Applied Engineering

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.

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

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

• Electromechanical contract manufacturing
• Precision cleanroom assembly
• Medical device manufacturing
• Semiconductor equipment assembly
• New product introduction services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mighty StudioscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 May 2026Collaboration 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 or Co-development Partner · 12 August 2024Strategic 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)coreOthersActive 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 RexrothminorOthersHost 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.
• SFMademinorOthersPartner 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)minorOthersPartner organization for Reshoring Manufacturing Seminar. Regional manufacturing support initiative.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@appliedengineering
• Facebookfacebook.com/AppliedEngineeringSJ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/applied-engineering
• Xx.com/AE_San_Jose

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Applied Engineering