Bring a finished design or an idea. We engineer it and build it.
Illuminious is a U.S. NPI engineering company. ODM and OEM manufacturing covers both routes: we build to your finished design, or we design the product with you and then build it. Engineered in San Francisco. Prototype builds, DFM and mass production in our own factory in Shenzhen. Upload your files, get a free engineering review, and pay only the official quote that review publishes.
Bring a finished design and we build it under your brand. Bring a concept and our engineers design the board, enclosure and firmware, then make a demo build before production.
Production runs in the Shenzhen factory, certified to ISO 9001. Design files and IP are assigned to you at hand-off, and we sign your NDA before the first call.
500+ projects delivered200+ hardware teams served in 30 countriesFull IP transfer
Walk Shenzhen factories with us, Dec 6–11. See the tour
- NDA before the first call
- ISO 9001 & 13485
- 350+ audited suppliers
- One point of contact
- ISO 9001 certified
- ISO 13485
- IATF 16949
- NDA & IP protection
- ISO 14001
- RoHS & REACH verified
- Full turnkey capability
- Prototype to mass production
- One point of contact per project
- AS9100D aerospace
OEM vs. ODM: a clear comparison
The right model depends on your team's capabilities, timeline, and how much control you want over the design process.
| Factor | OEM | ODM |
|---|---|---|
| Design ownership | You provide the complete design | We design it based on your requirements |
| IP ownership | 100% yours from day one | Negotiable: typically transfers to you |
| Engineering team needed | Yes: you need in-house engineers | No: we handle all engineering |
| Time to market | Manufacturing only, so the shorter of the two | Design plus manufacturing, so the longer |
| Upfront investment | Lower (no design cost) | Higher (includes NRE & tooling) |
| Per-unit cost at scale | Optimized for your design | Optimized by our engineers |
| Customization level | Full: your exact specifications | High: within our platform capabilities |
| Best for | Companies with strong R&D teams | Startups & companies without hardware teams |
| Risk profile | You own design risk | Shared: we de-risk manufacturing |
| Minimum order qty | Varies by complexity | Typically 500–1,000 units |
Which model is right for you?
Answer 5 quick questions to get a personalized recommendation.
1. Do you have a finished product design (CAD files, BOM, specifications)?
2. Do you have an in-house engineering team for hardware development?
3. Do you need help with industrial design and mechanical engineering?
4. Is time to market your top priority?
5. Do you want a turnkey solution from concept to finished product?
Not sure which model fits?
Our team has helped 200+ hardware teams choose the right manufacturing partnership. Let's discuss your specific situation.
From concept to container
Our 8-stage process covers the entire product lifecycle. OEM clients typically enter at Stage 3; ODM clients start at Stage 1.
Deep-dive into your product vision, target market, technical requirements, and business constraints. For OEM clients, we review your existing design files. For ODM clients, we define the product specification together.
Your intellectual property, secured
We understand that IP protection is the #1 concern for companies manufacturing overseas. That's why we've built multiple layers of protection into every engagement.
| Protection | What it covers |
|---|---|
| NDA before the first call | We sign your NDA before the first call. Agreements are with Illuminious LLC, a Wyoming company. |
| Secure data handling | Encrypted servers with role-based access control. Factory floor access restricted and monitored. |
| Transparent project management | Real-time dashboard, weekly video calls, photo/video updates from factory floor. |
| Supplier agreements | Back-to-back NDAs and non-compete agreements with all manufacturing partners. |
| Design escrow option | CAD files, BOM, and manufacturing documentation held by neutral third party. |
| Full IP transfer | All design files, documentation, test procedures, and supplier contacts transferred at completion. |
Trusted across 6 industries
From consumer electronics to medical devices, we bring deep domain expertise to every project.
| Industry | Examples | Projects |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer electronics | Smart home, wearables, audio | 120+ |
| Medical and health | Patient monitors, diagnostics | 35+ |
| Industrial IoT | Sensors, gateways, edge computing | 80+ |
| Automotive and mobility | ADAS, EV chargers, fleet mgmt | 25+ |
| Retail and POS | Payment terminals, kiosks | 40+ |
| Robotics and drones | Control boards, motor drivers | 30+ |
Real projects, real results
ODM · Smart Home Startup (ODM)
From Concept to 10,000 Units in 6 Months
- Challenge
- A San Francisco startup needed a complete smart home hub — hardware, firmware, and cloud connectivity — but had no hardware engineering team.
