Swiss Cluster
Swiss Cluster AG designs, fabricates, and installs modular thin-film deposition systems combining ALD and PVD in a single vacuum chamber, serving MedTech, Electronics, Optics, Watchmaking, and Research customers across Europe, the Americas, and Asia via a 16-partner distribution network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersSpiez, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Swiss Cluster does
Swiss Cluster AG is a Swiss private company founded in 2020 as a spin-off from Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) and headquartered in Spiez, Switzerland. The company designs, fabricates, and installs thin-film deposition systems that combine Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) in a single vacuum chamber, enabling nanolaminate coatings with enhanced mechanical and thermal resistance that the company states are producible only on its equipment.
Its product portfolio comprises three systems: the SC-1 (compact modular ALD/PVD cluster system for R&D), the SC Qube (batch ALD for lab and pilot scale, 1-70L), and the SC Optima (large batch ALD for production, 70-1000L, with a patent-pending 3D chamber design). Swiss Cluster also offers thin-film development services including POC coatings, pilot production, and R&D consulting. Core technology is protected by granted patents on the integrated ALD/PVD method and patent-pending filings on the SC Optima chamber architecture.
The company sells capital equipment under custom multi-year contracts priced by direct engineering consultation, supported by 16 global distribution partners. End markets include MedTech, Electronics and Semiconductors, Optics, Watchmaking, and Research institutions, with customers and pipeline deliveries across Switzerland, the U.S., the U.K., France, Brazil, Italy, and China. As of 2026 the team comprises 15 employees from 7 nationalities, and the company secured its first external investment in 2025 and won the Swiss Economic Award 2026 in the Industry/Production category.
Swiss Cluster firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Swiss Cluster
- Legal name
- Swiss Cluster AG
- Website
- https://swisscluster.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Swiss Cluster AG designs, fabricates, and installs modular thin-film deposition systems combining ALD and PVD in a single vacuum chamber, serving MedTech, Electronics, Optics, Watchmaking, and Research customers across Europe, the Americas, and Asia via a 16-partner distribution network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Swiss Cluster industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Thin-Film Deposition Equipment
- NAICS
- Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (33281), Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (332)
- SIC
- Electronic Components, Nec (3679), Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851), Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Deposition Equipment (CVD/PVD/ALD/Epitaxy) (HDAHAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Deposition Precursors (CVD/ALD Precursors, Metalorganics) (IMAEAKAG), Thin-Film Deposition Materials (PVD/CVD/ALD Targets & Precursors) (HDAHAGAH), Coating, Painting & Plating (Powder Coat, Anodizing, Electroplating, PVD/CVD) (IMAAAGAI)
Keywords
Where Swiss Cluster is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Spiez
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Swiss Cluster business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Deposition Equipment Sales: Sale of modular thin-film deposition systems including SC-1, SC Qube, and SC Optima platforms. Systems are configured and tailored to customer-specific deposition requirements.
- Coating Services: Thin film development and coating services including POC coatings, pilot production, and R&D consulting for validation of new coating processes for specific applications.
- R&D Consulting Services: Structured R&D projects designed to provide definitive data required to validate new coating processes for specific applications, including process development and testing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom equipment systems tailored to customer requirements |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Swiss Cluster product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Swiss Cluster designs, fabricates, and installs modular thin-film deposition systems that combine Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) in a single vacuum chamber to produce nanolaminate coatings. Its product line spans the SC-1 (compact ALD/PVD cluster system), SC Qube (batch ALD 1-70L), and SC Optima (large batch ALD 70-1000L), and is complemented by Thin Film Development Services covering POC coatings, pilot production, and R&D consulting.
Product overview
Swiss Cluster offers a modular thin-film deposition system portfolio combining ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) and PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) technologies. Their product line includes the SC-1 (compact ALD/PVD cluster system for research labs), SC Qube (batch ALD for lab and pilot scale 1-70L), and SC Optima (large batch ALD for production scale 70-1000L). The SC-1 uniquely combines ALD and PVD in a single vacuum chamber without vacuum break, while the SC Qube and SC Optima provide scalable batch ALD solutions. The company also provides coating services including PoC coatings, pilot production, and R&D consulting, supported by in-house materials R&D and a global distribution network of 16 partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SC-1: ALD/PVD cluster system - the first compact and modular equipment combining PE-ALD and PVD deposition technologies.
- SC Qube
- SC Optima
Products and services
- SC-1 Compact modular ALD/PVD cluster system that integrates interchangeable PVD sources (magnetron sputtering, evaporation, e-beam), thermal or PE-ALD modes, custom sample stages, and in-situ metrology into a single system with programmable layer sequencing for nanolaminate synthesis. Designed for research institutions and industrial R&D labs requiring integrated ALD/PVD processing without vacuum break.
- SC Qube
Quantifiable outcome
- 500 nm Al2O3 coating with <1% 1-sigma uniformity
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Swiss Cluster
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Swiss Cluster technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Swiss Cluster partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology)coreEmpa is the research institution from which Swiss Cluster spun off in 2020. The company was founded based on advanced materials research developed at Empa, translating fundamental science into industrial-grade hardware. This foundational partnership provides ongoing access to cutting-edge materials science research.
