Zollner Elektronik AG is one of the world’s largest EMS providers. With over €2.5 billion in annual revenue and decades of experience in series production, Zollner is a trusted partner across industries. Still, even for a global leader, evolving customer expectations offer opportunities for improvement. One such opportunity: functional prototypes.
“In our annual customer satisfaction surveys, we consistently saw one area where we could do better – functional prototypes.”
— Siegfried Seidl, Program Manager Rapid Sample
In response, Zollner launched the “Rapid Sample” business unit in early 2022 with a clear mission: to provide functional PCB prototypes within days or weeks, without relying on its more complex series production setup.
“We wanted to close that gap with a fast, digital interface and direct contact with developers. Without Luminovo, this business model wouldn't be feasible.”
— Siegfried Seidl, Program Manager Rapid Sample
The Challenge: Where series production processes reach their limits
Zollner’s existing processes were built for high-volume and long-term production, which are excellent for serial manufacturing, but not for time-critical prototypes. Before Rapid Sample, a quote for a functional prototype often took 2 to 3 weeks.
“If you asked for a prototype quote via our series process, it could take two to three weeks. By then, some competitors had already delivered the parts.”
— Siegfried Seidl, Program Manager Rapid Sample
To accelerate early development, Zollner had to tackle three main challenges:
Customer Interface: Quote requests and unstructured BOMs were exchanged via email, causing delays and confusion. A dedicated frontend for RFQs was missing.
Speed: Existing processes were too slow for prototyping needs. Manual effort for BOM validation and cost calculation was high.
Developer Access: Communication primarily ran through procurement teams. Direct access to developers which is critical for product feedback was limited.
“We explicitly wanted to work with developers, not just buyers – to have influence on the design and understand future product needs.”
— Siegfried Seidl, Program Manager Rapid Sample
The Solution: A digital RFQ process with Luminovo
Rather than building software in-house, Zollner chose Luminovo as a ready-to-go, cloud-based RFQ platform. The Customer Collaboration Portal was rolled out specifically to support Rapid Sample and today plays a central role:
Structured BOM uploads and validation by the customer
Automated checks for availability, alternatives, and risks
Integrated communication and collaboration on BOM lines
Transparent manufacturing cost calculations and quoting
"Our customers' developers now largely clarify the BOM independently and enjoy the process. What was once a laborious manual task, often involving extensive email exchanges, is now handled interactively and documented within the tool."
— Siegfried Seidl, Program Manager Rapid Sample
Results: A measurable success story
The introduction of the Luminovo portal marked a turning point in Zollner’s positioning as a full-service partner, especially in early-stage development. Since its launch, the Rapid Sample unit has seen impressive growth:
Quoting time reduced from 2–3 weeks to under 24 hours
Up to 50 prototype projects per month - Rising trend
1,000 projects processed through the platform (as of 2025)
A cornerstone of Zollner's digitization initiative
“Luminovo helped us close a gap and strengthen our full-service offering. Without it, Rapid Sample wouldn’t be viable at this scale.”
— Siegfried Seidl, Program Manager Rapid Sample
The impact is felt across the board: Customers handle their own BOM validation, saving time on both sides while improving data quality and transparency.
“Our customers are really happy. The feedback we get repeatedly highlights how intuitive and interactive the tool is.”
— Siegfried Seidl, Program Manager Rapid Sample
Looking ahead: A strategic building block
The customer portal is now a central part of day-to-day operations within the Rapid Sample business – but Zollner sees even greater potential in Luminovo. The team is currently working on integrating the platform with its SAP system. The goal is to enable the automated transfer of not only quote data but also material quantities and sourcing information – paving the way for even more seamless and efficient processes.
