What PC Engines does

PC Engines GmbH is a privately-held Swiss company founded in 2002 by Pascal Dornier, headquartered in Glattbrugg, Switzerland, with manufacturing contracted to Wistron Neweb in Taiwan. The company designs and sells small form factor x86 single-board computers targeting network security, wireless routing, and embedded applications. Its product portfolio spans three hardware generations: the original WRAP platform (AMD SC1100, EOL), the ALIX platform (AMD Geode LX, EOL), and the current APU platform family (AMD G-series APUs with Intel i210AT/i211AT gigabit NICs), offered in apu1, apu2, apu3, apu4, and apu6b4 variants. Differentiated technical features include conductive passive cooling via a 3mm aluminum heat spreader, open-source coreboot firmware with iPXE and USB boot support, and a standardized 6x6 inch board footprint that enables enclosure and accessory reuse across generations. The product line is complemented by flash storage (CompactFlash, mSATA, SD), Compex and Wistron Neweb wireless miniPCIe modules, aluminum enclosures, AC adapters, and diagnostic/flash-recovery tools.

PC Engines generates revenue almost entirely from hardware sales, priced in CHF, EUR, and USD through a direct web shop and a network of 20+ distributors across 18+ European countries and 4 distributors in the US/Canada. The EU direct channel is restricted to business customers due to recycling regulations. End-customer segments include network equipment OEMs and integrators building firewalls, routers, and VPN appliances (Deciso, Linewize), DIY/enthusiast users running pfSense/OPNsense/IPFire, and embedded system developers building thin clients, kiosks, and home automation gateways. Pricing is unit-based via the web shop, with volume and special-order pricing handled by direct contact.

The company is at a structural inflection point: the AMD SOC used in the APU platform is going end-of-life with last orders accepted by end of June 2023, and the company is conducting a lifetime buy of components to fulfill customer shipments only through end of June 2024. Founder Pascal Dornier has publicly indicated it is time to move on after approximately 20 years, and the company has shifted to a build-to-order model. No successor product platform has been announced, and the combination of supplier allocation issues (Intel NICs, Qualcomm chipsets), thin margins, and a founder transition points toward an orderly wind-down of the APU franchise rather than a continuation of new platform development.

Name

PC Engines

Legal name

PC Engines GmbH

Website

https://pcengines.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PC Engines GmbH designs and sells small form factor x86 single-board computers for network security, wireless routing, and embedded applications, serving OEMs, integrators, and DIY users globally via direct web sales and 20+ distributors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Embedded Single Board Computers

NAICS

Electronic Computer Manufacturing (334111), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (33411)

SIC

Electronic Computers (3571), Computer Communications Equipment (3576)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Embedded Computers (Box PCs) (HDACALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Motherboards & Chipset Platforms (HDACAGAB), Embedded & Industrial Network Interfaces (PCIe/M.2/SOM/SoC NICs) (HDAFAEAI)

Keywords

• Embedded system boards
• Single board computers
• Fanless x86 platforms
• Network security appliances
• Compact computing hardware

Headquarters

HQ city

Glattbrugg

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of system boards (APU, ALIX, WRAP platforms), flash storage (CompactFlash, mSATA, SD cards), enclosures, wireless modules, accessories, and test equipment
2. Special Order Products: Custom configuration orders for specific product variants including legacy products available in limited quantities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PC Engines designs and sells small, low-power x86 single board computers for network security, wireless routing, VOIP, and embedded applications. The product line centers on the apu platform (AMD G-series APU with Intel gigabit NICs) and legacy ALIX and WRAP boards, complemented by flash storage, miniPCI Express wireless modules, aluminum enclosures, and open source coreboot/tinyBIOS firmware. The boards are sold directly via web shop and through a global distributor network for use in routers, firewalls, VPN appliances, and dedicated embedded servers.

