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    Our Company

    ESCATEC have a long history of providing design and manufacturing solutions to world-renowned OEMs. We realise their ideas, from concept to delivery to after-sales service, and offer them the specific solutions they need.

    Who we are
    Market Segments

    ESCATEC partners with numerous major OEM brands across a wide range of market segments. We have helped OEMs in a variety of sectors such as; Industrial Electronics; Medical, Healthcare & Life-sciences; Mobility & Transportation; IoT & Connected Devices.

    Who we serve
    Global Facilities

    ESCATEC has a global footprint with production facilities in the UK, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Bulgaria, and Malaysia. We have the capacity, expertise, and sector experience to better serve customers across a broader range of industries.

    Where we are
    Innovate

    You are an inventor. You have the idea, the concept, the vision of what you want to create. So, together, we Innovate. Through our design and development and NPI processes, we take your idea and make it a reality by turning it into a marketing leading product.

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    Scale

    Whatever product or market, ESCATEC is a truly global company with sites across Europe and Asia that use the latest technology. We seamlessly transition from prototyping to volume manufacturing so you can Scale and meet the needs of your market.

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    Repeat

    Demand for your product is strong but you know it’s only a matter of time before the competition start to try and catch up. You’re not looking to standstill, you’re a market leader, and that’s where the ‘Repeat’ stage of the ESCATEC process kicks in.

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    CASE STUDY - Luxury Smartwatch

    ESCATEC's pivotal role in bringing a luxury smartwatch to market

    In 2015, an American technology company ventured into the wearable market with a cutting-edge chipset. Collaborating with several watch brands, they aimed to introduce a range of innovative smartwatches to the market, including a high-end luxury model, that could rival competitors like Apple.

    The American company initially partnered with a Chinese contract manufacturer, but from the outset, the partnership faced numerous design and manufacturing challenges. Despite a robust supply chain and substantial investment in jigs and fixtures, the project was floundering.
    The Challenge

    A significant hurdle was integrating the electronic touchscreen module into a titanium housing, a deviation from traditional luxury watch designs that caused the EMS provider numerous headaches: 

    • Snags with prototyping
    • Persistent quality issues
    • Project delays 
    • Mounting costs

     

    With quality issues dogging the project, the search for a new EMS began.

    Our American OEM needed a partner with global facilities and expertise in both design and volume manufacturing. The quest centred around Switzerland, a centre of watchmaking excellence and home to some of the world’s best facilities for high-tech electronics design and manufacture.

    The Solution

    After a rigorous selection process, ESCATEC was chosen for their global capabilities and local expertise.

    Cross-functional team established in Switzerland

     

    ESCATEC formed a cross-functional team in Switzerland, working closely with the customer's dedicated project team. This collaboration facilitated swift resolution of design, assembly, and quality issues.

     

    Rapid problem-solving techniques deployed

     

    Despite the previous assembly challenges, ESCATEC benefited from receiving quality work instructions and access to many jigs and fixtures during the EMS transfer. The ESCATEC team immediately got to work reviewing the product design and existing processes and equipment. They quickly identified why the challenges with mounting the electronic module to the titanium housing had occurred and set about explaining how to overcome these.

     

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    Focused investment and enhancements

     

    Overcoming these issues required further design modifications and additional investment in jigs and fixtures which the customer fully supported with zero delay. Despite the time crunch, the two companies rapidly met these needs, and sample builds quickly resumed.

     

    Agile Design iteration

     

    After several design iterations, ESCATEC successfully resolved the electronic display module integration issue, paving the way for stable quality sample production and eventually, volume production.

    The Results

    This partnership enabled the transition from prototype to volume production in just six months. To meet demand and recover lost time, ESCATEC operated two shifts, consisting of fourteen production operatives on each shift, plus several process engineers., significantly scaling up production to meet launch deadlines.

    The success of the partnership led to ESCATEC securing the build work on the next generation model. Launched in 2017, the new version was a modular smartwatch, offering 56 customizable options, with prices ranging from $1,650 to $18,000 for the premium Tourbillion model. 

     

    Both projects are a testament to the power of collaboration and commitment to problem-solving in design and manufacture.

     

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    The ESCATEC team, initially accustomed to stable designs before production, adapted to a more dynamic, 'fail-fast' approach, enhancing their innovation and equipment selection strategies. 

     

    At the same time, the American company gained a deeper appreciation for the Swiss team's technical expertise and problem-solving approach. This synergy transformed ESCATEC from a traditional EMS provider to a proactive, solution-oriented partner, significantly contributing to the project's success.

     

    ESCATEC's innovative approach and focused investment in new equipment were key in addressing major technical challenges.