Elma Electronic
Elma Electronic is a Swiss-headquartered, privately held designer and manufacturer of open-standards-based embedded computing hardware (backplanes, chassis, boards, enclosures, cabinets) serving aerospace, defense, and industrial customers globally through direct offices in 11 countries and an extensive distributor network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1962
- HeadquartersWetzikon, Switzerland
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Elma Electronic does
Elma Electronic AG is a Swiss-headquartered, privately held provider of embedded computing solutions for mission-critical applications in aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Founded in 1962 and headquartered in Wetzikon, Switzerland, the company designs and delivers an integrated portfolio of modular hardware building blocks including backplanes, chassis platforms, embedded computing boards, complete embedded computing systems, enclosures and components, power solutions, rotary switches, and cabinets. Its products are organized around open standards architectures including VNX+, OpenVPX (VITA 46/65), VME/VME64x, SOSA, CompactPCI, CompactPCI Serial, COM Express, and AdvancedTCA, with additional proprietary offerings such as the Optima Stantron cabinet line acquired from the US market.
The firm operates a global footprint spanning three continents, with direct sales and engineering offices in Switzerland, the United States (Fremont, Lawrenceville via Optima Stantron, and Horsham), Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Romania, Israel, India, Singapore, and China. Its go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales for defense and aerospace customers with an extensive authorized distributor network (Akkodis Edge, Astute Electronics, Batenburg, DefenceX, Alphatec, and dozens of regional sales representatives) reaching long-tail industrial and embedded customers. Revenue is generated through hardware sales of standard and custom-configured systems supplemented by custom design, engineering, manufacturing, system integration, and program management services, all delivered under a B2B quote-based pricing model.
Elma's competitive position is anchored by a deep stack of certifications rarely assembled by smaller competitors: ITAR compliance, AS9100D, EN 9100, ISO 9001:2015 and 14001:2015 across multiple country entities, NIST SP 800-171, Cyber Essentials Plus, JOSCAR, and UK ADS SC21 Bronze. Aerospace & Defense is the primary vertical, followed by ten non-primary verticals including Artificial Intelligence, Industrial Automation, Medical, Communications, Energy, Broadcast, Test & Measurement, Transportation, and Science & Research. Leadership comprises CEO Thomas Herrmann, CFO Edwin Wild, and a Board chaired by Martin Wipfli with Walter Häusermann as Vice Chairman.
Elma Electronic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Elma Electronic
- Legal name
- Elma Electronic AG
- Website
- https://elma.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1962
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Elma Electronic is a Swiss-headquartered, privately held designer and manufacturer of open-standards-based embedded computing hardware (backplanes, chassis, boards, enclosures, cabinets) serving aerospace, defense, and industrial customers globally through direct offices in 11 countries and an extensive distributor network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Elma Electronic industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Embedded Computing Hardware
- NAICS
- Electronic Computer Manufacturing (334111), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (33411), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (3353)
- SIC
- Electronic Computers (3571), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Embedded & HMI Electronics Manufacturing (Industrial PCs, HMIs, Panel PCs) (IMAGAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial Embedded Computers (Box PCs) (HDACALAF), Enclosures, Boxes & DIN-Rail Hardware (junction boxes, cabinets, panel enclosures, DIN rail, gland plates) (IMAGAEAH), Industrial IoT/Edge Electronics Manufacturing (Gateways, Edge Controllers) (IMAGAGAC)
Keywords
Where Elma Electronic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wetzikon
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices12 records
Markets served
Elma Electronic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Embedded Computing Hardware Sales: Sale of integrated chassis systems, board products, modular enclosures, equipment cabinets and precision hardware components in standard and custom configurations.
- Custom Solutions and Engineering Services: Custom design, engineering, manufacturing, system integration, and program management services for specialized embedded computing requirements.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Elma Electronic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Elma Electronic manufactures and supplies modular embedded computing hardware including backplanes, chassis platforms, embedded boards, integrated embedded computing systems, modular enclosures, MIL-spec rugged cabinets, power solutions, and precision rotary switches. Products are built to open standards architectures (VNX+, OpenVPX, VME, SOSA, CompactPCI, COM Express, AdvancedTCA) and supplied in both standard and custom configurations. The company complements hardware with custom design, engineering, system integration, and lifecycle management services for defense, aerospace, industrial, medical, communications, transportation, and energy customers.
