Applied Engineering
Applied Engineering is a 100% employee-owned precision electromechanical contract manufacturer founded in 1979, serving semiconductor, medical device, robotics, aerospace, and clean energy OEMs through build-to-print manufacturing, NPI services, and cleanroom assembly across facilities in San Jose, California and Penang, Malaysia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersSan Jose, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Applied Engineering does
Applied Engineering is a 100% employee-owned precision electromechanical contract manufacturer founded in 1979 and headquartered in San Jose, California, with a wholly-owned subsidiary manufacturing operation in Penang, Malaysia (Applied Engineering Technology (M) SDN BHD). The company serves product development OEMs across semiconductor equipment, life sciences and medical devices (Class I, II, III), robotics and automation, clean energy, aerospace and defense, industrial equipment, and emerging technology verticals. Its core offering is a "Build to Print Plus" platform that combines design for manufacturability (DFM), New Product Introduction (NPI) services, and scalable production from prototype through volume runs, supported by Class 10,000 to Class 1,000 cleanroom assembly, advanced CNC machining, in-house coil winding, and additive manufacturing (FDM, SLA, SLS).
The company's technology stack centers on precision electromechanical assembly, including precision stages, vacuum components, optical assemblies, custom PDUs and UL 508A-certified control panels, and Zeiss CMM-based high-precision measurement. Quality and compliance posture is anchored by ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016, ITAR registration, and UL 508A certification, which collectively enable entry into regulated semiconductor, medical, and defense OEM programs. The August 2025 Malaysia facility relocation and the March 2026 launch of in-house 3D printing services are the most recent capability expansions.
Applied Engineering's commercial model is sales-led, quote-based, and executed exclusively through direct enterprise field sales with dedicated account managers; multi-year contract structures are referenced in the pricing data. Revenue derives from four streams: contract manufacturing and assembly, NPI/professional services, turnkey manufacturing solutions, and additive manufacturing services. Marketing is conducted via industry events (SPIE, MEDevice, Automation Avengers, AMBayArea Summit), blog and email content, social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube), and strategic ecosystem partnerships with firms such as Voler Systems and Mighty Studios. Leadership is headed by CEO Jack Yao (2025 UC Davis Distinguished Engineering Alumni Medal recipient), with VP Tim DeGrasse overseeing Bay Area operations and Sales Director Max Lee Kok Yong leading the Malaysia business.
Applied Engineering firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Applied Engineering
- Legal name
- Applied Engineering, Inc.
- Website
- https://appliedengineering.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Applied Engineering is a 100% employee-owned precision electromechanical contract manufacturer founded in 1979, serving semiconductor, medical device, robotics, aerospace, and clean energy OEMs through build-to-print manufacturing, NPI services, and cleanroom assembly across facilities in San Jose, California and Penang, Malaysia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Applied Engineering industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electromechanical Contract Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Printed Circuit Assembly (Electronic Assembly) Manufacturing (334418), Engineering Services (54133), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Services-Engineering Services (8711), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) (IMAGAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Control System Integration & Engineering Services (Design, Commissioning, Retrofits) (IMAGABAK), Process Control & Automation Electronics Manufacturing Services (PLCs, I/O, DCS/SCADA hardware) (IMAGAGAK), Industrial Power & Energy Electronics Manufacturing Services (UPS, converters, inverters, chargers) (IMAGAGAI), Industrial & Process Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAF)
Keywords
Where Applied Engineering is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Jose
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Applied Engineering business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Contract Manufacturing and Assembly: Manufacturing and assembly services for complex electromechanical systems, sub-assemblies, and fully integrated capital equipment. Services include contract assembly from customer-sourced components, turnkey manufacturing, and OEM production at various volume levels from single piece to large volume production.
- New Product Introduction (NPI) Services: Engineering support, prototyping, design for manufacturability (DFM), process development, pilot builds, and production ramp-up services that help customers transition from concept to full-scale production.
- Turnkey Manufacturing Solutions: Complete manufacturing solution from documentation management and materials procurement to build and system-level testing, including supply chain control and component management.
- 3D Printing Services: Additive manufacturing services for custom parts, prototypes, and production components using FDM, SLA, and SLS technologies with typical same-day turnaround for SLA and FDM projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based manufacturing quotes |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Applied Engineering product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Applied Engineering is a high-tech electromechanical contract manufacturer that produces complex sub-assemblies to fully integrated capital equipment for OEM customers in the semiconductor, life science, medical device, clean energy, robotics, aerospace, and industrial automation industries. Its core offering centers on Build to Print Plus — combining design for manufacturability (DFM), new product introduction (NPI), cleanroom assembly (Class 10,000 to Class 1,000), CNC machining, in-house coil winding, and turnkey production from prototype through full-scale run. The company operates from its San Jose, CA headquarters and a Penang, Malaysia facility, with 100% employee ownership.
Product overview
Applied Engineering is a high-tech contract manufacturer providing precision manufacturing services since 1979. The company operates a platform-plus-services model centered on Build to Print Plus—a comprehensive manufacturing approach combining design for manufacturability (DFM), new product introduction (NPI), and scalable production. The core portfolio spans electromechanical contract manufacturing, turnkey manufacturing services, clean room assembly, and precision coils/linear actuators, complemented by specialized services for semiconductor equipment, life science/medical devices, robotics, clean energy, and industrial equipment. A notable add-on capability is the Advanced 3D Printing Service (FDM, SLA, SLS) that integrates into the broader build-to-print assembly workflow. The company maintains facilities in San Jose, California (headquarters) and Penang, Malaysia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Build to Print Plus
Companies that use Applied Engineering
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Applied Engineering technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Applied Engineering partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Mighty StudioscoreCollaboration for Design Sprints & Spirits event as part of Design Silicon Valley. Mighty Studios focuses on strategy, design, and product development while Applied Engineering provides manufacturing, assembly, and production scale capabilities. Together they offer a seamless path from concept to production for hardware innovators.
