With over 15 years in medtech and nearly a decade at Elos Medtech, Bastien Boillat has played a key role in building the company’s additive manufacturing capabilities. As an R&D Engineer at our sites in Switzerland, he is focused on helping customers transform innovative ideas into manufacturable solutions.
We sat down with Bastien to talk about his journey, the power of 3D printing, and what makes engineering at Elos both creative and collaborative.
Bastien, can you tell us a little about yourself and your role at Elos Medtech?
I’m a mechanical engineer by training and have worked in the medtech industry for about 15 years now. I joined Elos Medtech in 2016 — so it’s been nearly ten years. From the beginning, my focus has been additive manufacturing, developing this technology within the company and bringing it into customer projects.
Today, I am part of a team of R&D engineers in Switzerland. Our work is very customer-focused: we collaborate closely with OEM partners to design and develop new implants and instruments. Every project is different, and every day brings something new — from early design to validation.
What does a typical day look like for you?
It’s hard to say what a typical day is — because no two days are the same!
Most of my time is spent in direct contact with customers. We discuss specifications, review concepts, create CAD models, and work through solutions together. It’s a creative process that involves a lot of teamwork — not just within R&D, but also with colleagues in quality, digitalisation, and marketing.
What I love most is that sense of collaboration. You’re not just designing something alone; you’re co-creating it with the customer.
What drives your passion for medtech and engineering?
There are three main things for me.
First, the purpose — knowing that what we design and manufacture ultimately improves patients’ lives. That’s very motivating.
Second, the customer relationship. I’m happiest when the customer is happy. Building that trust and seeing satisfaction at the end of a project is a great feeling.
And third, the projects themselves. We’re constantly working on innovative, complex ideas — and that creativity keeps the work exciting.
Additive manufacturing seems to be at the heart of your work. What makes it so unique?
Additive manufacturing demands creativity.
When you come from a traditional mechanical engineering background, you have to completely change your way of thinking. 3D printing gives you freedom — but also challenges — because it allows you to create designs that simply aren’t possible with conventional methods.
It’s not just about making things differently; it’s about rethinking what’s possible.
Can you share one project that you’re particularly proud of?
Yes, definitely. One that comes to mind is the development of an expandable spinal cage.
There are already many versions of this implant on the market, but most are made with conventional manufacturing methods and consist of 10 to 15 separate components. They’re complex and expensive to produce.
In our project, we reimagined the design using 3D printing — reducing the number of components from 15 to just three. These three parts were printed together as a single structure, so there’s no assembly required afterwards.
That change alone reduced costs by two-thirds and simplified production dramatically. It’s a great example of how additive manufacturing can drive both innovation and efficiency.
How important is collaboration in achieving those kinds of results?
It’s essential.
Here in Switzerland, we’re a team of seven engineers, and we always brainstorm together. We share ideas, challenge each other, and find solutions as a group.
But collaboration goes beyond our site. We work closely with colleagues across the Elos Medtech Group — in Sweden, Denmark, and China — combining expertise from different areas and technologies. That’s what gives us strength as a global organisation.
What do you think sets Elos Medtech apart from other companies in the industry?
I’d say it’s the combination of expertise and scale.
Across our different sites, we have a wide range of technologies and people with very diverse backgrounds. When you bring that knowledge together — across borders, materials, and disciplines — it creates a lot of power.
We’re not just a manufacturer; we’re a network of experts who can support customers from design to full-scale production. That’s what makes Elos unique.
And outside of work — what keeps you busy?
Family, travel, and sport!
I have two children — my son is seven and my daughter is ten — and we spend a lot of time outdoors. We love to travel together, often camping and exploring nature.
And when I have time for myself, I play badminton. It’s my favourite sport — it keeps me active and clears my head after a busy day of engineering.
Finally, what does innovation mean to you?
For me, innovation is about curiosity — asking questions, trying new things, and not being afraid to rethink what’s already established.
That’s what makes working in additive manufacturing so exciting. You’re always learning, always discovering something new — and when you combine that with teamwork and trust, you can achieve amazing results.