- Solution
- Full ODM: industrial design, PCBA with Wi-Fi/BLE/Zigbee, injection molded enclosure, firmware, FCC/CE certification, and retail packaging.
Trusted by
Serving hardware teams from Y Combinator startups to Fortune 500 R&D labs
Startups
Creators
R&D teams
Entrepreneurs
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MediaFrequently asked questions
What's the difference between OEM and ODM?
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) means you provide the complete product design and we manufacture it to your specifications. ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) means we design and manufacture the product based on your requirements. In both models, the final product is sold under your brand.
Who owns the IP in an ODM project?
On engineering projects, design files and IP are assigned to you at hand-off, including the product design, industrial design and firmware the order covers. You receive the design source files at each stage gate, and firmware source when the order includes it. The terms are written into the project agreement with Illuminious LLC (Wyoming).
What files do I need to provide for OEM manufacturing?
For a complete OEM quote: (1) 3D CAD files (STEP/IGES), (2) 2D engineering drawings with tolerances, (3) Bill of Materials with approved vendor list, (4) Assembly instructions, (5) Test specifications. If you're missing any, our team can help fill the gaps.
What are the typical MOQs?
OEM: MOQ depends on component sourcing and tooling amortization, typically 100–1,000 units. ODM: Typical MOQ is 500–1,000 units to amortize NRE investment. We offer flexible payment terms to help startups manage cash flow.
How long does a full ODM project take?
It runs through discovery, design and engineering, prototyping, tooling, pilot production and mass production. How long each stage takes depends on the product, the tooling and the certification path, so the schedule is set in the project plan and restated in the official quote rather than promised up front. Where stages can run in parallel, the plan says which and shows what that changes.
Can you handle regulatory certifications?
The certification path is in the project plan from the feasibility study. We design for it, build DVT units for the lab and supply the documents it asks for; you or a test lab you choose make the FCC, CE or UL submission.
Who owns the design in an ODM project?
You do. The ODM route is where the question matters most, because the design is developed with you rather than handed to us finished. Ownership and tooling rights are written into the scope before work starts, and tooling you pay for belongs to you. We sign your NDA before the first call. An OEM build has no such question: you arrive with the design and it stays yours.
Can I customize an existing ODM platform product?
Yes, and it is the shortest route to market. We have reference designs for common categories such as smart home devices, wearables and industrial IoT sensors, and we adapt one with your branding and features. Adapting a design is a shorter project than a new one, and the plan for either states its own schedule.
What quality standards do you follow?
The Shenzhen factory holds ISO 9001 and ISO 13485, and electronics are built to IPC-A-610 Class 3. We provide FAI, PPAP documentation and ongoing SPC for production runs, and each production batch is compared with the golden sample you signed.
What happens if there's a quality issue after delivery?
We stand behind our work with a comprehensive warranty. All products undergo final inspection. If a quality issue is discovered, we investigate root cause, implement corrective action, and replace or rework affected units at our cost.
Start your project
Free consultation. We aim to reply within 24 hours on business days.
Let's build your next product together
Whether you need ODM design services or OEM manufacturing, we'll find the right model for your business. Free consultation, no commitment.
Or email us at info@illuminious.com, or schedule a call.
- An engineer runs a free engineering review of your files, and nothing is charged when you submit.
- You see the findings first.
- We publish the official quote with an itemized total, lead time and validity window.
- You accept the official quote, and only then does payment open.