With a career spanning diverse industries, from semiconductors to electronics manufacturing, Olivier Carnal has continually demonstrated his expertise in steering businesses through technological innovation and strategic growth. As the General Manager of Essemtec AG, headquartered in Aesch/LU, Olivier brings a rich background in both research and industry leadership, positioning Essemtec for continued success in the global electronics market.

A physicist by training, Olivier earned his Ph.D. at ETH Zurich and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in quantum optics at Caltech in Pasadena, California. His transition to the private sector saw him excel as a development engineer and later as an R&D manager in the semiconductor industry. Over the past 20 years, Olivier expanded his leadership roles, heading business development for a major Swiss multinational and managing companies in the photovoltaics and thermal energy sensor sectors. His passion for solar energy conversion has been a driving force in his career, particularly during his time leading a start-up in printed and flexible photovoltaic modules.

Since joining Essemtec in April 2023, Olivier has leveraged his technical expertise and business acumen to guide the company in its mission to provide advanced solutions for the electronics manufacturing industry.

Essemtec, known for its highly flexible production systems for electronic assembly, stands to benefit from Olivier’s deep understanding of both semiconductor technologies and sustainable energy solutions.

Outside of his professional life, Olivier enjoys endurance sports and playing the violin with the Ensemble Instrumental de La Neuveville, underscoring his commitment to both personal and professional harmony.

A Legacy of Excellence Since 1991

Essemtec was founded in 1991 in Switzerland, specializing in the development and production of Surface Mount Technology (SMT) machines and solutions, which are sold globally. These solutions are widely used across the electronics manufacturing industry, catering to companies of all sizes, from small and medium enterprises to large international corporations. The industry is highly dynamic, and Essemtec thrives in this environment as a vibrant and flexible company with streamlined processes.

The company’s approach to market challenges is driven by continuous technological innovation and a strong focus on customer needs. To meet the evolving demands of the industry, Essemtec has developed cutting-edge solutions. Their latest generation of machines, introduced in 2016, offers a versatile all-in-one concept for production processes, successfully gaining traction in the market. These machines can operate independently or be integrated into complex production lines, making them ideal for Industry 4.0 implementation. Essemtec’s machines are utilized in various sectors, including aerospace, medical, automotive, defense, and smart consumables devices.

In addition to its core business, Essemtec is involved in pioneering projects with leading universities to develop future electronic applications. By combining the additive manufacturing expertise of its parent company, Nano Dimension, with integrated electronics, Essemtec is shaping the future of technology. As the company states, “The Swiss machine manufacturer Essemtec AG, from Switzerland, claims its space in the age of Industry 4.0.”

All-in-One Technology

Olivier emphasizes that Essemtec’s technology and equipment concepts are well established in the market, with the All-in-One solution applying to all machine platforms. This versatile approach is highly flexible and adaptive, meeting the diverse needs of customers, particularly excelling in scenarios with multiple changeovers. This adaptability provides Essemtec with a unique advantage in the industry.

In addition to innovation, Essemtec is committed to ensuring that the quality of its products and services consistently meets the highest customer standards. The company follows lean manufacturing processes that are compliant with stringent ISO standards. From the receipt of raw materials to the final product, Essemtec implements rigorous checks and reviews at every stage of production. This attention to detail reflects the high quality associated with the “Swiss Made” label, resulting in elevated reliability and long-lasting machine performance. Even after years of operation, Essemtec’s robust machines continue to deliver optimal results.

Olivier also highlights the role of Essemtec’s Service team, which provides comprehensive support and, if needed, implements feature upgrades to enhance performance. This dedication to quality throughout all internal processes directly contributes to the satisfaction and success of the company’s customers.

The Heart of Essemtec’s Strategy

Olivier emphasizes that the Essemtec team stays closely connected with its customers, allowing them to deeply understand their challenges and needs. This customer-centric approach enables Essemtec to accept and tackle their challenges head-on. Regular meetings with customers and business partners worldwide—whether at their facilities or during tradeshows and events—keep the company in constant dialogue. This continuous interaction gives Essemtec a clear understanding of what customers require to remain competitive and meet evolving industry standards.

Once customer needs are identified, Essemtec works diligently to align its products and services to not only meet but exceed those expectations. Olivier explains that by focusing on projects that align with Essemtec’s core competencies, the company has successfully enabled new applications in highly demanding sectors, such as space and defense.

Essemtec’s global presence continues to expand with new partnerships in key markets, including Asia, Mexico, and the USA. Olivier highlights the company’s investment in building strong, long-lasting relationships with partners and customers alike. Innovation is a key driver for Essemtec, and collaborative projects with specific customers lead to highly rewarding experiences.

One notable example of this collaboration is with Zollner Elektronik AG. Over the past decade, Essemtec has grown alongside Zollner, starting with the introduction of a dispenser machine. Today, Essemtec’s integration includes 45 machines in complete electronics production lines globally, with both companies now focusing on developing future concepts like Industry 4.0.

Olivier concludes, stating, “I believe that we are increasingly growing together with our customers,” a testament to Essemtec’s commitment to fostering strong partnerships and driving innovation forward.

Commitment to Client Success

Olivier underlines that Essemtec is a truly customer-centric organization, and this focus is what drives its continuous innovation. The company’s commitment to helping customers stay competitive is at the core of every decision, and it directly shapes the development of Essemtec’s technology and solutions. According to Olivier, the desire to improve and deliver the best possible support is deeply ingrained in Essemtec’s culture.

