What duagon does

duagon is a Switzerland-headquartered (Dietikon) provider of embedded electronic hardware, software, and engineering services for safety-critical applications, principally in the global rail industry. Its product portfolio centers on three lines: Computing Systems (CompactPCI Serial boards, processor modules, modular systems, duagon SAFE CONTROL safety-certified platforms, and industrial Box PCs), Train Control Network products (MVB, Ethernet, CAN and Serial interfaces, gateways, repeaters/media converters), and Control products (I/O controllers and compact remote I/O modules). The company's d-SC platform is certifiable up to SIL 4 under EN 50126/128/129, and its gateways and network products comply with IEC 61375-3-1 and real-time Ethernet protocols (TRDP, IPTCom, EtherNet/IP-CIP), enabling interoperability between legacy train buses and modern Ethernet networks.

duagon serves rail vehicle manufacturers, railway operators, and subsystem manufacturers worldwide, with disclosed engagements spanning SBB (Switzerland, via onway), Alstom VLocity trains (Australia, via Selectron Systems), Metro de Madrid and Renfe Rodalies (Spain), and TCDD Marmaray (Turkey). It also supplies modular embedded solutions to medical device manufacturers and critical-automation customers. The business model combines hardware sales (embedded computing products), professional services (engineering and R&D consulting for signaling and TCMS), and managed services (lifecycle management, obsolescence management, cybersecurity support). Commercial engagement is enterprise-focused B2B with quote-based pricing, delivered through international sales offices and the Swiss headquarters, and supported by presence at industry events such as InnoTrans.

In September 2025, Knorr-Bremse AG announced the acquisition of duagon for EUR 500 million; the transaction was finalized in January 2026, integrating approximately 1,000 specialized experts into Knorr-Bremse's Rail Vehicle Systems division alongside Selectron Systems. duagon reported a ~15% CAGR between 2022 and 2025 and is projected to achieve approximately 16% operating EBIT margin in 2026 under Knorr-Bremse ownership, with EUR 5-10 million of annual EBIT-effective run-rate synergies expected from 2028.

Name

duagon

Legal name

duagon AG

Website

https://duagon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

duagon is a Switzerland-based provider of embedded electronic hardware, software, and engineering services for safety-critical rail communication and control applications. It serves rail vehicle manufacturers, operators, and subsystem suppliers globally with CompactPCI Serial systems, SIL 4-certified safety platforms, and train gateways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Railway Embedded Electronics

NAICS

Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (334118), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Embedded & Industrial Network Interfaces (PCIe/M.2/SOM/SoC NICs) (HDAFAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP) / Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) (HDADABAC), Network Architecture & Design Services (BPAEAEAA), Network Resilience & High Availability Services (Redundancy, Failover) (BPAEAEAL)

Keywords

• Embedded computing systems
• Train communication networks
• Railway control systems
• Safety-certified electronics
• Industrial embedded solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Embedded Hardware Products: Sale of rugged embedded computing products including CompactPCI Serial boards, processor modules, box PCs, network interfaces, gateways, and I/O controllers for railway and industrial applications.
2. Engineering Services: Stand-alone engineering and R&D consulting services for rail traffic signalling, TCMS systems, covering system integration, application development, and railway signalling installations.
3. Lifecycle Management Services: Comprehensive support services covering obsolescence management, cybersecurity support, system integration, lifecycle extension, and material compliance reporting throughout product lifecycle.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

duagon develops, manufactures, and supports embedded electronic hardware, software, and engineering services for safety-critical and mission-critical applications. The portfolio includes CompactPCI Serial computing systems, MVB/Ethernet/TCN communication interfaces and gateways, SIL 4-certified safety control platforms (d-SC), I/O controllers, and complementary engineering and lifecycle management services, primarily for rail onboard and wayside applications, with secondary offerings for medical technology and industrial automation.

Product overview

duagon is a provider of embedded electronic hardware, software, and engineering services for system-critical applications in rail and medical markets. The company operates a platform-plus-modules architecture consisting of three core product lines: Computing Systems (CompactPCI Serial boards, processor modules, safe control systems, and Box PCs), Train Control Network (interfaces, gateways, repeaters/media converters), and Control (I/O controllers and remote I/O modules). The flagship d-SC (duagon SAFE CONTROL) platform provides modular SIL 4-certified safety control systems. Key gateway products include the D503 (MVB to Ethernet), D521 (WTB to MVB), D517 (Secure Ethernet), and D507 (Protocol Translation) series. The product portfolio is complemented by Engineering Services (railway signalling, TCMS, system integration) and Lifecycle Management Services (obsolescence management, cybersecurity, lifecycle extension). duagon was acquired by Knorr-Bremse in September 2025 and integrated into their Rail Vehicle Systems division.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• duagon SAFE CONTROL: A modular, safety-certified railway control platform built for functional safety in rail automation, certifiable up to SIL 4.
• duagon Cybersecurity
• duagon Gateways
• Selectron

