PEAK System

What PEAK System does

PEAK-System Technik GmbH is a Darmstadt, Germany-based provider of hardware, software, and services for automotive and industrial communication, with deep specialization in Controller Area Network (CAN), CAN FD, CAN XL, and Local Interconnect Network (LIN) fieldbus technologies. Founded in 1999 and operating under the commercial brand "PEAK by HMS Networks," the company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sweden-listed HMS Networks. Its product portfolio spans PC interface cards and adapters across USB, PCI, PCIe, MiniPCIe, M.2, and PC/104 form factors; routers, gateways, and I/O modules; diagnostic devices; couplers and converters; and a software stack that includes the PCAN-Explorer analysis suite, the PCAN-Basic and PCAN-Developer APIs, and protocol-specific libraries (CCP/XCP, UDS, ISO-TP, OBD-2). The 2026 launch of the PAE-Media Converter marks the company's first extension into Automotive Ethernet (100/1000BASE-T1), broadening its addressable market beyond CAN/LIN.

The company monetizes through three revenue streams: hardware product sales (interfaces, routers, gateways, I/O modules), one-time and subscription software licenses (analysis tools, development APIs, add-ins), and contract engineering services for custom development and CANopen implementations. Pricing is quote-based for enterprise customers, with entry-level products such as the PCAN-USB priced at €199 and multi-channel and gateway products commanding higher ticket sizes. Distribution combines direct sales from German headquarters and regional offices in Karlsruhe (Germany) and Maxeville (France) with a global channel of 20+ authorized distributors covering more than 30 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.

Customer segments are split between automotive engineers developing ECUs and in-vehicle networks, industrial automation users of CAN/LIN fieldbuses, and automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers requiring calibration and diagnostic tools. The company is certified to ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management), and its competitive positioning rests on comprehensive protocol coverage, broad form-factor availability, professional-grade analysis software, and named integrations with MathWorks, National Instruments LabVIEW, DASYLab, and Eclipse. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the company does not file standalone financials as a subsidiary of HMS Networks.

Name

PEAK System

Legal name

PEAK-System Technik GmbH

Website

https://peak-system.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PEAK-System Technik GmbH, operating as "PEAK by HMS Networks," is a German subsidiary of HMS Networks that designs and sells CAN, CAN FD, CAN XL, LIN, and Automotive Ethernet hardware interfaces, analysis software, and APIs for automotive engineers, industrial automation users, and automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Communication Interfaces

NAICS

Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (33429), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (33411)

SIC

Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Communications Equipment, Nec (3669)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Serial/Fieldbus-to-Ethernet Device Connectivity (Device Servers/Protocol Gateways) (HDAFAJAF), Fault & Performance Monitoring (SNMP/Telemetry/APM for Networks) (HDAFAMAA), Automotive E/E Architecture Components Manufacturing (Domain/Zonal Controllers, Gateways, Network Switches) (IMACAJAI)

Keywords

• CAN bus interfaces
• Automotive communication hardware
• CAN FD development tools
• Industrial fieldbus solutions
• Automotive Ethernet converters

Headquarters

HQ city

Darmstadt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Product Sales: PEAK System generates revenue primarily through the sale of CAN/LIN interface hardware products including USB adapters, PCI/PCIe cards, routers, gateways, and I/O modules. Products are sold through direct e-commerce and channel partners globally.
2. Software Licenses: Revenue from software products including PCAN-Explorer analysis software, configuration tools, development packages (APIs), and add-in extensions. Software includes both perpetual licenses and version-based releases.
3. Support and Services: Contract engineering services and CANopen professional services offered to customers requiring custom development and integration support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PEAK-System Technik GmbH (branded as PEAK by HMS Networks) designs, manufactures, and sells hardware interfaces, software development packages, and engineering services for Controller Area Network (CAN, CAN FD, CAN XL), Local Interconnect Network (LIN), and Automotive Ethernet protocols. Products include USB/PCI/PCIe/M.2 CAN adapters, programmable routers and gateways, I/O modules, diagnostic handhelds, and APIs (PCAN-Basic, PCAN-Developer, UDS, ISO-TP) used by automotive and industrial engineers for ECU development, bus analysis, protocol conversion, and fault simulation.

Product overview

PEAK-System, part of HMS Networks, is a leading provider of hardware, software, and services for automotive and industrial communication with emphasis on CAN, CAN FD, CAN XL, LIN, and Automotive Ethernet protocols. The product portfolio comprises three main categories: Hardware interfaces (USB, PCI, PCIe, miniPCIe, M.2 PC interfaces; chip solutions; couplers/converters including the new PAE-Media Converter for Automotive Ethernet; I/O modules including MicroMod family and GPS modules; routers/gateways; and diagnostic tools), Software products (analysis tools including PCAN-Explorer 7; development APIs including PCAN-Basic, PCAN-Developer 5, and protocol-specific APIs for UDS, ISO-TP, XCP, CCP; configuration software; tools; and CANopen solutions), and Accessories (adapters, cables). The ecosystem is unified by cross-platform drivers (Windows, Linux), comprehensive development APIs supporting all CAN protocols, and third-party integrations with MathWorks, LabVIEW, Eclipse, and other tools. The recent PAE-Media Converter launch marks PEAK's expansion into Automotive Ethernet beyond its traditional CAN/LIN focus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PCAN: Product brand for CAN interfaces, modules, and related hardware and software products including PCAN-USB, PCAN-PCI, PCAN-Explorer, and PCAN-Basic APIs.
• PAE
• PLIN

