What RAFI does

RAFI GmbH & Co. KG is a privately held, family-run German industrial supplier headquartered in Berg/Ravensburg with approximately 1,001–5,000 employees and operations tracing back to 1899 (125+ years of company history). The company operates a dual business model built around Human Machine Interface (HMI) systems and Electronic Engineering and Manufacturing Services (E2MS), serving customers in off-highway vehicles (primary), medical technology, robotics and automation, building and control technology, and mechanical and plant engineering. Named customers include Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, for whom RAFI delivered the UNI-TOUCH control unit integrated into Unimog implement carriers.

The core technology stack is a modular HMI platform portfolio spanning FLEXSCAPE (haptic elements on closed touch surfaces), GLASSCAPE (touch technology platform), JOYSCAPE (proprietary joysticks), SAFETY TOUCH (safety-certified touch interface), SMART ENCODER (programmable haptics), Steering Stick (steer-by-wire with active force feedback), Linear Joystick (3D Hall sensor + capacitive hand detection), EXTENDED DISPLAY LINK (up to 100 m CPU-to-display bridging), ECU platforms, and the Autonomy Kit for robotics. Underlying these are standardized components including the RAFIX modular system, MICON/RACON tactile switches, RAMO pushbuttons, M12 and IO-Link connectivity, LUMOTAST series, emergency stops, and signal lamps, certified to ISO 25119 and ISO 13849 with Secure Boot and CRA-compliance on newer off-highway products.

RAFI generates revenue through three streams: (1) HMI hardware sales (control components, keypads, encoders, joysticks, touchscreens, signaling devices), (2) E2MS professional services spanning development through production and lifecycle management, and (3) KIS.ME digitalization solutions with subscription/recurring economics. Production is distributed across Germany, Hungary, and China to match batch sizes, while go-to-market is sales-led, enterprise-focused, and consultative, combining a worldwide direct sales network with an online eCatalog. Pricing is quote-based with no public pricing available.

Name

RAFI

Legal name

RAFI GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://rafi.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

RAFI is a family-owned German HMI and E2MS specialist that designs and manufactures ruggedized human-machine-interface components, control systems, and electronics manufacturing services for off-highway vehicles, medical, robotics, and industrial customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Human Machine Interface (HMI) Components

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Panel PCs & HMI Terminals (HDACALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Embedded & HMI Electronics Manufacturing (Industrial PCs, HMIs, Panel PCs) (IMAGAGAD), SCADA/HMI Platforms (IMAGABAB)

Keywords

• Human machine interfaces
• Electronic manufacturing services
• Industrial control components
• Tactile switches
• Ruggedized HMI solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Ravensburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. HMI Products and Systems: Revenue from sale of human machine interface products including control components, keypads, encoders, joysticks, touchscreens, and signaling devices for industrial and off-highway applications
2. E2MS (Electronic Engineering and Manufacturing Services): Full-service electronics manufacturing from development to production and lifecycle management, with right production location for every batch size in Germany, Hungary, and China
3. Digital Solutions (KIS.ME): Digitalization solutions for process optimization and transparency in companies

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

RAFI designs, develops, and manufactures ruggedized Human Machine Interface (HMI) systems—including modular HMI platforms, control components, tactile switches, and joysticks—alongside Electronic Engineering and Manufacturing Services (E2MS) from development through production and lifecycle management. Products are engineered for demanding environments such as off-highway vehicles, construction/agricultural/mining/forestry machinery, medical equipment, robotics, and industrial automation, with production facilities in Germany, Hungary, and China.

