LeitOn

What LeitOn does

LeitOn (legal entity: Leiton GmbH) is a Berlin-headquartered PCB (printed circuit board) manufacturer and distribution broker founded in 2004 by Christoph Kendler and Marcus Knopp. The company operates a dual-shore production model: German facilities and a Western German partner factory handle prototypes and small-to-medium series, while its wholly-owned subsidiary Leiton Electronics in Zhongshan, China manages mass production with on-site quality control. A third branch was opened in Bangalore, India in 2025 to diversify supply chains and access regional suppliers.

The company's core product portfolio spans rigid FR4 PCBs (2–14 layers), flexible PCBs, rigid-flex (Starrflex) circuits, aluminum and copper IMS (insulated metal substrate) boards for thermal management, and Rogers high-frequency PCBs. Adjacent services include PCB assembly, SMD stencils, impedance calculation, and special technologies (cross-sectional analysis, IC testing, firmware programming). A signature asset is the online calculator platform — described as the largest of its kind in Europe — which enables self-service PCB configuration, Gerber file upload, instant pricing, and ordering across the full product range.

LeitOn makes money primarily through one-time hardware sales of PCBs, with pricing based on unit costs plus setup fees and quantity-based discounts. A 'sharing' mechanism pools small orders to amortize setup costs. The business targets a horizontal customer base spanning electronics engineers/designers (prototypes and small series), electronics manufacturers (mass production and supply chain management), research and academic institutions, and startups. Enterprise customers cited publicly include Siemens, COMPRION, MT.DERM, Global Components, and EuroSync. Distribution is direct-to-buyer through the online calculator (self-serve for SMBs/individuals), email/contact form sales (for enterprise), and trade shows (Electronica, SMT/PCIM, Embedded World). The company employs roughly 50 people, holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and multiple UL certifications, and has been climate-neutral since 2021.

Name

LeitOn

Legal name

Leiton GmbH

Website

https://leiton.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LeitOn is a Berlin-based PCB manufacturer and online ordering platform that produces rigid, flex, rigid-flex, IMS, and high-frequency printed circuit boards, serving electronics engineers, manufacturers, and academic customers across Europe, North America, and Asia via dual-shore production in Germany and China.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

PCB Manufacturing

NAICS

Bare Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing (334412), Printed Circuit Assembly (Electronic Assembly) Manufacturing (334418)

SIC

Printed Circuit Boards (3672)

akta.pro primary industry

PCB Fabrication (Rigid PCBs) (HDAHAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

PCB Fabrication (Flex & Rigid-Flex PCBs) (HDAHAOAH), PCB Assembly (PCBA/EMS) (HDAHAOAI), Industrial PCB & Substrate Components (Bare PCBs, rigid-flex, ceramic substrates, thick-film) (IMAGAJAM)

Keywords

• PCB manufacturing
• Printed circuit boards
• PCB prototyping
• Flex and rigid PCBs
• PCB assembly services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 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. PCB Manufacturing & Sales: One-time hardware sales of printed circuit boards ranging from single prototypes to large series. Pricing combines setup fees and per-unit costs with quantity-based discounts. Payment primarily via invoice (14-day terms), PayPal, or credit card.
2. PCB Assembly Services: Full assembly of populated circuit boards. Customers provide BOM (Bill of Materials) and Gerber files. Prototypes assembled in express service; series quantities 100% function-tested.
3. Special Technologies & Services: Additional services including impedance measurement, cross-sectional analysis, measurement reports, IC testing, firmware programming, and development services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

LeitOn manufactures and sells printed circuit boards (PCBs) including rigid FR4, flexible, rigid-flex, aluminum IMS, copper IMS, and Rogers HF materials, supporting 1-24 layers and prototype through mass production volumes. Production is split between German partners (prototypes and small/medium series) and a wholly-owned Chinese subsidiary in Zhongshan (mass production with final German-style quality checks), complemented by PCB assembly, SMD stencils, and impedance calculation services. Customers configure and order via a proprietary online calculator, with quotes typically returned in 1-3 hours.

