Association that networks industrial partners in mechatronics and coordinates projects from idea to finished product
Die Virtuelle Fabrik, Netzwerk der Mechatronik
Rümlang (head office c/o Rapid Manufacturing AG)New on Amplifa
About the Virtual Factory
The Virtual Factory (vf) is an association-organized network of industrial partners from the innovation, development and manufacturing sectors in Switzerland. For more than 20 years, the network has coordinated mechatronics projects from the idea through concept, development and manufacturing to product care. A vf contact person receives task assignments and organizes the appropriate specialists so that customers can execute their projects seamlessly. The cooperation brings together companies as a project-specifically assembled virtual factory that realizes units and products from development, manufacturing and IoT. The head office is located c/o Rapid Manufacturing AG in Rümlang in the canton of Zurich. Reference customers include Flawa AG, V-ZUG and ANTA SWISS.
- Site
- Rümlang
- Processes
- Mechatronic units – project execution from idea to finished product, Open Innovation / development support with specific competencies, Manufacturing and care of products, Networking of industrial partners in innovation, development and manufacturing, Project execution from idea to finished product, Open Innovation, Coordination of specialists for mechatronic units, Support from concept and manufacturing through to product care
- Materials
- Mechatronics Project Execution, Open Innovation, IoT Solutions, Assembly and Care
- Certificates
- Certifications (at network level)
- Industries
- Mechatronics, Industrial Automation, IoT
- 01
Task assignment to the vf contact person
- 02
Assembly of suitable vf partners
- 03
Concept and development
- 04
Manufacturing by network partners
- 05
Assembly and product care
Competencies and Services
Mechatronics Project Execution
Project execution from idea to finished product through a network of specialized partners.
Open Innovation
Supplementing project teams with specific competencies of the vf partners in open exchange.
IoT Solutions
Development of IoT applications such as the first IoT first-aid kit for Flawa AG.
Assembly and Care
Manufacturing and long-term care of products by the network partners.
Locations
Rümlang
CHHead office c/o Rapid Manufacturing AG
Projects and Parts
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechatronic units – project execution from idea to finished productEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Open Innovation / development support with specific competenciesEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacturing and care of productsAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Organization and Collaboration
Quality is created through the well-coordinated network and the culture of cooperation among the partners; the Virtual Factory pursues the three guiding principles of Create, Enrich and Stabilize to ensure quality across projects.
| Evidence | Rümlang |
|---|---|
| Certifications (at network level) |
Network History
- 2003
Network has existed for more than 20 years (back-calculated from website information of approx. 2025)
- 2023
New vf partner Mercateo Schweiz GmbH (procurement portal); presence at SmartSuisse 2023 and SINDEX review
- 2024
New vf partner with IoT competencies
- 2025
vfTalk on the topic of AI; membership Circular Economy Switzerland; presence at SINDEX 2025 (Hall 3.0, Stand B22); Spirit Days in Flüeli Ranft
- 2026
vfTalk on 18 September 2026; vfERFA at ACRYLINE on the topic of Sales & Marketing in the AI era