Product overview

RAFI is a technology leader and solution provider for Human Machine Interface (HMI) and Electronic Engineering Manufacturing Services (E2MS). The company operates a modular platform-plus-components architecture consisting of multiple HMI Platforms (Autonomy Kit, ECU, EXTENDED DISPLAY LINK, FLEXSCAPE, GLASSCAPE, JOYSCAPE, Linear Joystick, SAFETY TOUCH, SMART ENCODER, Standard Keypads and Encoder, Steering Stick), Control Components (E-BOX, E-BOX XL, IO-Link, LUMOTAST, M12, Emergency stop, RAFIX, RAMO, Signal Lamps), Tactile Switches (MICON, RACON, Media robust electronics), and Digital Solutions (KIS.ME). The portfolio also includes EMS manufacturing services. Products are designed for rugged off-highway applications including construction machinery, agricultural vehicles, mining vehicles, forestry machinery, medical technology, robotics and automation, and building and control technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HMI Platforms Modular HMI platform solutions for industrial and off-highway applications, including proprietary touch technology, joystick platforms with programmable haptics, ECU platforms, and the Autonomy Kit for robotics. Designed for OEMs in off-highway, automotive, medical, and automation markets.
• Control Components Modular control and signaling components including pushbuttons, emergency stops, signal lamps, IO-Link pushbutton boxes, M12 connector-based components, and E-BOX housings for use in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and vehicle construction industries.
• Tactile Switches Short-travel tactile keyswitches (MICON, RACON) and media-robust electronics for variable industrial applications requiring reliable tactile feedback.
• KIS.ME Digital Solutions Digitalization platform enabling simple digitalization wherever people work, linking and optimizing manual processes to improve company-wide transparency.
• EMS-ELECTRONIC (E2MS) Electronic Engineering and Manufacturing Services providing end-to-end E2MS capabilities from development through production and lifecycle management, with flexible production locations matched to batch size across Germany, Hungary, and China.

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature12 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Furtwangen UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaborative research partnership with Furtwangen University for an ergonomics study on steering systems for agricultural machinery. The study, completed in early 2026, scientifically proved that using a joystick to steer agricultural machinery can significantly reduce physical strain compared to traditional steering wheels.
• Mercedes-Benz Special TruckscoreTechnology or IntegrationMercedes-Benz Special Trucks is a key customer for whom RAFI implemented customized operating solutions including the UNI-TOUCH control unit for Unimog implement carriers. This represents a significant OEM-level integration of RAFI's HMI technology into Mercedes-Benz vehicle platforms.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EAO AG: Swiss-based manufacturer of HMI components, switches, and indicators serving industrial, transportation, and machinery markets. Directly competes with RAFI's RAFIX modular system and signaling devices, and shares a similar customer profile of European off-highway and public-transport OEMs.
• SCHURTER Group: Swiss manufacturer of electronic components and input systems including tact switches, HMI touch panels, and EMC filter solutions. Competes head-on with RAFI's tactile switches (MICON/RACON) and broader HMI portfolio and serves overlapping customer end-markets in industrial and medical technology.
• APEM (IDEC): Manufacturer of HMI switches, joysticks, keypads, and panel indicators for demanding applications including transportation, industrial, and defense markets. Direct peer to RAFI's joysticks (JOYSCAPE), keypads, and ruggedized control components portfolio with similar target OEM customers.
• Franz Binder GmbH & Co. German manufacturer of circular connectors, control components, and HMI solutions serving factory automation, off-highway, and process industries. Closely comparable to RAFI's M12/IO-Link components and modular control-component offering, with overlap in European industrial customers.
• Epec Oy: Finnish manufacturer of HMI systems, displays, and electronic control units for off-highway vehicles and marine applications. Direct competitor for rugged HMI panels and ECU platforms targeted at construction and agricultural OEMs.
• Beijer Electronics Group: Swedish provider of industrial HMI terminals, operator panels, and IoT automation solutions. Directly comparable as a manufacturer of HMI platforms for industrial customers, though Beijer is more software/automation-focused while RAFI is more hardware-specialized.

Emerging players

• Bott GmbH & Co. KG: Mid-sized German manufacturer of industrial vehicle cab equipment including control panels and operator interfaces. Smaller and more specialized than RAFI but competes in adjacent segments of off-highway vehicle interior HMI.
• Wieland Electric GmbH: German industrial HMI specialist offering safety control panels, signaling devices, and operator interfaces. Overlaps with RAFI's signaling, emergency-stop, and industrial HMI offerings, particularly in safety-critical machine-building applications.
• Steute Technologies: German specialist in industrial switches, foot controls, and HMI devices for safety-critical and demanding-environment applications. Comparable to RAFI in safety-rated switching and ruggedized HMI, focused on machinery and intralogistics markets.

Broad incumbents

• Siemens AG (HMI/Industrial Controls): Large industrial automation incumbent offering SIMATIC HMI panels, industrial PCs, and integrated automation systems. Competes with RAFI at the upper end of the HMI value chain in factory automation, providing broader portfolio and software-bundled solutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/RAFIGroup1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rafi-gmbh-&-co-kg
• Instagraminstagram.com/ausbildung_rafi

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 RAFI