When it comes to product development, customer requests play a critical role. Olivier, along with the product managers, ensures that the right projects are selected and prioritized, based on what will most benefit customers. Essemtec operates with a two-year roadmap, balancing input from engineering, sales, and product management to identify which projects make the most sense for the company and its clients. Olivier ensures that the necessary resources are available for these projects and fosters a strong sense of ownership within the team. This culture of trust not only boosts individual initiative but also creates an environment ripe for innovation.

In production, Essemtec leverages local resources with specific skill sets, reflecting Swiss precision and attention to detail. Olivier notes that the “Swiss genes” of precision work are evident in the team’s dedication to even the smallest details. Meanwhile, in areas such as R&D, management, service, and applications, Essemtec’s team is enriched by a diverse mix of backgrounds and cultures, enhancing the company’s global perspective and fostering creativity.

Olivier also highlights the importance of celebrating successes and building camaraderie within the team. The company organizes events such as summer grills and Swiss fondues, allowing employees to come together, celebrate milestones, and get to know one another outside the work environment. This helps strengthen team bonds and reinforces Essemtec’s collaborative and innovative culture.

Eco-Friendly Manufacturing Practices

Essemtec integrates sustainability into every aspect of its manufacturing process. Olivier emphasizes, “Our machines are designed to be energy efficient, both in the materials we use and in their energy consumption.” One key example is the use of mineral cast in machine construction, a material that offers superior vibration reduction while requiring less energy to produce compared to traditional methods. Additionally, Essemtec’s machines feature built-in energy recuperation units, which capture motor energy during braking and reuse it to accelerate the motion axes—enhancing energy efficiency.

Customers also benefit directly from Essemtec’s All-in-One systems, which combine multiple processes into one machine, reducing material usage, minimizing operational footprint, and supporting leaner production lines.

Olivier highlights that Essemtec’s latest innovations, including processes like reballing and repair, are a direct response to sustainability concerns. Reballing BGAs (ball grid arrays) extends the lifecycle of electronic components, reducing the need for new materials and lowering the environmental impact associated with manufacturing and disposal. This practice not only minimizes electronic waste but also promotes a more sustainable approach to electronics production and consumption.

Essemtec’s commitment to sustainability is part of their broader goal of driving innovation while maintaining responsibility towards the environment and future generations.

Adaptability as a Competitive Advantage in Diverse Industries

Olivier highlights that Essemtec’s slogan “Naturally Adaptive,” along with the animal-themed names of their machines, perfectly encapsulates the company’s core values. Just like the animals they are named after, Essemtec’s high-tech solutions are incredibly adaptable, tailored to meet a wide variety of customer needs. Whether it’s a small business or a large international corporation, Essemtec’s machines can be retrofitted directly on-site with various features and components, offering unmatched flexibility.

This adaptability, according to Olivier, is one of Essemtec’s greatest strengths. It allows them to offer solutions that cater to the specific requirements of different industries, ensuring that they remain competitive and responsive to the evolving demands of their customers.

Olivier also underscores the importance of investment in driving innovation. While large companies typically invest between 3 and 5% of their revenue in R&D, Essemtec commits a much higher, double-digit percentage of their sales to research and development. This ensures they remain close to their customers’ needs and continue to bring cutting-edge innovations to the market. “Ideas are there,” Olivier notes, “but they need to be implemented.”

Olivier’s vision is clear: “Being Naturally Adaptive, just like nature and the animals around us, drives our innovation and competitiveness.” This guiding principle is what fuels Essemtec’s success and ability to stay ahead in a rapidly changing market.

Aligning Talents for Ambitious Goals

Olivier sees himself as a leader who brings positive energy into Essemtec. With a team of highly skilled specialists and leaders, his primary role is to align and motivate them towards achieving ambitious goals. Describing his management style as ‘visionary,’ Olivier focuses on setting clear objectives and then enabling the team by removing obstacles, providing support, and fostering motivation.

Under his leadership, the organization has reached significant milestones, including global expansion, growing its distribution network, launching new products, and achieving notable sales successes. One standout achievement was delivering the 1,000th machine of the latest generation to the U.S., a testament to the company’s growth and customer satisfaction.

Bold Vision for Essemtec’s Future Growth

Olivier and the Essemtec management team are planning a bold and aggressive growth strategy, aiming to build on the company’s core strengths: the Essemtec brand, flexibility, innovation, and strong customer relationships. Olivier emphasizes that Essemtec’s growth priorities are centered on increasing the pace of innovation, becoming the leader in all-in-one solutions and dispensing technology, expanding geographically in the Americas and Asia Pacific, and raising market visibility.

To achieve these goals, Essemtec has already established dedicated teams in R&D, Sales, and Marketing, and the financial resources needed to support this growth are in place. Olivier recognizes that reaching these ambitious goals will require hard work and a competitive edge, but he is confident that the team is ready for the challenge.

Olivier’s long-term vision for Essemtec is for the company to be recognized as an innovative partner across all continents. His ambition is that whenever a customer faces a challenge or needs to take the next step in their electronics production, Essemtec will be the first company they turn to. This goal stems from the company’s reputation as a reliable partner focused on long-lasting relationships, which Olivier believes truly sets Essemtec apart in the market.

Essemtec is driven by a team of talented individuals, and Olivier is motivated by the idea of showcasing their expertise to the world. He is confident that Essemtec, with its innovative approach and customer-centric philosophy, will continue to grow and thrive, not just for the next few years but for many decades to come.