The early years: pioneering without a safety net
Zens launched when the technology existed, but adoption was limited. Johan, familiar with induction charging from his time at Philips, saw the potential, even when the road ahead wasn’t paved.
Johan: “We made a bold choice to focus entirely on wireless charging. In those first years, we spent most of our time educating people. Phones weren’t ready yet; we even designed special cases with built-in receivers to make it work. It took hard work, perseverance, and a bit of luck.”
From the start, the ambition was bigger than a standalone product. The name Zens reflects focus, but also being part of something larger.
Erik: “Zen is about focus. Our focus is on chargers, but our dream was always for those chargers to become a seamless part of furniture, interiors, and the buildings around us.”
The turning point: from explaining to being requested
As wireless charging moved from niche to everyday, demand shifted. People stopped asking why, and started asking where can I get it? At the same time, more partners began looking for integrated charging: built into furniture, hospitality environments, and workspaces.
A major accelerator came through an OEM collaboration with IKEA in 2014. It gave Zens the scale and the confidence to professionalise and grow beyond the early phase.
To meet rising expectations, Zens kept raising the bar on design and performance, including collaborations (such as Apple) where the requirements are exceptionally strict.
Johan: “Working with Apple sets a very high standard. Design, materials, and technology are tested extensively. It pushes you to be better, and that focus on quality and reliability is now the baseline for everything we create, whether it’s a single charger for a consumer or a large roll-out for a corporate office.”
Global impact: from Marina Bay Sands to pachinko venues
What started as a small operation grew into a global footprint. Over the years, Zens solutions have appeared in iconic and sometimes unexpected places:
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Singapore: thousands of chargers installed in guest rooms and the casino at Marina Bay Sands.
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Japan: in pachinko venues, where ashtrays were removed and replaced with Zens wireless chargers. With more than 50,000 units installed across Japan.
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Worldwide: premium chargers designed for everyday use, practical, reliable, and built to fit beautifully into modern spaces.
The connected workspace
Today, Zens is about more than hardware. Based at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, we collaborate with partners to help shape the workspace of the future.
Erik: “We’re looking beyond charging. Our solutions now help generate insights into occupancy: which desks are actually used, and which spaces are in demand. We are turning furniture into data-driven assets that help companies create more human-centric environments.”
What never changes
Despite the growth from early prototypes to global projects, the core remains the same: simplicity, quality, and practical determination.
Johan: “We don’t necessarily want to be the biggest, but we do want to be among the best in terms of quality. We’ve kept our feet on the ground while building products that make everyday life a little simpler. We’re proud of our people: a highly committed team that blends engineering, design, and partnership thinking to deliver solutions that work not just in theory, but in real spaces, every day. ”
Here’s to the next 15 years, removing friction, raising the standard, and building smarter, cleaner ways to stay connected.
Want to learn more about what drives us? Explore our vision.
