What Front Panel Express does

Front Panel Express is a US-based custom manufacturer of front panels, enclosures, milled parts, and signs for electronic equipment, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Kent, Washington. The company operates a product-led, self-serve e-commerce model in which customers download the free Front Panel Designer (FPD) CAD software — developed by partner Schaeffer AG (Germany) and licensed to Front Panel Express for US operations — to design panels independently and place orders directly from the software or via the shop.frontpanelexpress.com webshop. Production is built on CNC machining combined with an in-house patented UV printing process, with optional engraving (text and HPGL logo), powder coating, anodizing in multiple colors, and threaded studs/standoffs for mounting; standard production runs in five business days, with 3-day (+100% surcharge) and 1-day (+200% surcharge) rush options, and orders carry no minimum quantity.

The company serves four named segments: electronics manufacturers (its primary segment, including aerospace, defense, test & measurement, industrial automation, medical/biotech, semiconductor, audio, and photonics OEMs), industrial/OEM customers requiring AS9100D/ISO9001:2015-certified volume production, research and academic institutions, and hobbyist/DIY electronics builders. Named enterprise customers include Pepperl+Fuchs, Becker Avionics, Owlstone, CERN affiliates, and Linköpings Universitet, with a customer base spanning at least 35 countries; European fulfillment is routed through Schaeffer AG under a licensing/distribution partnership. Front Panel Express is privately held (Front Panel Express LLC, Washington), holds AS9100D/ISO9001:2015 certification (NSAI, valid through 10-22-25) plus RoHS/REACH compliance, and monetizes through per-unit panel pricing with tiered volume discounts (10–30% at 5–29 units, quote-based above 30), paid design and vectorization services ($100–$180/hour), and one-time custom color procurement fees. The FPD software also exposes a JavaScript scripting API and integrates open-source community scripts (e.g., SKAARHOJ enclosure scripts), establishing a small developer ecosystem around the design tool.

Name

Front Panel Express

Legal name

Front Panel Express LLC

Website

https://frontpanelexpress.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Front Panel Express is a Kent, Washington-based custom manufacturer of front panels, enclosures, milled parts, and signs for electronic equipment, selling via a free proprietary CAD software (Front Panel Designer) and an e-commerce webshop with no minimum order, and serving electronics OEMs, aerospace/defense, research institutions, and hobbyists globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Panel Manufacturing

NAICS

Machine Shops (33271)

SIC

Sheet Metal Work (3444)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Control Panels & Enclosures (Panel Building, MCCs, Integration) (IMAGABAJ)

Keywords

• Custom front panels
• Custom enclosures
• CNC machining services
• CAD design software
• Custom milled parts

Headquarters

HQ city

Kent

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Front Panel Manufacturing: One-time production of custom front panels based on customer designs. Pricing is determined by panel dimensions, material, design complexity, and quantity. Each panel is priced individually with full cost transparency during design.
2. Design Services: Hourly design service for customers unable to use Front Panel Designer. $100/hour for FPD file creation from customer technical drawings. $120/hour for custom engraving design and $180/hour for vectorization services.
3. Color Procurement Services: One-time fees for procuring custom powder-coating colors ($50) or engraving RAL colors ($70). Colors are stored for future orders at no additional cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Front Panel Express manufactures custom front panels, enclosures, milled parts, and signs from materials such as anodized aluminum, powder-coated aluminum, raw aluminum, Perspex, and brass. Customers design their products using the free Front Panel Designer CAD software (developed by Schaeffer AG), then place orders directly through the software or via the e-commerce webshop. The company produces each piece to order with no minimum quantity, using CNC machining and a proprietary in-house UV printing process, with standard 5-business-day production and express 1-day or 3-day rush options.

