As we mark our seven-decade journey, we reflect on our growth from modest roots to becoming leaders in optical systems engineering, dedicated to efficient manufacturing for the IVD and Life Sciences sectors. At Volpi, our light emission, transmission, and detection expertise fosters breakthroughs for superior diagnoses, patient care, and life enhancement. Discover how we tailor solutions to our customers’ needs and uphold the highest quality and performance standards. Our design, testing, and manufacturing approach distinguishes us, securing our position as a reliable industry partner. Explore Volpi’s distinctive method, where traditional values and skilled craftsmanship converge with customer satisfaction as our guiding principle
Advanced Optics Systems Engineering
At Volpi, we specialize in designing optical measurement systems that deliver the best balance between performance and cost, ensuring that our clients receive high-quality solutions within their budgets. Over the years, we have designed a large number and variety of solutions for both industry leaders and emerging startups. With our advanced knowledge of optical physics, systems engineering, and optics-based biosensing, we provide unmatched performance while keeping an eye on cost, demonstrating our commitment to meeting our customers’ needs with precision and value. We carefully select and integrate components like lenses, filters, light sources, and detectors into complex measuring systems that offer enhanced sensitivity, specificity, and throughput for IVD and Life Science applications.
With over 30 successful development projects and over 1,000 project-specific prototypes delivered over the past five years, we help our customers collect precious insights to deliver reliable diagnoses and data in all major IVD disciplines (Clinical Chemistry, Immunochemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, Molecular Diagnostics) and provide cutting-edge Life Science instrumentation (live cell imaging, high-throughput SPR, Next Generation Sequencing, qPCR, dPCR, high-throughput fluorescence imaging)
Excellence in Lean Manufacturing
The quality of the final product lies in its design. At Volpi, we specialize in design for manufacturing and design to cost, developing efficient production processes and setting up production lines with the necessary tools and fixtures. Our focus on quality is manifested in our end-of-line testers that ensure our products meet the highest standards. We are fully committed to the success of every custom solution we create, since Volpi’s business model is built on integrating the development and manufacturing of optical modules.
Our state-of-the-art manufacturing infrastructure and skilled workforce are the backbone of our operations. With modern facilities in Dietikon, Switzerland, and Auburn, USA, we are equipped to meet and exceed the stringent quality standards demanded by the medical and scientific communities. Our manufacturing space, including extensive clean-room production areas, is designed to comply with the most rigorous quality standards.
We are a trusted partner to top-tier medical device companies, which is acknowledged consistently by our customers through their audits and their choice to make Volpi one of their preferred suppliers. Our ISO 13485 certification is a testament to our unwavering dedication to quality management in the medical device sector.
We apply our expertise in optical physics and understanding of the final application to develop end-of-line (EOL) testers that ensure our modules are ready for immediate integration into our customers’ instruments. This approach not only streamlines the manufacturing process, but also reduces the cost for our customers significantly.
In addition to our advanced testing capabilities, we also develop custom-made solid-state calibration artifacts. These artifacts are essential for verifying the consistent quality of our modules, further enhancing the reliability of the final product. They are better-suited and more economical than running liquid testing or even assays to verify the quality of our optics systems. By providing these comprehensive testing solutions, we ensure that each module we produce adheres to the highest performance standards, offering unmatched value to our customers.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and global supply chain disruptions, we have consistently delivered quality products on time. As a dynamic company with a streamlined chain of command and a team dedicated to delivering quality at every step, we navigated the COVID-19 pandemic disruptions without impacting our product deliveries. Our strategic supply chain management has ensured our ability to adapt quickly to changing market demands, reinforcing our reputation as a reliable partner.
As industry leaders strive to make their supply chains leaner by reducing the number of suppliers, Volpi stands ready to support them in this journey, ensuring they can confidently count on us to meet their evolving needs.
Streamlined Application Testing
At Volpi, we go beyond standard optical performance testing by evaluating our modules under application-specific conditions. High Cq uniformity in PCR modules, for example, demands in-depth application knowledge and system engineering expertise. Despite the inherent risks in custom solution design, we mitigate uncertainty through sound assumptions and thorough concept refinement. After initial prototype verification, we leverage our infrastructure and scientific expertise to conduct further application testing. This crucial step confirms the efficacy of our solutions, de-risks product development, and ensures that customer needs are met.
Our in-house application testing accelerates the feedback and iteration process, allowing for rapid refinement and delivery of a superior product. This efficiency saves our customers time and resources, ensuring they receive an integration-ready module optimized for assay development. Volpi’s commitment to comprehensive testing guarantees solutions that exceed customer expectations, underlining our dedication to their success. Our team, equipped with BSL1 and BSL2 labs, is skilled in various tests, including PCR, immunoassays, clinical chemistry, CBC, and ID/AST testing with bacteria.
Our adaptable facilities can integrate whole-core lab analyzers for extensive testing or troubleshooting. Beyond optical modules, Volpi excels in biochemistry and developing fluidic systems for sample preparation, enhancing the overall testing capability of our modules.
Optics and AI Synergy
At Volpi, our expertise in optical instrumentation and measurement techniques places us in a unique position to support our customers beyond hardware. While we are recognized hardware specialists, we also possess the capability to develop sophisticated algorithms that can improve the precision and cost-effectiveness of new IVD platforms.
Understanding that data generation is at the core of what we do, we leverage this strength to provide accurately labeled datasets for our customers. These datasets are invaluable for testing algorithms and training AI models, ensuring that the software developed by our customers or third-party specialists is fine-tuned to work seamlessly with our hardware.
By offering these labeled datasets, we help our customers reduce the time and resources needed to develop and validate their algorithms. This service also allows us to suggest software enhancements that simplify hardware requirements, ultimately reducing costs. Our commitment to supporting our customers extends from the precision of our optical modules to the data that drives their software, ensuring they receive a comprehensive solution that meets their needs.
Cultivating Excellence
At Volpi, our values and culture are the bedrock of our success. As our CEO, Christoph Bohli, emphasizes in his interviews (read the interviews Part I, Part II), we integrate values with innovation, fostering a customer-focused, quality-driven culture while remaining deeply committed to continuous improvement. Our team embodies the spirit of collaboration, transparency, and integrity, which is evident in every project we undertake. We believe in empowering our employees, encouraging open communication, and nurturing a work environment that inspires creativity and excellence.
Beyond Core Capabilities
In addition to our core capabilities, we offer comprehensive services such as due diligence support during M&A, design transfer, and life cycle management. Our dedication to excellence is reflected in every aspect of our work, from the initial concept to the final product. We pride ourselves on our ability to meet the industry’s ever-changing needs while maintaining the highest standards of quality and precision.
As we celebrate our 70th anniversary, we honor our past and embrace the present, continuing to serve our customers with the same passion and commitment that have been the hallmark of Volpi since its inception. Our expertise, dedication to quality, and strong values ensure that we remain a preferred partner for global brands and startups alike, delivering solutions that enhance the capabilities of healthcare professionals worldwide.
In the next edition, we will look ahead, sharing our aspirations and vision for Volpi as we embark on the next decade of our journey. We will explore the strategic initiatives that will continue positioning Volpi as a go-to optical solutions provider for the next decade and beyond. Stay tuned for a glimpse into Volpi’s future, where our legacy of innovation will continue to shine.
Simon Langhart
Head of Sales & Marketing