- Voler SystemscoreStrategic partnership between Applied Engineering and Voler Systems as leaders in semiconductor and contract manufacturing industries. Marked as a significant milestone in innovation, excellence, and industry leadership.
- Association of Manufacturers Bay Area (AMBayArea)coreActive membership and board participation. VP Tim DeGrasse represents Applied Engineering on the board. Company attends and sponsors AMBayArea events including annual summit and MFG Day Mixer.
- Bosch RexrothminorHost venue for Automation Avengers 2026 event. Applied Engineering attends as event participant. Bosch Rexroth is one of the leading automation and technology providers showcased at the event.
- SFMademinorPartner organization for Reshoring Manufacturing Seminar. SFMade is a manufacturing advocacy organization supporting local production in San Francisco and San Jose.
- Manufacture: San Jose (MFG:SJ)minorPartner organization for Reshoring Manufacturing Seminar. Regional manufacturing support initiative.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Applied Engineering competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Creation Technologies: Private North American mid-market EMS provider serving medical, industrial, and semiconductor OEMs with complex assembly, NPI, and certification-driven manufacturing — directly comparable to Applied Engineering in scale, vertical mix, and build-to-print-plus model.
- Kimball Electronics: Public (NYSE: KE) mid-market EMS with a medical, industrial, and clean-vertically-regulated customer mix; competes for the same build-to-print, ISO 13485-certified work as Applied Engineering across similar electronics assemblies.
- Benchmark Electronics: Public (NYSE: BHE) US-headquartered EMS serving aerospace, medical, and industrial OEMs with complex PCBA and box-build — directly overlaps with Applied Engineering's regulated-electronics contract manufacturing.
- IEC Electronics: Smaller public (NYSE American: IEC) US EMS focused on aerospace, defense, and medical device contract manufacturing with ITAR-registered and AS9100-certified capabilities — a smaller-scale, US-centric peer with similar regulated vertical exposure.
- SigmaTron International: Public (NASDAQ: SGMA) contract manufacturer serving industrial, medical, and consumer OEMs with PCBA and electromechanical assembly — a comparable mid-sized US EMS competing for similar OEM outsourcing programs.
Broad incumbents
- Sanmina Corporation: Large public (NASDAQ: SANM) global EMS with deep semiconductor equipment, medical device, and complex electromechanical assembly capabilities — broader portfolio than Applied Engineering but overlapping in target OEM programs and regulated verticals.
- Jabil: Global tier-1 EMS (NYSE: JBL) with healthcare, industrial, and semiconductor-adjacent capabilities — incumbent competitor whose scale and capital base can absorb complex electromechanical programs that might otherwise go to mid-market CMs.
- Flex: Largest global tier-1 EMS (NASDAQ: FLEX) with broad medical, industrial, and high-reliability assembly capabilities — represents the 'broad incumbent' alternative that OEM customers weigh against specialty mid-market players.
- Celestica: Global tier-1 EMS (NYSE: CLS) with healthcare & life sciences and industrial/energy segments — competes for regulated complex-electromechanical OEM work as a diversified scale alternative to Applied Engineering.
Emerging players
- Voler Systems: Smaller Silicon Valley-based contract design and manufacturing firm focused on semiconductor, medical, and IoT products — Applied Engineering's publicly disclosed strategic partner and a closely comparable specialty CM in the Bay Area.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Applied Engineering social profiles
Digital presenceApplied Engineering compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Applied Engineering financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Applied Engineering leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Applied Engineering subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Applied Engineering funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Applied Engineering M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Applied Engineering
What does Applied Engineering do?
Applied Engineering is a high-tech electromechanical contract manufacturer that produces complex sub-assemblies to fully integrated capital equipment for OEM customers in the semiconductor, life science, medical device, clean energy, robotics, aerospace, and industrial automation industries. Its core offering centers on Build to Print Plus — combining design for manufacturability (DFM), new product introduction (NPI), cleanroom assembly (Class 10,000 to Class 1,000), CNC machining, in-house coil winding, and turnkey production from prototype through full-scale run. The company operates from its San Jose, CA headquarters and a Penang, Malaysia facility, with 100% employee ownership.
Is Applied Engineering a public or private company?
Applied Engineering is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Applied Engineering founded?
Applied Engineering was founded in 1979. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Applied Engineering based?
Applied Engineering is headquartered in San Jose, United States, in the North America region.
How does Applied Engineering make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Contract Manufacturing and Assembly is the primary driver. The others are new Product Introduction (NPI) Services, turnkey Manufacturing Solutions and 3D Printing Services.
Who are Applied Engineering's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Creation Technologies, Kimball Electronics, Benchmark Electronics, IEC Electronics and SigmaTron International. Broad incumbents are Sanmina Corporation, Jabil, Flex and Celestica. Voler Systems is listed as an emerging player.
Does Applied Engineering have an API?
No public API is recorded for Applied Engineering.
What industry is Applied Engineering in?
Applied Engineering's product category is Electromechanical Contract Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAGAA, Industrial Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS), with a secondary code of IMAGABAK, Control System Integration & Engineering Services (Design, Commissioning, Retrofits). Its NAICS code is 334418 and its SIC code is 3620.