Meet the Expert: Reto Strickler – 35 Years at the Cutting Edge of Surgical Power Tools
Our people power everything we do – they work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring our customers’ ideas into life-changing solutions. In this edition of our Meet the Expert series, we sit down with Reto Strickler. Reto is VP of Operations (Ortho) for Europe, and the site leader of our Hölstein and Matzingen facilities in Switzerland. With more than 35 years of experience in the development and manufacturing of surgical power tools, Reto has seen the industry evolve—and played a direct role in shaping how these complex devices are made today.
You’ve been working in power tools for a long time. What’s kept you in it?
Power tools is kind of in my DNA. I started as a precision mechanic, and after my apprenticeship, I moved into different departments—turning, milling, assembly, planning, purchasing. I basically changed every year to the next department, which gave me a full view of the process.
I’ve always enjoyed the challenge. Power tools are small, complex systems. There are a lot of parts, tight tolerances, and everything has to work perfectly in the end. It’s interesting, and it keeps you learning.
What’s the main focus at your sites in Hölstein and Matzingen?
We mainly focus on power tools and gearboxes. We machine a lot of complex parts—turned and milled components, shafts, housings—and we do gearbox assembly and final assembly of the handpieces. We also do testing and some cleaning and packaging.
For many of our customers, we handle the full solution. One order, one drawing, one finished solution. That’s the strength of Elos—we’re not just making a part and shipping it out. We take responsibility for the whole assembly and help make sure it meets all requirements.
You mentioned reviewing customer drawings and giving feedback. What does that process look like?
Often when we get a new drawing, there’s room to optimize. The customer might add a radius that’s not really needed, or there might be features that make the part more expensive to machine without adding value.
We give feedback early—usually after the first technical review. We ask questions: Do you really need this feature? Can we remove this radius? Can we simplify this surface? It’s not just about cost—it’s also about manufacturability and testing.
Sometimes, a customer designs a part with tolerances that are technically okay, but we can’t measure them properly. Then we have to push back. If we can’t measure it, we can’t guarantee it. It’s better to catch those things up front than to struggle later.
How does this help customers in the long run?
If we don’t raise these questions early, the problems come later—maybe during testing, maybe in validation, maybe even in production. Then it’s expensive and slow to fix.
What we try to do is give the customer options. We explain the issue, show the impact, and offer solutions. Sometimes they accept the change, sometimes they stick to the original—but at least they know the trade-offs.
What’s something customers might now know about Elos?
Some customers don’t realize how much we do under one roof. We machine the parts, assemble the tools, do the testing, and manage the documentation. That reduces complexity for the customer—they don’t need to work with ten suppliers. They just send us the order and we deliver the complete, tested product.
We’ve also been working with some of our customers for over 30 years. That kind of long-term relationship doesn’t come from nothing. It’s built on trust—on delivering consistent quality, even as the requirements change.
What’s ahead for the team in Hölstein and Matzingen?
Now that we’re part of Elos Medtech, we’re working more closely with the other sites—sharing experience, combining capabilities. That opens a lot of doors for customers. If one site doesn’t have capacity, another can support. Or we might do part of the work in one site and finish it in another.
That flexibility is a real advantage, especially with more complex projects.
Outside of work, what keeps you balanced?
My hobby is mountain biking. I really enjoy riding in the Swiss mountains—it’s where I recharge. After a long week or a busy period, being out in nature gives me energy back.
Reto Strickler and his team in Hölstein and Matzingen combine decades of experience with a hands-on, customer-first approach—delivering precise, tested, and fully assembled solutions that support surgeons and simplify the supply chain.
Stay tuned for more insights from the people behind the products at Elos Medtech.