Product overview
Elma Electronic is a global leader in embedded computing solutions offering an integrated portfolio of modular hardware building blocks. The product portfolio centers on eight core product categories: Backplanes, Cabinets, Chassis Platforms, Embedded Boards, Embedded Computing Systems, Enclosures & Components, Power Solutions, and Rotary Switches. These products are organized around multiple open standard architectures including VNX+, OpenVPX (VITA 65), VME/VME64x, SOSA, CompactPCI, CompactPCI Serial, COM Express, and AdvancedTCA. Elma provides both standard off-the-shelf products and custom solutions, supporting industries including Aerospace & Defense, Artificial Intelligence, Communications, Industrial Automation, Medical, Transportation, Energy, and Science & Research. The company operates globally with design, manufacturing, and sales facilities across three continents.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Optima Stantron: Cabinet and enclosure brand serving aerospace, defense and industrial applications, acquired by Elma Electronic
- VNX+
- SOSA
Products and services
- Backplanes Backplane products serving as the core interconnect infrastructure for embedded computing systems, supporting various bus architectures including VME, OpenVPX, CompactPCI, and SOSA for defense, aerospace, and industrial customers.
- Cabinets Modular cabinets designed for demanding industrial and defense applications, including rugged MIL-standard cabinets (such as the MB-series weld-free cabinet) supplied under the Optima Stantron brand.
- Chassis Platforms Chassis platforms providing the structural and electrical foundation for embedded computing modules and boards, available across open standards form factors for defense, industrial, and commercial integrators.
- Embedded Boards Embedded computing boards including COM Express modules and other form factors for specialized computing applications in medical, military, and industrial markets.
- Embedded Computing Systems Complete integrated embedded computing systems combining boards, power solutions, and enclosures for defense, industrial, and medical applications.
- Enclosures & Components Precision enclosures and mechanical components for protecting and integrating electronic systems in industrial, defense, and commercial applications.
- Power Solutions Power supply and distribution solutions designed for embedded computing and electronic systems across Elma's chassis and system product lines.
- Rotary Switches Precision rotary switches and encoders designed for reliable operation in industrial and defense applications.
Companies that use Elma Electronic
Customer profileSegments8 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Elma Electronic technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Elma Electronic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered standard.
- Akkodis Edge Norway ASstandardAuthorized distributor for Elma products in Norway, handling Embedded Computing Systems and Backplanes.
- Akkodis Edge Sweden ABstandardAuthorized distributor for Elma products in Sweden, handling Embedded Computing Systems and Backplanes.
- Akkodis Edge AB (Finland)standardAuthorized distributor for Elma products in Finland, handling Embedded Computing Systems and Backplanes.
- Akkodis Edge Denmark A/SstandardAuthorized distributor for Elma products in Denmark, handling Embedded Computing Systems and Backplanes.
- Accurate Nordic ABstandardAuthorized distributor for Elma products in Sweden, handling Embedded Computing Systems, Backplanes, Enclosures & Components, and Rotary Switches.
- Active Vision (Japan)standardAuthorized distributor for Elma products in Japan, handling Embedded Computing Systems and Backplanes.
- AlfaTest (Romania)standardAuthorized distributor for Elma products in Romania, handling Enclosures & Components and Rotary Switches.
- Alphatec Electronics Co. (Korea)standardAuthorized distributor for Elma products in Korea, handling Embedded Computing Systems, Backplanes, Enclosures & Components, and Rotary Switches.
- Astute Electronics Ltd. (UK)standardAuthorized distributor for Elma products in UK, handling Enclosures & Components.
- Batenburg Applied Technologies B.V. (Netherlands)standardAuthorized distributor for Elma products in Netherlands, handling Enclosures & Components and Rotary Switches.
- Batenburg Mechatronica B.V. (Belgium)standardAuthorized distributor for Elma products in Belgium and Luxembourg, handling Enclosures & Components and Rotary Switches.
- Aktif Neser Elektronik (Turkey)standardAuthorized distributor for Elma products in Turkey, handling Backplanes, Enclosures & Components, Rotary Switches, and Embedded Computing Systems.
- DefenceX (Australia)standardAuthorized distributor for Elma products in Australia, handling Embedded Computing Systems, Backplanes, Enclosures & Components, and Cabinets.
- Electrowing Technologies Pvt Ltd (India)standardAuthorized distributor for Elma products in India, handling Backplanes, Embedded Computing Systems, and Cabinets.
