VDL Strengthens Its Position in Electronics with The Acquisition of Sintecs

With the acquisition of Sintecs, VDL Group further expands its position in high-end electronics. This strategic move supports VDL’s ambition to serve customers as a one-stop-shop partner across the domains of mechanics, software and electronics. Sintecs, based in Hengelo, designs complex digital electronics for clients in a range of high-tech industries, including telecoms, automotive, medical technology, energy and defence.

Sintecs stands for Signal Integrity Consultancy Services and was founded in 2000. The company has grown into a mature and innovative player in electronics, specialising in so-called high-end electronics, including printed circuit boards (PCBs), embedded software and hardware for complex applications. In addition, Sintecs provides specialised services and markets its own products under the brand name Scalys (HSD partner). Sintecs employs approximately 75 people, with 50 based in Hengelo and 25 in Vilnius (Lithuania). In 2025, the company reported annual revenues of €8.5 million.

With this acquisition, VDL strengthens its capabilities in electronics development and production support. Sintecs specialises, among other things, in the early integration of design and manufacturing and has expertise that is highly relevant across several sectors, including high-tech, cybersecurity and defence—areas that align perfectly with VDL’s activities. Under the umbrella of VDL Group, Sintecs’ products and services can be further strengthened for the market.

Expansion of competencies

Through the acquisitions of TBP Electronics (2020) and Rena Electronica (2023), VDL has already significantly expanded its capabilities in high-end electronics. The acquisition of Sintecs further reinforces the one-stop-shop principle, particularly for customers in the high-tech sector requiring complex mechatronic modules. With this step, VDL takes an important stride towards an even more comprehensive offering, bringing together mechanics, electronics and software.

Focus on manufacturability

Early involvement in the design phase is crucial to achieving cost-efficient, high-quality and manufacturable electronics. VDL TBP Electronics, VDL Rena Electronica and Sintecs will work closely together to further develop this approach and provide customers with broader end-to-end support.

Sintecs is also active in product development and markets its own products under the name Scalys, including solutions for cybersecurity. One example is the TrustBox Edge, a cyber-secure network solution (for example, usable as a router) designed for secure and reliable data processing. Security is embedded from the very first design step, following strict architectural principles for both hardware and software. The solution is based on Sintecs’ expertise in PCB layout, signal and power integrity analysis, hardware architecture and system validation. These competencies ensure that every design decision is systematically assessed for long-term reliability, robustness and integrity. As a result, the TrustBox is suitable for critical environments where cybersecurity and system trust are essential. In 2019, Sintecs won the leading innovation award at the world’s largest electronics trade fair, CES in Las Vegas, with the TrustBox.

‘A natural and major step forward’

Hans Klos, founder of Sintecs - “The acquisition by VDL feels like a natural and at the same time significant step forward for Sintecs and Scalys. With VDL’s knowledge, scale and technological strength, we can further deepen our expertise, innovate more rapidly and support our customers even better. It gives us the space to grow while remaining true to who we are and further strengthening and expanding our identity. As part of VDL Group, we are able to increase our impact and pursue our ambitions.”

‘Further expansion of electronics capabilities’

Willem van der Leegte, President and CEO of VDL Group, adds: “Our ambition is to be a one-stop-shop industrial partner for our customers. In addition to our capabilities in mechanics and software, we have already taken significant steps forward in electronics in recent years with VDL TBP Electronics and VDL Rena Electronica. With the addition of the skilled employees of Sintecs, our electronics capabilities are further expanded, particularly in the areas of development and support for manufacturability and testability of electronics in our factories. This enables us to serve our customers even better and to become even more relevant to their critical processes.”

Source: VDL Groep