What PHYTEC Messtechnik does

PHYTEC Messtechnik GmbH is a German embedded electronics manufacturer founded in 1986 and headquartered in Mainz, operating with 251-500 employees across five wholly-owned subsidiaries in Germany, France, the USA, India, and China. The company designs and produces System on Modules (SOMs) under the phyCORE and phyFLEX brands (including the FPSC pin-compatible family), Single Board Computers (phyBOARD), IoT gateways (phyGATE, phyCONTROL), and camera modules (phyCAM), built around NXP i.MX 6/8/91/93, Texas Instruments AM62x/AM64x, and STMicroelectronics STM32MP1 processors. Its software stack centers on a Yocto-based Board Support Package (phyBSP/phyLINE) with active contributions to mainline Linux, ISO 9001:2015-certified production, and 15-year long-term availability guarantees targeting industrial customers.

The technology platform is differentiated by the FPSC (Future-Proof Solder Core) standard, which lets customers migrate between processor generations and tiers — i.MX 6UL/ULL to i.MX 91/93, across STM32MP13x, and into NPU-equipped i.MX 8M Plus variants — without redesigning the carrier board. Integrated ISPs, hardware H.264/H.265 codecs, and up to 2.3 TOPS NPU capability support embedded-vision and edge-AI applications, while partnerships with NXP (Platinum since 1986), Texas Instruments (Platinum), and the Linux Foundation (EVerest) anchor silicon access and open-source ecosystem positioning.

Revenue is generated primarily through direct technical sales of hardware modules at volume pricing (e.g., phyCORE-i.MX 6UL/ULL modules under €20 at 10,000+ units), fixed-price development kits (€130-€600), paid training programs (e.g., €2,095 per person for Linux training), and engineering services covering custom SOM/SBC development, BSP customization, FAE support, and certification. Vertical focus spans industrial automation, EV charging / energy management (via the chargebyte Charge SOM and EVerest), IIoT/edge computing, embedded vision, medical technology, and building automation — sectors where long product lifecycles, industrial temperature ranges, and regulatory compliance outweigh pure price competition.

Name

PHYTEC Messtechnik

Legal name

PHYTEC Messtechnik GmbH

Website

https://phytec.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

PHYTEC Messtechnik GmbH, founded 1986 in Mainz, Germany, designs and manufactures System on Modules, Single Board Computers, IoT gateways, and camera modules based on NXP, Texas Instruments, and STMicroelectronics processors for industrial automation, EV charging, IIoT, embedded vision, medical, and building-automation OEMs requiring long product lifecycles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Embedded Computing Modules

NAICS

Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (3341), Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (334118), Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334290), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)

SIC

Electronic Computers (3571), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Computer Communications Equipment (3576)

akta.pro primary industry

Embedded & Compute Modules (SoMs, COM Express/SMARC, industrial SBC modules) (IMAGAJAK)

Keywords

• System on modules
• Embedded computing modules
• Single board computers
• Industrial IoT gateways
• Embedded vision systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Mainz

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Module Sales: PHYTEC generates revenue primarily from selling embedded hardware modules (phyCORE System on Modules), Single Board Computers (phyBOARD), IoT gateways (phyGATE), and camera modules (phyCAM). Products are sold directly through online shop and sales team with pricing varying by volume and configuration. Long-term availability guarantees (up to 15 years) support recurring orders from industrial customers.
2. Development Kits: Pre-configured development and evaluation kits sold at fixed prices (e.g., €130-600 for various kits) with bundled software, documentation, and quick-start support. These serve as entry points for customer projects leading to volume module purchases.
3. Training Services: PHYTEC offers paid training programs including Yocto Project training (4-day), Linux System Programming (5-day at €2,095/person), and Zephyr RTOS training (4-day). These include hardware (phyBOARD) and are delivered online or in-person.
4. Engineering Services: Custom SOM, SBC, and OEM development services, FAE support packages, BSP customization, embedded vision integration, and certification services. Project workshops and expert consultations provide additional service revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

PHYTEC Messtechnik develops and manufactures System on Modules (SOMs), Single Board Computers (SBCs), industrial IoT gateways, and embedded camera/IMU modules for OEMs across industrial automation, EV charging, IIoT, machine vision, building automation, and medical technology. Its offerings are backed by the proprietary phyBSP Board Support Package, the phyLINE software suite, and design/engineering services that help customers integrate embedded computing into series products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• phyCORE: System on Module product line featuring processor modules based on NXP, Texas Instruments, and STMicroelectronics processors
• phyFLEX
• phyBOARD
• phyGATE
• phyCAM
• phyCONTROL
• phyBSP / phyLINE
• Ezpire
• chargebyte

