Revolutionizing Manufacturing with Smart Micro-Machines
ENOVEAS is a company at the forefront of industrial innovation, reshaping traditional manufacturing processes with smart, compact micro-machines. In an exclusive interview, Founder Martin Böni shares the story behind their success, how they’ve managed to stay true to their vision while scaling globally, and the milestones that have defined their journey so far.
4 July 2024
ENOVEAS was born from a simple yet powerful idea: to make manufacturing processes shorter smarter, eco-friendlier, and more efficient. As Martin explains, "We build very small, smart machines that help factories make things more quickly, accurately, and using less energy. It's like making tiny robots that are very good at their jobs and help companies create everything from watches to airplane parts, all while saving time and protecting the environment."
This clear focus on creating innovative micro-machines has not only allowed ENOVEAS to stand out but also to address a major issue in the industry – traditional manufacturing systems that are bulky, expensive, and less dynamic.
Collaboration leads to flagship product
A key turning point was the partnership with the Swiss engineering school HE-Arc, which was working on a project for small-scale manufacturing processes, called Micro5. This collaboration resulted in ENOVEAS’ flagship product, Silex. "We worked closely with HE-Arc to industrialize their concept, turning it into what would later become Silex. This collaboration shows the power of technology transfer between academia and industry,” Martin emphasises.
Introducing New Products While Staying Focused
Launching new products and entering new industries has been essential to ENOVEAS' growth, but maintaining focus has been equally critical. "We have a modular approach that allows us to diversify into different sectors without straying from what we do best—creating small and autonomous, intelligent solutions that are energy-efficient and precise," Martin explains. This focus on innovation and sustainability guides every new development, ensuring that ENOVEAS stays aligned with its core values.
Their ability to disrupt traditional industries with cutting-edge solutions while keeping sustainability at the forefront has set ENOVEAS apart from competitors. “We’ve embedded intelligence into our machines, allowing them to monitor their own performance and make automatic adjustments. This is something many competitors have yet to achieve,” explains Martin.
Scaling for the Future: Aerospace and Medical Microtechnology
Looking ahead, ENOVEAS is focused on scaling production to meet the growing demand for Silex and expanding into new industries like aerospace and medical microtechnology. “In the coming months, we’ll be focused on scaling production and continuing to expand,” says Martin. Enhancing the intelligent features of their machines, such as improving their self-correcting capabilities, will also be a key focus moving forward.
An early customer from the watchmaking industry was skeptical at first whether such a small machine could deliver the precision required, the customer was not only impressed by its performance but also noted a significant reduction in energy usage. “That moment confirmed that we were truly offering something revolutionary,” Martin shares.
SEF.Growth High-Potential label opened doors to scaling the business
Another key milestone was receiving the SEF.Growth High-Potential quality label. “It’s not just a recognition of our hard work but also an acknowledgment of our potential to shape the future of industrial processes,” Martin reflects. The SEF.Growth label not only validated their business model but also opened doors to scaling the business and entering new markets.
"The experts appreciated our strong value proposition and how well we aligned with broader sustainability goals," Martin explains. The feedback also highlighted the strength of ENOVEAS’ management team, which draws on talent from outside the traditional engineering pool, bringing fresh perspectives to the table.
With its focus on innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, ENOVEAS is well-positioned to reshape the future of manufacturing one tiny, intelligent machine at a time. As Martin puts it: "We are just at the beginning of what’s possible, and we’re excited to continue leading this revolution in the industry."
The author
Alyssia Kugler
Communications SEF.Growth
Alyssia Kugler writes freelance for various publications on topics that concern startups. She is committed to startups as the managing director of the Entrepreneur Club Winterthur.