Product overview

Front Panel Express is a custom manufacturing company specializing in front panels, enclosures, and milled parts for electronics applications. The core product offering centers on the free Front Panel Designer CAD software, which enables users to design custom panels and enclosures that are then manufactured to order. The company produces front panels in various materials (anodized aluminum, powder-coated aluminum, raw aluminum, perspex, brass) and offers complementary services including UV printing for graphics and photos, engraving services (text and HPGL/logo), and threaded studs/standoffs for mounting. Two standard enclosure systems are available: Side Profiles with fixed heights and Housing Profiles with fully variable dimensions. All products are manufactured without minimum order quantities, with standard 5-business-day production and express options (3-day and 1-day rush service).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Front Panel Designer Free CAD software for designing custom front panels, enclosures, and milled parts, supporting DXF import, 3D view, real-time price calculation, and direct ordering. Includes a JavaScript scripting API for automation and is downloadable for Windows and Mac.
• Custom Front Panels Custom-manufactured front panels in anodized aluminum (multiple colors), powder-coated aluminum, raw aluminum, Perspex (acrylic), brass, and customer-supplied blanks. Supports engraving and UV printing customization.
• Custom Enclosures Custom enclosures available in two standard systems — Side Profiles (fixed 42mm or 56mm heights with variable width/depth) and Housing Profiles (fully variable width, height, and depth). Can be designed as tabletop or 19-inch rack enclosures using the Front Panel Designer enclosure generator.
• Custom Milled Parts Custom machined parts designed in Front Panel Designer, ranging from simple shapes to complex designs. Supports various machining capabilities including drill holes, countersinks, threads, cavities, and freeform contours.
• Custom Signs Custom signs created through Front Panel Designer, featuring durable materials and professional finishing for functional and decorative applications.
• Engraving and Design Services Professional logo and custom engraving services using HPGL format files. Includes FPD file design ($100/hr), engraving design ($120/hr), and vectorization of pixel graphics ($180/hr). Supports RAL color in-fill options with one-time color procurement.
• UV Printing Service In-house UV printing process that prints graphics, photos, and color gradients directly onto panels. Supports PDF, PNG, TIFF, JPG, BMP file formats at a recommended 300 DPI minimum resolution. Available as an add-on to any front panel, enclosure, milled part, or sign order.

Quantifiable outcome

• Standard production: 5 business days; Express options: 3 days or 1 day available
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Schaeffer AGcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSchaeffer AG is the parent company of Front Panel Express and European partner. Schaeffer AG developed Front Panel Designer software. Licensed to Front Panel Express for US operations. European customers are referred to Schaeffer AG for local service.
• SKAARHOJ (Kasper Skårhøj)supportingTechnology or IntegrationSKAARHOJ developed enclosure scripts for Front Panel Designer including housing scripts, Raspberry Pi housing script, and other specialized scripts. These scripts are open source under GNU/GPL license and integrated into Front Panel Designer for customer use.
• Schaeffer AG (European Operations)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchaeffer AG serves as the local partner for European customers requiring front panel manufacturing services in Europe.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Fibox: Manufacturer of polycarbonate and aluminum enclosures for industrial electronics. Comparable target market (electronics OEMs needing IP-rated housings) with a catalog of standardized enclosures rather than custom one-off panels.
• Bud Industries: Established US manufacturer of electronic enclosures, rack-mount panels, and chassis sold through distribution. Comparable in target market (electronics OEMs needing housings/panels) but offers standardized catalog parts rather than FPE's fully custom on-demand model.
• Takachi Electric Works: Japanese enclosure maker producing aluminum and plastic instrument housings and panels for electronics OEMs. Competes in the same end-application segment (front panels and instrument enclosures), particularly in APAC.
• Hammond Manufacturing: Large North American enclosure, rack, and panel manufacturer serving industrial and electronics OEMs. Competes for the same enclosure/panel buyers but with a catalog-driven, higher-MOQ model rather than FPE's no-minimum custom workflow.
• Phoenix Mecano (Rose Systems / Bopla / Heidenreich): Global industrial enclosure and electromechanical housing group with brands serving industrial electronics OEMs across Europe and North America. Comparable customer base and product category to FPE though much larger and broader in scope.

Emerging players

• Plasticraft: On-demand custom plastics and fabrication services used by electronics OEMs for prototypes and small batches. Partial overlap with FPE's custom front panel and milled parts offering, focused on plastics rather than aluminum.

Direct peers

• Schaeffer AG: Schaeffer AG is the developer and licensor of the Front Panel Designer software and the European operating partner that serves the same end-customers (panel/enclosure buyers) in Europe. It is the closest functional peer and a partner/customer relationship at the same time.
• New Age Enclosures: US custom enclosure manufacturer offering short-run and modified-standard enclosures for electronics designers. Comparable go-to-market for low-MOQ custom work to the same electronics engineer buyer.
• Polycase: US-based custom and standard enclosure manufacturer serving electronics OEMs with online quoting and CNC customization. Closest US analog to FPE's online e-commerce-driven custom enclosure model.
• Metcase (Phoenix Mecano brand): Specialist custom and standard enclosure line that accepts small-batch and customized orders for instrument enclosures and front panels. Directly comparable in offering custom, low-volume metal enclosures to electronics OEMs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FrontPanelExpressLLC
• Facebookfacebook.com/frontpanelexpress
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/front-panel-express
• Xx.com/frontpanel

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Front Panel Express