Products and services

• phyCORE System on Modules A family of System on Modules (SOMs) integrating microprocessors (e.g., NXP i.MX 6/7/8/9, TI Sitara AM64x, STM32MP1) into a compact pin-compatible module for use as the core compute element in embedded OEM products across industrial, EV charging, and IIoT applications.
• phyFLEX System on Modules A family of System on Modules with a flexible pin-compatible architecture designed for scalable embedded processor integration, supporting long-term availability and upgrade paths for OEM series products.
• phyBOARD Single Board Computers Single board computers built on phyCORE and phyFLEX SOMs, providing complete development and reference platforms for evaluation, prototyping, and direct integration into customer systems.
• phyGATE IoT Gateways Industrial IoT gateway devices for connecting field-level sensors and machines to cloud and edge systems, used in IIoT, building automation, and industrial networking applications.
• phyCAM Camera Modules Compact embedded camera and IMU sensor modules designed for direct integration with phyBOARD SBCs and phyCORE SOMs, targeting machine vision, embedded imaging, and sensor fusion applications.
• phyCONTROL Industrial IoT Gateways Industrial control and IIoT gateway units (e.g., phyCONTROL-Ain) for field-level acquisition, control, and networking of industrial processes and machinery.
• chargebyte Charge SOM Charge controller System on Module based on the EVerest open-source charging software stack, designed for EV charging station manufacturers needing compliant, interoperable charging controllers.
• phyBSP Board Support Package Proprietary Board Support Package providing a ready-to-use embedded Linux (Yocto-based) and RTOS software stack for PHYTEC hardware, enabling customers to accelerate firmware and application development on phyCORE/phyFLEX/phyBOARD platforms.
• phyLINE Software Suite Software toolkit from PHYTEC that complements the BSP with additional libraries and tools for embedded application development on PHYTEC hardware platforms.
• Ezpire Framework Framework supporting accelerated embedded application development on PHYTEC's SOM and SBC platforms.
• Rapid Development Kits Bundled hardware/software kits (e.g., phyCORE-AM64x Rapid Development Kit at €390) that provide engineers with everything needed to begin prototyping and developing on PHYTEC SOM platforms.
• Embedded Imaging Kits Kits combining PHYTEC SBCs with phyCAM camera modules for embedded imaging and machine vision prototyping (e.g., phyBOARD-Segin Imaging Kit at €340, phyBOARD-Polis Imaging Kit at €600).
• Embedded Linux Training Program Structured training services such as the 5-Day Linux Online Training (€2,095 per person) and Yocto + phyBSP Workshops (free of charge) delivered to customer engineering teams.
• Custom SOM/SBC/OEM Design Services Custom design and engineering services in which PHYTEC adapts its module platforms to specific customer hardware, mechanical, and certification requirements for OEM series production.
• Raspberry Pi Designcenter Service Service offering that helps customers transition or design around Raspberry Pi-based solutions using PHYTEC's industrial-grade embedded modules for series production.

Quantifiable outcome

• Custom charge controllers can reach first prototype within ten weeks from specification using PHYTEC's modular electronics toolkit
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NXP SemiconductorscoreTechnology or IntegrationNXP Platinum Partner since 1986. PHYTEC develops and manufactures SOMs based on NXP processors (i.MX 6, i.MX 8, i.MX 91/93 families). The partnership provides early access to new NXP processors, technical support, and joint marketing activities.
• Texas InstrumentscoreTechnology or IntegrationTexas Instruments Platinum Partner. PHYTEC offers System on Modules and SBCs based on TI processors (AM62x, AM64x families), enabling industrial real-time applications with TSN support.
• STMicroelectronicsmajorTechnology or IntegrationPHYTEC manufactures STM32MP1-based SOMs and SBCs for cost-sensitive industrial applications requiring Cortex-A7 processing with real-time M4 co-processor.
• Linux Foundation (EVerest)majorTechnology or IntegrationPHYTEC's chargebyte Charge SOM runs the Linux Foundation's open-source EVerest software stack for EV charging applications, enabling interoperability and avoiding vendor lock-in.
• HubSpotminorOthersHubSpot is used for marketing automation, contact forms, and newsletter management on PHYTEC's website. Data processing occurs through HubSpot's platform.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Advantech: Taiwanese industrial computing giant offering SOMs and edge AI platforms at scale across IIoT, factory automation, and transportation. A scaled incumbent that competes with PHYTEC in industrial IoT gateways and SBCs.
• Kontron: Large German embedded computing vendor with a much broader portfolio covering motherboards, SBCs, panels, and full industrial PCs. Larger and more diversified than PHYTEC but competes directly in industrial automation SoMs.
• Avnet Embedded (MSC Technologies): Distributor and integrator (including MSC Technologies) that supplies embedded modules, SBCs, and design services across multiple silicon vendors. Overlaps with PHYTEC's distribution and design-in motion in Europe.

Emerging players

• Raspberry Pi Foundation: Affordable SBC platform increasingly used for embedded industrial prototyping and even production. PHYTEC itself runs a Raspberry Pi Design Center, indicating adjacent competition at the lower end of the embedded module market.

Others

• NXP Semiconductors: Silicon supplier and Platinum Partner to PHYTEC. NXP also sells reference designs and development platforms that compete at the developer-tools edge with PHYTEC's kits, and controls the i.MX roadmap PHYTEC builds on.

Direct peers

• SECO: Italian embedded computing company offering SoMs, SBCs, and HMI platforms across industrial and edge-AI applications. Overlaps with PHYTEC's processor portfolio and EV charging/IIoT initiatives.
• congatec: German competitor focused on COM Express, SMARC, and Qseven embedded modules with broader form-factor coverage and a global industrial customer base. Closely comparable to PHYTEC in industrial automation/IIoT verticals.
• iWave Systems: India-based embedded SoM/ODM vendor producing NXP and TI-based modules for industrial, medical, and automotive use. Competitor especially relevant given PHYTEC's Indian subsidiary overlap.
• Variscite: Israel-based embedded SoM vendor producing NXP i.MX-based modules with similar BSP, customization, and industrial longevity positioning. Directly competes in the same pin-compatible SoM niche as PHYTEC.
• Toradex: Swiss-headquartered embedded module maker offering System on Modules and SBCs based on NXP i.MX and other processors. Direct competitor to PHYTEC's phyCORE/phyBOARD lines with comparable pin-compatibility and Linux BSP strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PHYTEC_Gmbh
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PhytecMainz
• Facebookfacebook.com/PHYTEC.Mainz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phytec-messtechnik-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/phytec_germany

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries4 records

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 PHYTEC Messtechnik