Products and services

• PCAN-USB CAN interface for USB connection, allowing PCs to connect to CAN networks via USB 2.0; priced at €199.00 per unit.
• PCAN-USB FD CAN and CAN FD interface for High-Speed USB 2.0, available with USB-A or USB-C connectors.
• PCAN-USB XL CAN CC, CAN FD, and CAN XL interface for High-Speed USB 2.0, supporting all three CAN protocols.
• PCAN-USB Pro FD CAN, CAN FD, and LIN interface for High-Speed USB 2.0 with multi-protocol support.
• PCAN-USB X6 6-channel CAN and CAN FD interface for High-Speed USB 2.0, enabling multi-channel bus monitoring.
• PLIN-USB LIN interface for USB connection, providing LIN protocol support for automotive and industrial applications.
• PAE-Media Converter Automotive Ethernet Media Converter for 100BASE-T1 and 1000BASE-T1, connecting automotive Ethernet and standard Ethernet networks.
• PCAN-Explorer 7 Professional Windows software for monitoring, analyzing, and simulating CAN CC, CAN FD, and CAN XL buses with comprehensive protocol support and add-in extensions.
• PCAN-Basic API for connecting to CAN CC, CAN FD, and CAN XL buses, providing foundational software interface for all PEAK CAN hardware.
• PCAN-Developer 5 Professional CAN CC, CAN FD, CAN FD light, and CAN XL development package for Windows with advanced programming interfaces.
• PCAN-Router Pro FD Programmable 6-channel router for CAN and CAN FD with I/O and data logger functionality, now optional with Ethernet interface.
• PCAN-MicroMod FD Universal plug-in module with I/O and CAN FD interface, configurable for various industrial control applications.
• PCAN-MicroMod FD ECU Universal, configurable control unit with I/O and CAN FD connection, designed for ECU development and testing.
• PCAN-GPS FD Programmable sensor module with CAN FD connection for GPS positioning and vehicle telemetry applications.
• PCAN-Diag FD Mobile diagnostic device for CAN and CAN FD buses with protocol analysis capabilities.
• PCAN-MiniDiag FD Compact diagnostic device for CAN and CAN FD buses, portable solution for field diagnostics.
• PCAN-Repeater CAN CC and CAN FD repeater for decoupling bus segments, extending network distance and providing electrical isolation.
• PCAN-LWL Optical coupler for CAN and CAN FD data transmission, providing galvanic isolation via fiber optic connections.
• PCAN-Ethernet Gateway FD DR CAN FD to LAN gateway in DIN rail plastic casing, enabling network bridging between CAN FD and Ethernet protocols.
• CANopen Magic CANopen analysis, development, and simulation software for Windows, enabling CANopen network development and debugging.
• PCAN-UDS API API implementation of the UDS standard (ISO 14229-1) for unified diagnostic services in automotive applications.
• PCAN-ISO-TP API API implementation of the ISO-TP standard (ISO 15765-2) for transport protocol over CAN.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HMS NetworkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026PEAK-System Technik GmbH is a company of HMS Networks. HMS Networks acquired PEAK System and operates it as their principal brand for CAN/LIN solutions. The company is branded as 'PEAK by HMS Networks'.
• Industrial Data Xchange (IDX)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustrial Data Xchange (PTY) Ltd. is a new distribution partner for the South Africa region. Located at 1 Weaver Street Fourways, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Intrepid Control Systems: Intrepid Control Systems supplies CAN FD, Automotive Ethernet (100/1000BASE-T1), and vehicle network interface hardware plus neoVI/ Vehicle Spy tools, directly competing with PEAK across both legacy CAN and emerging Ethernet workflows.
• Vector Informatik: Vector Informatik is the dominant German provider of CAN/CAN FD/CAN XL tools, ECU development environments, and automotive network analysis software, directly overlapping with PEAK's PCAN hardware and PCAN-Explorer software across automotive engineer customers.
• CSS Electronics: CSS Electronics offers CANedge CAN/CAN FD data loggers and CAN bus analyzers, competing with PEAK's PCAN-Explorer, PCAN-Diag FD, and PCAN-Router Pro FD for automotive test and validation engineers.
• Kvaser: Kvaser is a Swedish vendor of CAN/CAN FD interface hardware (Leaf, USBcan) and developer tools with deep adoption among automotive engineers, competing head-to-head with PEAK's PCAN-USB family and APIs.
• Softing Industrial Automation: Softing provides CAN, CAN FD, and Industrial Ethernet interface cards, gateways, and diagnostic tools for automotive and industrial automation, closely matching PEAK's hardware and protocol-conversion gateway portfolio.

Emerging players

• Technica Engineering: Technica Engineering supplies Automotive Ethernet (100/1000BASE-T1) media converters, switches, and capture modules alongside CAN tools, an emerging peer whose Ethernet focus mirrors PEAK's PAE-Media Converter direction.

Broad incumbents

• National Instruments (NI): NI is a large incumbent in test, measurement, and data acquisition with automotive bus interface modules for CAN/LIN and Automotive Ethernet integrated into LabVIEW and PXI systems, overlapping with PEAK's industrial and automotive tooling.
• Bosch Engineering: Bosch Engineering offers automotive development tools, ECU prototyping, and network analysis products with deep CAN expertise as part of a broad automotive systems portfolio, comparable to PEAK in addressing OEM and Tier-1 development workflows.
• dSPACE: dSPACE provides end-to-end automotive ECU development, simulation, and validation platforms with native CAN/CAN FD/Automotive Ethernet support, serving the same automotive engineer persona as PEAK at a broader, more vertically-integrated level.
• HMS Networks (parent): HMS Networks is PEAK's publicly-listed Swedish parent and broader industrial communications specialist (Anybus, IXXAT, Ewon), with overlapping CAN and industrial Ethernet gateway offerings and shared distribution channels.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/peaksystemtechnik
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/showcase/peakbyhmsnetworks
• Xx.com/PEAK_System
• Facebookfacebook.com/peaksystem

Compliance2 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 PEAK System