Tecnotion is truly distinctive and a supplier for companies that build their own system

TECNOTION’S SUCCESS IS PARTLY DOWN TO ROOTS IN PHILIPS AND ASML

‘MEANWHILE, WE HAVE BECOME TECHNOLOGY MARKET LEADER, ON OUR OWN’

The interview covered a range of topics, from our current focus to our ambitions.  Our CEO shared his insights and expertise, highlighting our strategies and how we expand our business.

Read the article below written by Wilma Schreiber to learn more about the interview.

Soon Tecnotion, which specializes in producing and customizing high-tech direct-drive motors, will decide on a new production site in Eastern Europe. With this, the company aims to fulfill its ‘sell local, produce local’ strategy and also be ready for expected growth in leading markets. The new headquarters in the Netherlands, to be commissioned in Q2 2024, will also make an important contribution.

The ambition is unmistakable: to remain the technology market leader in direct-drive motors by producing the best linear and torque motors in the market. An important competence is the company’s motor technology expertise. ‘Where competitors tend to focus on systems, we focus purely on the motor. This is where we are truly distinctive and a supplier for companies that build their own systems, states Bob Jonker, CEO at Tecnotion. ‘Our customers build their machine with the best motor, the best control, and the best conduction.’ He is referring to companies in the semiconductor industry and related markets, such as battery and display manufacturing. ‘There is often a need for distinctive motors in the machine tool market as well, which is where our strategy fits in nicely.’

KEEP BUILDING
According to Jonker, Tecnotion has positioned itself well in markets that are expected to grow in the coming years. ‘The semiconductor industry, for example, has an average annual growth potential of 10 percent. The only downside is that it tends to come in fits and starts, so 30 percent in one year and then no growth in the next. Because of Tecnotion’s market and product expansion, downturns in semiconductors do not lead to reorganization but to stabilization in the organization.
This means we can continue to build the future together.’ In total, Tecnotion has 450 employees, 250 of whom work at its
headquarters in Almelo. In addition to production sites in Almelo and China, the company has its own sales offices in the U.S., South Korea, China, the Netherlands, Germany, and Poland. At the end of this year, Tecnotion will also open a new production OWN’site in Eastern Europe for products that involve a lot of manual work. ‘That way, we can continue
to serve the Asian market from China and the European and American markets from Europe.’

PRODUCT EXPANSION
Meanwhile, Tecnotion’s portfolio is continuously broadened with the development of new technologies in direct-drive motors. For example, the company is fully committed to the continued development of linear, vacuum, and torque motors. ‘Linear and vacuum motors are typically used in the semiconductor industry. Torque motors are more common in the machine tool market. For this market, we are currently developing very large torque motors to even better suit customer needs, Jonker says. ‘Very often our knowledge of motor technology and application is decisive for our customers.’ Furthermore, Tecnotion recently introduced the second generation (G2) of vacuum motors. ‘If you want to be a technology market leader, you have to make a difference by means of new technology, so we have invested heavily in the development of vacuum motors.’ The existing office in Almelo, which Tecnotion moved into in 2015 to be prepared for growth, is now
proving too small. ‘We are currently renting four more buildings and having new premises built, with a real high-end clean room and other production facilities. This provides more opportunities to continue developing customer-specific motors for large customers such as ASML.’

TECHNOLOGY PUSH FROM ASML
The pursuit of technology market leadership appears to be genetic. ‘Over thirty years ago, we originated within Philips and when we were sold, twenty-five years ago this year, we were provided with the knowledge and opportunities to develop further under the wings of ASML. If you want to be a technology market leader, nothing beats the technology push from ASML.’ That push has since broadened to QLTCS (quality, logistics, technology, cost, and sustainability). ‘We are challenged throughout the organization as a result, which is good for the development of our company’, Jonker says. ‘It is no longer one-way traffic and we can now really be of service to ASML in terms of knowledge and expertise. In addition, we now supply our own direct-drive motors worldwide and have managed to achieve market leadership on our own.’