smolsys manufactures tritium-compatible high-vacuum components, special machinery, analysis systems and container laboratories for fusion technology.
smolsys AG
Root D4 (TECHNOPARK Luzern), SwitzerlandNew on Amplifa
Expertise in Tritium Handling and High-Vacuum Technology
smolsys AG (smolsys ltd.) is a Swiss specialist in industrial tritium handling, high-vacuum technology and custom machine building. The company manufactures tritium-compatible high-vacuum bellows valves (¼" to 1.5"), magnetically driven syringe-type pressure pumps up to 100 bar, micro-Raman spectrometers for isotope analytics including a high-pressure Raman cell up to 1000 bar, solid-state scintillation sensors, getter beds, scrubber systems, vacuum chambers, high-temperature heaters as well as turnkey automation systems with PLC and HMI control. In addition, there are gaseous tritium light sources (GTLS) including an automated laser machine, the upcycling of GTLS production residues and modular "Plug & Produce" isotope container laboratories (RMC Lab) according to REI 90 / DIN EN 1090. Materials are primarily stainless steels (1.4404/316L, 1.4541, 1.4310), copper seals, anodized aluminum, FKM and fused silica. Components are partly machined and additively manufactured in-house; every test includes helium leak detection (down to 1×10⁻⁹ mbar·l/s) and pressure tests up to 40 bar or burst pressure testing. Customers come from fusion and nuclear energy research (including KIT/TLK for KATRIN), the tritium industry, the semiconductor and coating sectors as well as hydrogen technology. The site is the TECHNOPARK Luzern in Root D4, Switzerland.
- Site
- Root D4
- Processes
- High-vacuum bellows valves (dual seal, face seal ¼"–1.5", manual/pneumatic/ATEX), Custom Machine Building & Automation (gas panels, PLC, HMI, test systems, turnkey), Magnetically driven syringe pumps (up to 100 bar, tritium-compatible), Getter beds (hot/cold) and scrubber systems, high-temperature heaters and vacuum chambers, Solid-state scintillation sensor (glow sensor) for tritium measurement, GTLS production (gaseous tritium light sources) incl. automated laser machine, Glass-to-glass laser welding, Parts manufacturing: machined and additively manufactured components (in-house production)
- Materials
- Stainless steel 1.4404 / 316L, Rolling bearing steel 1.3505 (Smolball), Stainless steel 1.4541 (bellows), Stainless steel 1.4310 (spring), Copper (seal), FKM (O-rings), Aluminum (anodized, handles/rails), Fused Silica (Raman window)
- Certificates
- ISO 9001, EN 1090, He leak detection down to 1×10⁻⁹ mbar·l/s, Pressure/burst pressure testing, IQ/OQ/PQ qualification
- Founded
- 2014
- Industries
- Nuclear fusion technology, Nuclear energy research, Tritium industry (GTLS, nuclear batteries), High vacuum (semiconductor, coating, aerospace, chemicals), Hydrogen technology / renewable energies, Medical technology (spun off as Yalosys)
- 01
Requirements analysis
- 02
Engineering (P&ID, design, risk assessment)
- 03
In-house parts manufacturing (machined and additive)
- 04
Gas path and control cabinet assembly
- 05
PLC/HMI programming
- 06
Leak and pressure testing / component qualification
- 07
FAT and turnkey commissioning
Materials and Processes
Stainless steel 1.4404 (316L)
Main material for valve bodies, spindles and union nuts of the tritium-compatible HV valves.
Rolling bearing steel 1.3505
Used as the valve ball (smolball) in the valve seat.
Stainless steel 1.4541
Metal bellows of the valve, elastically deformed with every closing operation.
Stainless steel 1.4310
Spring in the valve.
Copper
Sealing ring between valve base and valve body (dual-seal concept).
FKM (O-rings)
Additional sealing of the spindle against blow-out/blow-in in case of bellows rupture.
Aluminum, anodized
Handles, rail system and rail blocks for rapid valve replacement.
Fused Silica
Integrated optical window of the high-pressure Raman cell, neither welded nor soldered.
Glass-to-glass laser joints
Laser welding of glass, originally established for medical implants (today Yalosys).