- Innosuisse (Swiss Confederation)coreSwiss Cluster is Innosuisse certified, indicating support from the Swiss innovation agency. Innosuisse promotes science-based innovation in Switzerland through funding, coaching, and networking services for Swiss startups.
- BFH (Bern University of Applied Sciences)coreSwiss Cluster is a BFH spin-off, indicating origin from Bern University of Applied Sciences. This partnership connects the company to academic resources and talent from the university.
- 16 Global Distribution PartnerscoreSwiss Cluster maintains 16 distribution partners globally who support international distribution and service of their deposition equipment and coating services. These partners enable reach to customers in Switzerland, U.S., U.K., France, Brazil, Italy, and China.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Swiss Cluster competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Picosun (Applied Materials): Picosun, now part of Applied Materials, specialized in batch ALD systems for research, MedTech, and specialty semiconductor applications. It is one of the closest direct comparables to Swiss Cluster's SC Qube and SC Optima product positioning, particularly in MedTech implant coatings.
- SENTECH Instruments: SENTECH Instruments is a German manufacturer of thin-film deposition and plasma processing equipment (PECVD, ALD, ICP-RIE) for research, MEMS, and photovoltaic applications. It is a closely comparable European specialist thin-film equipment vendor with a similar R&D-to-production equipment portfolio.
- Oxford Instruments: Oxford Instruments provides thin-film deposition systems (ALD, CVD, PVD, IBD) for research and industrial applications across semiconductors, optics, and materials research. Its product portfolio and customer mix closely overlap with Swiss Cluster's R&D and specialty industrial segments.
- Beneq: Beneq is a specialist ALD equipment vendor serving research, MEMS, and emerging industrial applications with batch and roll-to-roll ALD systems. It is closely comparable to Swiss Cluster in scale, product positioning (lab-to-pilot ALD systems), and end-market diversity beyond pure semiconductor production.
- Veeco Instruments: Veeco Instruments designs and manufactures thin-film processing equipment (MOCVD, MBE, ion beam, ALD) for semiconductor, photonics, and advanced packaging applications. It is a comparable thin-film equipment vendor with overlapping target customers in photonics, LEDs, and specialty semiconductor applications.
- ASM International: ASM International is the global leader in Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) equipment for semiconductor manufacturing, with a strong position in advanced-node deposition. It is the most direct large-scale peer to Swiss Cluster's ALD equipment business, particularly in semiconductor customer segments.
Broad incumbents
- Lam Research: Lam Research is a major semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment company with strong positions in deposition and etch. As one of the 'big three' semiconductor equipment vendors, it defines customer expectations for service, qualification, and throughput that Swiss Cluster must meet to win semiconductor accounts.
- Applied Materials: Applied Materials is the largest semiconductor equipment company in the world, with a broad deposition portfolio including ALD, CVD, and PVD systems serving logic, memory, and display customers. It represents the incumbent competitive threat that Swiss Cluster's differentiated single-chamber ALD/PVD technology is designed to complement or partially disrupt.
- Tokyo Electron: Tokyo Electron (TEL) is one of the largest semiconductor and flat-panel display equipment manufacturers globally, with deposition, etch, and coating offerings. It is a broad incumbent peer in the deposition equipment market and a likely competitor in large-volume semiconductor customer accounts.
Emerging players
- Aixtron: Aixtron is a specialist deposition equipment vendor focused on MOCVD and CVD systems for compound semiconductors, power electronics, and optoelectronics. While its core chemistry differs from ALD, it is a comparable specialty deposition peer in the European market targeting similar emerging semiconductor and photonics applications.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Swiss Cluster social profiles
Digital presenceSwiss Cluster financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Swiss Cluster leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Swiss Cluster funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Swiss Cluster M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Swiss Cluster
What does Swiss Cluster do?
Swiss Cluster designs, fabricates, and installs modular thin-film deposition systems that combine Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) in a single vacuum chamber to produce nanolaminate coatings. Its product line spans the SC-1 (compact ALD/PVD cluster system), SC Qube (batch ALD 1-70L), and SC Optima (large batch ALD 70-1000L), and is complemented by Thin Film Development Services covering POC coatings, pilot production, and R&D consulting.
Is Swiss Cluster a public or private company?
Swiss Cluster is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Swiss Cluster founded?
Swiss Cluster was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Swiss Cluster based?
Swiss Cluster is headquartered in Spiez, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Swiss Cluster make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Deposition Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are coating Services and R&D Consulting Services.
Who are Swiss Cluster's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Picosun (Applied Materials), SENTECH Instruments, Oxford Instruments, Beneq, Veeco Instruments and ASM International. Broad incumbents are Lam Research, Applied Materials and Tokyo Electron. Aixtron is listed as an emerging player.
Does Swiss Cluster have an API?
No public API is recorded for Swiss Cluster.
What industry is Swiss Cluster in?
Swiss Cluster's product category is Thin-Film Deposition Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAEAB, Deposition Equipment (CVD/PVD/ALD/Epitaxy), with a secondary code of IMAEAKAG, Deposition Precursors (CVD/ALD Precursors, Metalorganics). Its NAICS code is 32551 and its SIC code is 3679.