Products and services

• Computing Systems Standalone embedded computing product family including CompactPCI Serial boards, processor modules, modular systems, safe control systems, and industrial Box PCs for mission-critical railway, medical, and industrial automation applications. Configurable CPU/GPU scalability, interface options, and software customization.
• Train Control Network Network communication product family including MVB, Ethernet, CAN, and Serial interfaces, gateways (protocol converters), and repeaters/media converters for train-borne communication systems and wayside networks.
• Control I/O controllers and compact remote I/O modules for subsystem control and monitoring in railway environments, supporting Ethernet, MVB, CAN, and Serial connectivity.
• duagon SAFE CONTROL (d-SC) Modular safety-certified railway control platform certifiable up to SIL 4, compliant with EN 50126, EN 50128, EN 50129, designed for onboard applications (ATO/ATP) and wayside applications (level-crossing, computer-based interlocking). Uses EtherCAT with FSoE for safe communication and separates safe and non-vital domains.
• D503 MVB to Ethernet Gateway Ethernet-to-MVB gateway with line-redundant MVB interface and up to two 10/100 Mb/s Ethernet interfaces, supporting MVB devices up to class 4 including process and message data.
• D521 WTB to MVB Gateway Wire Train Bus (WTB) to Multifunction Vehicle Bus (MVB) gateway compliant to IEC 61375 and UIC Leaflet 556, with 8 digital inputs and 8 combined input/output channels.
• D517 Secure Ethernet Gateway Secure Ethernet-to-Ethernet gateway with configurable packet filter implementing bidirectional packet filtering with up to 100 filter rules for onboard cybersecurity protection.
• D507 Ethernet Protocol Translation Gateway Protocol translation gateway supporting real-time Ethernet protocols including TRDP, IPTCom, and EtherNet/IP-CIP with cyclic process data communication.
• MH50C SAFE CONTROL Vital System Controller Central component of the d-SC system for safety-critical vehicle or wayside applications such as ATO/ATC or ATP based on ERTMS/ETCS, PTC, PZB/Indusi, or ZUB, certifiable up to SIL 4.
• F75P Vital Embedded Single Board Computer x86 Intel Atom E680T based fail-safe vital embedded computer certified to SIL 4 with onboard dual redundancy for functional safety and a third CPU for I/O communication.
• KT8 d-SC Remote I/O Box Safe remote I/O box certifiable up to SIL 4 for train control and signaling applications such as train control, ATO, or ATP using the duagon SAFE CONTROL System.
• Engineering Services Comprehensive engineering and R&D consulting for rail traffic signalling (SIL0 to SIL4), train information systems, and Train Control Management Systems (TCMS), including system integration, software/hardware development, and installation.
• Lifecycle Management Services Full lifecycle support for embedded hardware from market launch to product retirement, including obsolescence management, cybersecurity support, system integration, lifecycle extension, and material compliance reporting.

Quantifiable outcome

• CAGR ~15% growth 2022-2025 demonstrates market acceptance and competitive position
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Selectron Systems (Knorr-Bremse subsidiary)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2026First joint commercial success following duagon's integration into Knorr-Bremse's Rail Vehicle Systems division. Collaboration involved teams from both organizations combining Selectron's and duagon's capabilities in embedded electronics, software, and communication technology for traction control systems.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• HIMA: HIMA is an independent safety automation vendor offering SIL 4-certified controllers used in rail signaling and infrastructure. It overlaps with duagon SAFE CONTROL as a competing safety-critical platform in rail and adjacent process automation markets.
• Pilz: Pilz is a safety automation specialist whose controllers and I/O systems are certified up to SIL 4 (IEC 61508/EN 50129) for industrial and rail applications. It is an emerging competitor to duagon SAFE CONTROL in functional safety controllers for wayside and onboard rail use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Alstom: Alstom is a global rolling stock and signaling OEM with embedded onboard electronics across its Coradia, Avelia and Metropolis platforms. Duagon's components (including the Selectron traction control win on VLocity) are designed into Alstom trains, making Alstom both customer and competitor in signaling.
• Hitachi Rail: Hitachi Rail (combining Hitachi Ltd and former Ansaldo STS) is a major rail signaling and digital rail integrator offering onboard and wayside control systems. It overlaps with duagon in train communication and signaling electronics as part of a broader portfolio.
• Thales Ground Transportation: Thales provides rail signaling, ETCS and communications-based train control with proprietary onboard electronics. It competes with duagon at the signaling system level and as a potential integrator of duagon gateway/controller components.
• Siemens Mobility: Siemens Mobility is the largest integrated rail signaling and train control provider, with internal embedded electronics for ETCS/ATO and onboard TCMS. It competes with duagon both as a customer of standard interfaces and as a vertical integrator of proprietary onboard controllers.

Direct peers

• Advantech: Advantech is a global industrial embedded computing vendor with transportation-grade fanless box PCs, CompactPCI boards and rail-certified platforms. It competes with duagon in ruggedized computing and rail communications at both OEM and integrator level.
• Eurotech: Eurotech supplies rugged embedded computers, IoT gateways and edge controllers certified for rail (EN 50155) and industrial markets. It is a direct peer to duagon in compact, rail-certified computing and communication platforms.
• Kontron: Kontron is a leading European embedded computing vendor with a dedicated transportation/rail business shipping MVB, WTB and Ethernet-TCN boards and gateways. It is the closest direct competitor to duagon's CompactPCI Serial computing and train communication network product lines, serving the same rail OEM and subsystem integrator customer base.
• Belden / Westermo: Belden (through Westermo) is a specialist in industrial data communications for rail, offering Ethernet switches, routers and gateways for onboard and wayside networks. It directly competes with duagon's Train Control Network product line, particularly in Ethernet-TCN deployments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/duagon-ag

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about duagon