Goal: to provide solutions and partners to develop new ideas and projects

“Photonic Integration Week” is the important trade fair that will take place from February 23 to 25 in Spain. It is a key event that highlights the growth of the semiconductor sector in general and, more specifically, the photonics sector in Spain.

As in previous editions, the event will focus on startups in the field of photonics, as well as strategic companies that already use or may use integrated photonics in the near or medium future. Expert speakers will discuss many interesting aspects of photonic integration, both technological and practical. Electron Mec and Visiorobotics could not miss this event. To better understand their presence and contribution, we asked a few questions to José Manuel Fernandez, Sales Manager of Electron Mec, responsible for developing collaborations in France and the Iberian Peninsula.

Have you always wanted to work in this sector?

“After studying mechanical engineering, I started my career in industry in the Grenoble region. Later, I moved to a completely different field and worked in management positions in the food industry. However, I soon returned to my first passion: industry, and especially the semiconductor sector, which at that time (30 years ago) was starting to grow in the Grenoble area.

This experience allowed me to develop several Business Units for important companies in the sector, including institutes and startups, focusing on maintenance, cleaning, services, and equipment sales, with clients across Europe, especially in Southern Europe. I later worked as Business Unit Manager and then as Site Manager, leading teams of dozens of people. After that, I expanded these activities as Sales Manager in the Iberian Peninsula and opened a branch in Madrid. It was during that time that I built strong relationships with Spain, some of which I have maintained for almost 15 years.”

Was that when your passion brought you to Electron Mec?

“Exactly. I joined Electron Mec because Mr. Luigi and Sebastiaan Calligarich were looking for someone to help manage the high demand in the French market and, above all, to develop collaborations in the Iberian Peninsula. It was very easy to connect with the Electron Mec team. It is a family company with 60 years of experience, deep knowledge of the industry, and great humility and empathy. I must say it is very easy to work in such a climate of trust. This naturally leads to positive results, in a friendly environment, even if it requires a lot of work – work that we always do with pleasure.”

Why is Photonic Integration Week 2026 an event not to be missed?

“Because the entire Spanish and European photonics ecosystem will be there. It is a great opportunity to learn about the latest developments in the sector and discover new products, as well as to meet again all the main players. The event has been organized for nine years by UPV, the Polytechnic University of Valencia, and its excellent team, and it is clearly growing in importance. UPV is also at the center of the important PIXSpain project, which gives even more value to the event.”

So Electron Mec could not miss it…

“It is important for Electron Mec and our sister company Visiorobotics to attend because we are involved in several projects under development in this field, together with institutes, startups, and companies, just like the partners of the PIXEurope and PIXSpain projects. This event is an opportunity to meet the people we collaborate with and to take part in new projects, presenting the range of solutions and services we can offer.

We have been attending for three years, and this year we will have our own stand. Visitors will be able to meet and speak with our specialists, and we will also enjoy sharing friendly moments together. I personally appreciate the local food very much, and we will be happy to sponsor coffee breaks, lunches, or dinner.”

What do you expect from this edition and why is Valencia an important location for the sector?

“We want to learn about the latest developments in the sector and meet the people working in it, so we can explain the solutions and partners we can offer to help them develop their ideas and projects. Of course, we also want to strengthen our current collaborations, because our goal is to build long-term relationships.”

What will Electron Mec’s role be at the trade fair and what will visitors find at your stand? 

“Our role will be to present our current photonics solutions with our various partners, discuss ongoing projects, potentially forge new relationships, and also highlight our sister company Visiorobotics, which is heavily focused on all these projects. Booth 3 normally.”

What is the company’s flagship product or highlight that you are particularly excited to present?

“Undoubtedly, our sister company Visiorobotics highly specialized in photonics solutions , as also our partner Sinergo, capable of designing and developing unique equipment entirely in-house, and of course our long-standing partners like Samco for its deposition and etching solutions with their ICP RIE, PECVD Systems, PVA TePla for their Plasma solutions,  Hummink, whom we have supported from the beginning with their Nazca machine, the most precise equipment on the market for inkjet printing for all substrates, Kurz Ersa Semicon (ex ATV), for their reflow oven solutions, SPM for custom-made wet bench, Musashi Dispensing Systems. All of these are partners with whom we install equipment in Spain and with whom we have had successes. And of course, our partner Finetech who will have the stand next to ours, with whom we are fortunate to collaborate hand in hand in Spain, as well as in Italy, with great success.”

What aspects of Electron Mec have been most appreciated in previous editions?

“All new developments, future projects, knowledge of new startups in the sector, as well as existing industries with whom we are connected through photonics.”

What would you like to say to customers, partners, or simply interested parties who have not yet decided whether to attend the trade fair?

“I would say that you absolutely must attend in order to listen to all the keynotes from the eminent speakers, to get to know each other better, to discuss their projects, the solutions we can offer them, and simply to get to know each other over a coffee or a glass of wine in order to enrich our knowledge and our thirst for learning through these enriching encounters.”