than 1,100 employees, one of the world's leading companies for metal products and semi-finished products with production facilities in Europe, USA, and Asia. Etchform is part of this international group.
• Full Service Network PartnerssupportingOthersNetwork of specialized partners providing additional processing services including assembly, bending, precision machining, laser welding, laser cutting, surface treatment, and heat treatment. Partners have years of successful collaboration.
• IVAMminorOthersIndustry association membership for materials technology and microtechnology.
• DSPEminorOthersIndustry association for precision technology.
• MikrocentrumminorOthersTechnology center for microtechnology and precision engineering.
• Koninklijke MetaalunieminorOthersRoyal Metal Trade Association - Dutch industry association for metal companies.
• PCMIminorOthersIndustry association for precision components and microtechnology.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Precision Micro Ltd: UK-based photo chemical etching company producing precision metal components for aerospace, medical, electronics, and automotive industries. Closely comparable in process technology (photo etching), customer segments (including aerospace/medical), and target tolerances.
• Micrometal GmbH (Etching Group): Micrometal is the parent company/related entity within the same Etching Group (founded as part of the same 2019 integration). It provides the same chemical etching of precision metal parts across European markets, directly comparable in technology, customer base, and pricing model.
• Fotofab Corporation: US-based chemical etching service provider producing custom thin metal parts across many industries. Same photo etching process technology, custom quote-based pricing model, and small-to-mid enterprise scale comparable to Etchform.
• Tech-Etch Inc. US-based precision photochemical etching and metal stamping manufacturer serving aerospace, medical, electronics, and telecommunications sectors. Directly comparable in core process technology, customer verticals, and precision requirements.
• Veco Precision Metal Etching: Veco is a Dutch precision metal etching company specializing in photo-etched components for similar high-tech industries including electronics and automotive. Direct competitor with overlapping technology (photolithographic etching) and end-markets in semiconductor and electronics applications.
• Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE): UK-based chemical etching specialist producing precision metal components for aerospace, automotive, medical, and electronics. Direct competitor with virtually identical technology, end-market focus, and business model.
• Custom Etch Limited: UK-based chemical etching company producing custom precision metal components. Similar scale, technology focus (chemical etching), and customer segments in electronics, aerospace, and medical devices.
• Qualitetch Ltd: UK precision photo etching manufacturer serving aerospace, defense, medical, and electronics customers. Direct competitor with matching photo etching technology and aerospace/medical customer overlap with Etchform.

Broad incumbents

• Sanmina Corporation: Global contract electronics manufacturer providing precision manufacturing services including for medical, aerospace, and semiconductor customers. Comparable contract manufacturing business model serving overlapping end-markets, though at vastly larger scale and with broader service offerings.
• Heidenhain GmbH: German precision components and measurement equipment manufacturer serving semiconductor, machine tool, and electronics industries. Comparable end-market exposure and precision engineering culture, though much larger scale and broader product portfolio than Etchform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/etchform

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Etchform