Product overview

LeitOn is a PCB manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of printed circuit board products and related services. The core product line includes Rigid FR4 PCBs (2-14 layers), Flexible PCBs, Rigid-Flex PCBs, Aluminum IMS PCBs, Copper IMS PCBs, and Rogers HF PCBs. These are complemented by assembly services (Assembled PCBs), mass production capabilities, SMD stencils, and impedance calculation tools. The company operates an extensive online calculator platform that allows customers to configure and price PCBs in real-time for prototypes through production volumes. Manufacturing is split between Germany (prototypes and small series) and Asia (mass production), with quality assurance performed at both locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rigid FR4 PCBs Standard rigid printed circuit boards made from FR4 material in 2-14 layer configurations, available with various surface finishes and thermal performance options for general electronics applications.
• Flexible PCBs (Flex) Flexible polyimide printed circuit boards in 1-layer and 2-layer configurations for applications requiring bending or flexing such as compact or dynamic electronics.
• Rigid-Flex PCBs (Starrflex) Hybrid PCBs combining rigid and flexible sections in 2-, 4-, and 6-layer configurations with flexible outer or inner layers, used where mechanical flexibility and dense integration are required.
• Aluminum IMS PCBs Aluminum-based insulated metal substrate PCBs for thermal management applications, with thermal conductivity ratings of 1.5, 3, and 12 W/mK, suited for LED and power electronics.
• Copper IMS PCBs Copper-based insulated metal substrate PCBs with higher thermal conductivity (3.0 W/mK) for demanding thermal management requirements in power electronics.
• Rogers HF PCBs High-frequency PCBs using Rogers materials (4000C, 4350B, 4360G2) for RF and microwave applications requiring controlled dielectric properties and low signal loss.
• Assembled PCBs (PCB Assembly) Full PCB assembly service including component mounting, soldering, 100% function testing of series quantities, and firmware programming for customers providing BOM and Gerber files.
• Mass Production PCBs Large-volume PCB production from Asia with end-to-end quality control, sea-air split logistics, and call-off orders for cost-efficient series production.
• SMD Stencils SMD solder paste stencils for solder paste application in PCB assembly, available in various standard sizes and custom configurations.
• Impedance Calculation Service Online impedance calculation tool plus impedance measurement using test coupons for designing and verifying controlled-impedance PCBs, particularly for RF and high-frequency designs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% good to very good availability rating from customers
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• LeitOn India (Bangalore)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025New branch in India opened to strengthen global supply chains and access high-tech suppliers in the region.
• ACM Industrial Park (Guangzhou Province)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Manufacturing partnership for mass production in China. Quality inspections according to German standards performed at the facility. Regular audits conducted to ensure high-quality PCB suppliers. Partnership enables cost-effective series production with German quality oversight.
• Formula Student Teams (Various)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsoring of student racing teams including High Speed Karlsruhe, Elbflorace, Elefant Racing, Bremergy, Global Formula Racing, HorsePower Hannover, and others. Provides PCB sponsorship and technical consultation for engineering students.
• Part-Time ScientistsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBerlin-based team competing for Google Lunar X-Prize. LeitOn sponsored PCBs for their lunar rover project.
• World VisionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharitable partnership through child sponsorship program in Africa since 2006, demonstrating social responsibility.
• Various Universities (TU Berlin, TU Dresden, etc.)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsoring of university projects including IFSys (autonomous flying UAV), technical consultations, and preferential terms on surplus production for research.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AISLER: Netherlands-based online PCB and assembly platform with strong self-service quoting and European manufacturing footprint. Competes with LeitOn for European engineering customers on prototype PCBs and SMD assembly with a similarly modern e-commerce experience.
• Multi-CB / Multi Circuit Boards: Germany-based PCB broker and fabricator offering prototypes through series production with online quotation. Comparable as a European DACH competitor combining prototype speed with mid-volume production, including rigid, flex, IMS, and HF technologies.
• Eurocircuits: Hungarian-headquartered European PCB prototype and small-batch manufacturer with online ordering and CAM tooling. Closely comparable to LeitOn as a European alternative to Asian platforms, targeting the same engineering customer base with similar prototype-to-series positioning.
• Seeed Studio (Fusion PCB): Shenzhen-based hardware platform offering Fusion PCB prototyping and assembly services through its online ordering system. Comparable to LeitOn's product-led growth and maker/engineer customer base, with similar low-cost positioning on standard FR4 prototypes.
• PCBWay: Global online PCB fabrication and assembly platform offering prototype through small-batch production with self-service ordering. Comparable in business model (online calculator + Gerber upload + assembly services) and target customer (engineers and SMBs), with broader technology breadth including 3D printing and CNC.
• Beta LAYOUT: German PCB prototype and small-batch manufacturer with online calculator and assembly services. Directly comparable as a German DACH competitor offering rigid, flex, IMS, and HF boards via a self-service platform to engineering customers.
• ALLPCB: China-based online PCB and assembly platform with self-service Gerber upload and quoting. Directly comparable on the online PCB ecommerce business model and on coverage of rigid, flex, rigid-flex, and assembly, competing primarily on price and lead time.
• JLCPCB: China-based online PCB prototype and small-batch platform with self-service quoting and Gerber upload. Directly comparable to LeitOn's product-led growth model and prototype portfolio across rigid, flex, and assembly, though it competes primarily on cost and speed at the entry-level tier.

Broad incumbents

• AT&S: Austrian-headquartered global PCB and substrate manufacturer serving high-end applications including IC substrates and HDI. Comparable as a European PCB incumbent but operates at vastly larger scale, including semiconductor-substrate technology well beyond LeitOn's scope.
• Würth Elektronik (PCB Division): Large German electronic components manufacturer with a PCB division offering rigid, flex, and rigid-flex boards at scale. Comparable as a German PCB supplier but at significantly larger scale and with a much broader electronic components portfolio beyond PCBs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/leiton.gmbh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leiton-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/leiton_gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 LeitOn