Location
Root D4 (TECHNOPARK Luzern)
CHHeadquarters, engineering, production, testing
- Lot size
- Single parts to small series, custom systems
- Materials
- Stainless steel 1.4404/316L, 1.4541, 1.4310, 1.3505, copper, FKM, aluminum, fused silica
- Automated laser machine for GTLS production (in-house build, 2023)
- Micro Raman spectrometer µRA
- High-pressure Raman cell (100/400/1000 bar)
- PLC/HMI development environment (SolidWorks, AutoDesk, LabVIEW)
- He leak testing systems
- Pressure testing systems (up to 40 bar, burst pressure tests)
Products and Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-vacuum bellows valves (dual seal, face seal ¼"–1.5", manual/pneumatic/ATEX)Engineering | – | – | – | – | 1.4404 (316L), 1.3505, 1.4541, 1.4310, Copper, FKM, Aluminum |
| Custom Machine Building & Automation (gas panels, PLC, HMI, test systems, turnkey)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel, Aluminum |
| Magnetically driven syringe pumps (up to 100 bar, tritium-compatible)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Engineering | 063 | – | – | – | – |
| Getter beds (hot/cold) and scrubber systems, high-temperature heaters and vacuum chambersEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Testing | – | 26 cm × 13 cm × 7 cm | 5 kg | – | Fused Silica |
| Solid-state scintillation sensor (glow sensor) for tritium measurementTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| GTLS production (gaseous tritium light sources) incl. automated laser machineAssembly | – | – | – | – | Glass, Tritium |
| Glass-to-glass laser weldingJoining | – | – | – | – | Glass |
| Parts manufacturing: machined and additively manufactured components (in-house production)Machining | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel, Aluminum |
| Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
3 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automated laser manufacturing machine for GTLS production | smolsys (in-house build) | 1 | – | 2023 | Root D4, Switzerland |
| Micro Raman spectrometer µRA (19" rack, DPSS laser 532 nm, 200 mW) | smolsys µRA | – | – | 2025 | Root D4, Switzerland |
| High-pressure Raman cell (100/400/1000 bar) | smolsys | – | – | 2026 | Root D4, Switzerland |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and Testing
According to its own statements, smolsys tests its products comprehensively according to international standards and beyond; valves are tested for high open-close cycle counts, burst pressure tests were carried out by the Swiss PST Laboratory, Zwillikon. The high-pressure Raman cell is individually helium leak tested (max. 1×10⁻⁹ mbar·l/s), pressure cycled, and subjected to cryogenic and thermal stress; IQ/OQ/PQ qualification packages are offered for systems.
| Evidence | Root D4 (TECHNOPARK Luzern) |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | |
| EN 1090 | |
| He leak detection down to 1×10⁻⁹ mbar·l/s | |
| Pressure/burst pressure testing | |
| IQ/OQ/PQ qualification |
History
- 2014
Founded in Zurich by tritium specialists (Sandro M.O.L. Schneider, initiator and co-founder); planning and engineering of machines and processes for tritium products (glass implants, IoT sensors).
- 2016
Relocation to Lucerne; development of the modular "Plug & Produce" container production cell; establishment of a medical technology division for glass-to-glass laser joints.
- 2017–2020
Engineering and construction of production machines for GTLS manufacturing; invention and upgrade of the high-pressure GTLS filling system; establishment of the med-tech division for laser welding and internationally funded projects.
- 2021
Tritium handling and filling systems for customers in Asia.
- 2022
Automation projects in tritium handling; GTLS PLP deployment; tritium upcycling; spin-off of the medical technology division as Yalosys.
- 2023
Development and testing of tritium-compatible high-vacuum valves; automated laser machine for GTLS production; magnetically driven syringe pump; market launch of the glow sensor.
- 2024
Machine and laboratory construction projects for major nuclear technology customers; spin-off of the 3D printer as adartys.com; semiconductor chip filling for the nuclear battery sector.
- 2025
Expansion of the tritium-compatible high-vacuum product line (¼" to 1.5"); dedicated Raman spectrometer for fusion analytics, produced by smolsys for the KATRIN experiment (KIT/TLK).
- 2026
High-pressure Raman cell (100/400/1000 bar, burst pressure >1500 bar, world first at this pressure); high-vacuum size 1.5"; container laboratory configurable down to the component level.