What ARNANO does

ARNANO is a French precision micro-engineering company that provides nanometric-scale engraving and thin-film deposition services to industrial and artistic clients. Founded in 2009 as a spin-off from CEA Grenoble/LETI, the company operates an ISO 6 cleanroom in Moirans (Isère) near Grenoble combining PVD, PECVD, high-resolution photolithography, and micro-gravure / nano-etching on substrates including sapphire, silicon, glass, ceramics, and metals. Its proprietary platform achieves ultra-high resolution image reproduction up to 25,400 dpi and line fineness of 2 micrometers, with demonstrated capability to etch tens of micrometers deep into sapphire without residual roughness.

The company generates revenue through three primary streams: bespoke custom development and prototyping (professional services), series manufacturing of micro-engraved components for watchmaking, MEMS/MOEMS, and sapphire discs (one-time / project-based contracts), and since 2024, fee-for-service access to its microfabrication platform as a managed service. All pricing is quote-based with no public price list; customers engage via direct contact. Primary customer segments are watchmaking and luxury goods (Icoflex and others — dials, plates, case backs with optical effects), traceability and anti-counterfeiting (Computer-Generated Holography hidden-image markings), ultra-long-term data archiving on sapphire discs (cultural heritage, commemorative, scientific — ITER and SANCTUARY projects), MEMS/MOEMS prototyping, and artistic/commemorative applications.

Commercially, ARNANO is in a scaling phase, having launched its own manufacturing line in 2023, opened the technological platform commercially in 2024, and added a multi-target AC450CT PVD system in April 2025. The company is led by Alain Rey as dirigeant (CEO) and is supported by public funding from ANR, France Relance, and the Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, with ecosystem ties to CEA-Leti, Minalogic, Udimec, and Réseau Entreprendre. All production is performed in France; the firm has no disclosed venture or institutional equity backing and no published revenue.

Name

ARNANO

Legal name

ARNANO

Website

https://arnano.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ARNANO is a French precision micro-engineering company, spun off from CEA Grenoble/LETI in 2009, that provides nanometric-scale engraving, thin-film deposition, and photolithography on sapphire and other resistant substrates for watchmaking, anti-counterfeiting, ultra-long-term data archiving, and MEMS manufacturing clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Micro-Engraving Services

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470), Jewelry, Precious Metal (3911)

akta.pro primary industry

Casting, Stamping & Fabrication (OEM/ODM) (CRAKAIAF)

Keywords

• Precision micro-engraving
• Thin film deposition
• Photolithography microfabrication
• Anti-counterfeiting engraving
• Sapphire data archiving

Headquarters

HQ city

Grenoble

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Development and Prototyping Services: ARNANO provides bespoke engineering and development services including custom design and modeling, specification compliance, and industrialization support. Revenue is generated through project-based custom development engagements, likely billed as one-time professional services or per-project contracts.
2. Manufacturing and Production Services: Series manufacturing and production of micro-engraved components including MEMS/MOEMS, watch components, sapphire discs, and customized micro-devices. Revenue from manufacturing runs, potentially structured as per-unit pricing or project-based manufacturing contracts.
3. Technological Platform Access / Prestations: ARNANO offers access to its ISO 6 cleanroom and advanced microfabrication platform as a technological service, enabling clients to use PVD, PECVD, photolithography, and micro-gravure capabilities on a fee-for-service basis.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ARNANO provides micro- and nano-scale engraving and microfabrication services for industrial and artistic clients from its ISO 6 cleanroom facility in Moirans, France. The company combines thin film deposition (PVD, PECVD), high-resolution photolithography, and micro-gravure/nano-etching processes to produce precision engravings up to 25,400 dpi on substrates including sapphire, silicon, glass, ceramics, and metals. These capabilities are applied through dedicated services for watchmaking decoration, anti-counterfeiting marking, MEMS/MOEMS prototyping and series manufacturing, and ultra-long-term sapphire data archiving.

