1006_WT_#SolderJoint_Zeitschrift_USletter_48p_2025-02-07_prev - Flipbook - Page 28
#FUTUREoriginals | STARTUPS
The EMS Akrodyn and Weller Tools:
Connecting the future of
healthcare & motor control
Prototyping at its best Akrodyn’s first prototype was
a 3-axis gimbal system for camera stabilization.
Recognizing the need for a specialized focus, the
team identified a niche in the fitness industry,
particularly in strength training. This led to the
founding of Akrodyn and the creation of the
eWeight, an innovative weight stack replacement
device. “Initially, our B2C efforts faced challenges as
we struggled to secure investors. However, pivoting
to a B2B model proved successful, allowing us to
collaborate with fitness industry leaders eager to
integrate our technology into their strength training
equipment,” explains Björn Joos, Product
Development Engineer and Co-Founder of
Akrodyn. Over the past two years, Akrodyn has
expanded into the medical sector, designing
proprietary ECG and PPG sensor modules in
partnership with a German company. Leveraging
its proximity to ETH Zurich, Akrodyn also supports
startups and spin-offs in transforming innovative
concepts into market-ready products.
Prototype soldering for runaways. Prototyping is
critical to Akrodyn and its customers, who typically
have about 7 days from PCB order to small batch
of 3 assembled PCBs through agile processes and
trusted partners. These prototype batches are
soldered inhouse, where they have a reflow oven for
SMD and the Weller WXsmart soldering station for
soldering through hole components, to get also the
heaviest power electronics soldered with precision
and ease.
Akrodyn’s main
soldering challenges.
In motor control applications,
the electronics are designed
to function as efficient thermal
heatsinks, making the
soldering of +100A connectors
particularly challenging.
A high-performance soldering
station like the WXsmart, with
over 100W of power, is
essential to ensure reliable soldering in such
demanding scenarios. Conversely, in the medical
sector, where space is at a premium and components
are densely packed, precision is key. Micro soldering
tips are often required for PCB modifications, and
delivering adequate heat to the solder joint remains
critical for achieving optimal results. In the medical