- Elincom Electronics B.V. (Netherlands)standardAuthorized distributor for Elma products in Netherlands, handling Embedded Computing Systems and Backplanes.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Elma Electronic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Crystal Group: Provider of rugged commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) computers, servers, and embedded systems for military, industrial, and commercial applications. Directly comparable to Elma's rugged embedded and computing systems business.
- Kontron: European-headquartered embedded computing modules, boards, and systems provider supporting COM Express, CompactPCI, and VME standards. Closely comparable to Elma across open-standards embedded boards and platforms, serving similar industrial, medical, and defense customers.
- Trenton Systems: US-based designer and manufacturer of rugged servers, workstations, and embedded computing for defense and industrial applications. Comparable to Elma's rugged embedded computing systems in mission-critical defense and industrial use cases.
- Abaco Systems (AMETEK): Specialist in embedded computing for defense, aerospace, and industrial applications with deep OpenVPX, VME, and SOSA-aligned product lines. A direct competitor to Elma's modular open standards portfolio.
- Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions: Major supplier of rugged embedded computing, modular open systems approach (MOSA)-aligned products, and defense electronics. Directly overlaps with Elma's OpenVPX, VME, and SOSA-aligned portfolio and serves the same aerospace/defense prime contractors.
- Mercury Systems: US-based provider of mission-critical processing subsystems for aerospace and defense, with a portfolio of rugged embedded computing boards, chassis, and sensors. Directly comparable to Elma in defense/aerospace embedded computing, though Mercury is significantly larger and more vertically integrated into RF/microelectronics.
Broad incumbents
- Advantech: Global industrial embedded computing and IoT platform vendor with a much larger scale. Overlaps with Elma in embedded boards, chassis, and edge platforms, but operates across a far broader industrial/IoT portfolio beyond defense.
- nVent (Schroff / Hoffman): Global provider of enclosures, cabinets, and thermal management for electronics, including the Schroff brand for embedded/backplane applications. Comparable to Elma's enclosures, cabinets, and chassis platforms business, though much larger and broader.
Emerging players
- Pixus Technologies: Provider of backplanes, chassis platforms, and enclosures for embedded computing applications. Spun out of the Elma/Rittal ecosystem, offering comparable products (OpenVPX, SOSA chassis) with overlapping customer base in defense and industrial markets.
- LCR Embedded Systems: US-based provider of rugged embedded systems, backplanes, and integrated electronics for defense and aerospace. Comparable to Elma in rugged embedded systems and OpenVPX/VME backplane products, though smaller in scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Elma Electronic social profiles
Digital presenceElma Electronic compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance11 records
Elma Electronic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Elma Electronic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Elma Electronic subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Elma Electronic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Elma Electronic M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Elma Electronic
What does Elma Electronic do?
Elma Electronic manufactures and supplies modular embedded computing hardware including backplanes, chassis platforms, embedded boards, integrated embedded computing systems, modular enclosures, MIL-spec rugged cabinets, power solutions, and precision rotary switches. Products are built to open standards architectures (VNX+, OpenVPX, VME, SOSA, CompactPCI, COM Express, AdvancedTCA) and supplied in both standard and custom configurations. The company complements hardware with custom design, engineering, system integration, and lifecycle management services for defense, aerospace, industrial, medical, communications, transportation, and energy customers.
Is Elma Electronic a public or private company?
Elma Electronic is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Elma Electronic founded?
Elma Electronic was founded in 1962. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Elma Electronic based?
Elma Electronic is headquartered in Wetzikon, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Elma Electronic make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Embedded Computing Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Solutions and Engineering Services.
Who are Elma Electronic's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Crystal Group, Kontron, Trenton Systems, Abaco Systems (AMETEK), Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions and Mercury Systems. Broad incumbents are Advantech and nVent (Schroff / Hoffman). Emerging players are Pixus Technologies and LCR Embedded Systems.
Does Elma Electronic have an API?
No public API is recorded for Elma Electronic.
What industry is Elma Electronic in?
Elma Electronic's product category is Embedded Computing Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAGAD, Embedded & HMI Electronics Manufacturing (Industrial PCs, HMIs, Panel PCs), with a secondary code of HDACALAF, Industrial Embedded Computers (Box PCs). Its NAICS code is 334111 and its SIC code is 3571.