Product overview

ARNANO offers a portfolio of micro-fabrication technology services centered around three core processes: Thin Film Deposition (PVD/PECVD), High Resolution Photolithography, and Nano-Etching. These are applied through application services including Nano Printing/Imprinting (up to 25,400 dpi), Computer-Generated Holography (CGH) Anti-Counterfeiting, MEMS/MOEMs Prototyping, Ultra Long-Term Data Archiving on sapphire, and Watch Industry Decorations. The company operates from a cleanroom ISO 6 facility in Moirans, France.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Thin Film Deposition (PVD/PECVD) Vacuum deposition service of metallic and insulating thin films using Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) and Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) techniques on substrates such as silicon, glass, and sapphire up to 200mm in diameter. Targets industrial and research clients needing precisely controlled nanometer-to-micron scale thin films.
• High Resolution Photolithography

Quantifiable outcome

• Ultra-high resolution reproduction up to 25,400 dpi
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CEA-Leti (Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives / Laboratoire d'Electronique et de Technologie de l'Information)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2009CEA-Leti is the parent research institute from which ARNANO was spun off in 2009. This is the foundational technology relationship that gave rise to ARNANO's core expertise in microelectronics, nanometric-scale engraving, photolithography, and thin film deposition. The spin-off provided ARNANO with access to CEA-LETI's intellectual property, know-how, and research infrastructure.
• UdimecminorOthersUdimec is a regional business network that promotes entrepreneurship, innovation, and future industry. ARNANO was featured on the cover and inside of Udimag n°66 (October 2025), the network's magazine. Udimec supports ARNANO's visibility within the local industrial ecosystem.
• MinalogicminorOthersMinalogic is a competitive cluster focused on micro and nanotechnology. ARNANO is listed among its members, indicating participation in a regional innovation ecosystem supporting companies in micro-nanotechnology.
• Reseau EntreprendreminorOthersReseau Entreprendre is a business creation and support network. ARNANO is listed as a member/client, suggesting involvement in entrepreneurship support programs.
• Hubert Curien LaboratoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA research laboratory affiliated with Jean Monnet University in Saint-Étienne. ARNANO is listed among the organization's partners, suggesting collaborative relationships in micro-nanofabrication research and development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mimotec SA: Mimotec is a Swiss precision microfabrication company specializing in micromechanical components for the watch industry (escape wheels, micromechanical parts) using LIGA-like processes. Direct peer: both companies serve Swiss/European watchmakers with micro-fabricated components at micron-scale precision.
• Nivarox-FAR: Nivarox-FAR (a Swatch Group company) produces precision watch components including balance springs, hairsprings, and pallet stones. Direct peer: both supply ultra-precision components and assemblies to the Swiss watchmaking value chain, where micron-level tolerances are commercially critical.
• CSEM (Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique): CSEM is a Swiss R&D and technology transfer center offering microelectronics, MEMS, and surface engineering services to industry. Direct peer: both organizations operate advanced microfabrication infrastructure and serve industrial clients with photolithography, thin film deposition, and micro-engineering projects on similar substrates.

Broad incumbents

• Swatch Group: The Swatch Group is the world's largest watch manufacturer and includes precision component subsidiaries (Nivarox-FAR, ETA, Comadur). Broad incumbent: vertically integrated precision watchmaking that captures in-house the kind of microfabrication work ARNANO supplies to independent brands like Icoflex.
• Richemont: Richemont is a major Swiss luxury group including Cartier, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Vacheron Constantin watches. Broad incumbent: a major potential customer base for ARNANO's luxury watch decoration and anti-counterfeiting services, while also a competitor via in-house manufacturing at select Maisons.
• STMicroelectronics: STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor IDM with deep MEMS, microelectronics, and thin film expertise, including significant presence in the Grenoble ecosystem alongside CEA-Leti. Broad incumbent: vastly larger scale than ARNANO, with overlapping capability in microelectronics manufacturing but serving mass-market semiconductor customers rather than niche luxury/scientific projects.

Emerging players

• Lithoz GmbH: Lithoz is an Austrian company specializing in ceramic 3D printing (LCM technology) for industrial and biomedical applications. Emerging player with adjacent overlap: both companies operate in high-precision microfabrication on hard, durable materials, though Lithoz focuses on additive manufacturing while ARNANO focuses on lithography and etching — could become a substitute or complementary partner for ceramic/sapphire parts.
• 4JET Technologies GmbH: 4JET Technologies is a German company specializing in laser-based micro-machining and surface engineering for industrial applications including decorative finishing, marking, and functionalization. Emerging player: comparable in micro-decoration service offering for industrial clients, though using laser-based rather than lithography/etching processes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arnano

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 ARNANO