Product overview

PC Engines specializes in small, low power servers for network security, wireless networking, and embedded applications. The product portfolio centers on multiple generations of system board platforms: the current apu2 platform (with variants apu2e0/e2/e4, apu3, apu4, and apu6b4 featuring AMD quad-core processors and Intel gigabit NICs), the legacy apu1 platform (dual-core, EOL), the ALIX platform (AMD Geode LX-based, EOL), and the WRAP platform (first generation, EOL). These are complemented by flash storage solutions (CompactFlash cards, IDE adapters, mSATA SSD modules, SD cards), wireless modules (WLE900VX, WLE600VX, WLE200NX miniPCI express cards), antenna and pigtail accessories, aluminum enclosures in multiple configurations (2-4 LAN, with or without SFP), AC adapters for different regions, diagnostic tools (POST code displays), and flash recovery modules. The company also provides open source firmware options including coreboot for apu boards and tinyBIOS for legacy platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• tinyBIOS: Open source embedded PC firmware solution designed for network appliances and embedded applications
• tinyBIOS

Products and services

• apu Platform (apu2/3/4/6 system boards) Current-generation small form factor x86 system board family with AMD quad-core processors, Intel i210AT/i211AT gigabit NICs, DDR3 DRAM, and miniPCI Express expansion. The apu2 includes variants (apu2e0 with 2GB/2 NICs, apu2e2 with 2GB/3 NICs, apu2e4 with 4GB/3 NICs), apu3 with improved RF for 3G/LTE, apu4 with 4 NICs, and apu6b4 with SFP fiber and 3 miniPCI Express slots. Designed for routers, firewalls, VOIP, and embedded network applications, supporting coreboot open source firmware.
• apu1 Platform Previous-generation system board with AMD G series T40E dual-core 1GHz CPU, Realtek RTL8111E gigabit Ethernet, and DDR3-1066 DRAM. End of life but still manufactured for large orders with extended lead time.
• ALIX Platform (alix1, alix2, alix3, alix6) Legacy system board platform based on AMD Geode LX CPU (433-500MHz) with Via VT6105M Ethernet controllers, CompactFlash storage, and miniPCI expansion. Spans alix1e (full-size Mini-ITX), alix2 (3 LAN), alix3 (1 LAN, compact), and alix6 (2 LAN, 6x6 inch) form factors. EOL product, replaced by the apu2 platform.
• WRAP Platform First-generation platform based on AMD SC1100 233MHz CPU (fast 486 core). Designed for wireless routers, firewalls, and network devices. End of life due to AMD SC1100 CPU discontinuation.
• CompactFlash Cards and IDE Adapters (cf4slc, cf8slc, cf1eh, cf1ef, cf2g, cf2h, cf5h, cf5hs) High endurance SLC flash CompactFlash cards (cf4slc, cf8slc) serving as solid state replacements for IDE/PATA hard drives, offering lower power, fast read access, and high reliability with no special drivers required. Includes IDE-to-CF adapters in 3.5-inch (40-pin), 2.5-inch (44-pin), and direct plug form factors for use with ALIX, WRAP, and apu boards.
• mSATA SSD Modules (msata16g, msata30b, msata120c) Small capacity mSATA solid state disk modules using MLC flash with Phison or Silicon Motion controllers, compatible with apu1 and apu2 series boards. Provides compact solid state storage for embedded applications.
• SD Cards (sd4b) 4GB SD cards using MLC flash operated in pseudo SLC mode for higher endurance and write performance compared to standard MLC cards. Compatible with apu1 through apu4 series system boards. RoHS compliant.
• Wireless Modules (WLE900VX, WLE600VX, WLE200NX) Compex-manufactured miniPCI Express wireless radio cards supporting 802.11ac/a/b/g/n standards. WLE900VX uses QCA9880 chipset with 3 I-Pex connectors for 2.4/5GHz dual band; WLE600VX uses QCA9882 chipset; WLE200NX uses Atheros AR9280 chipset (discontinued, not recommended for new designs). All compatible with PC Engines apu system boards and require separate pigtail cables and antennas.
• Enclosures (case1d1u, case1d2u, case1d4blku, case1d6u, case1d6blku, case1d2blku) Aluminum enclosures in multiple configurations (2-4 LAN, with or without SFP) designed for apu and ALIX boards. Models include 2 LAN (case1d1u), 3 LAN with 2 SMA (case1d2u/case1d2blku), 4 LAN (case1d4blku), and 3 LAN + SFP + 2 SMA (case1d6u/case1d6blku). Standard 168x157x30mm dimensions, available in silver or black anodized finishes with mounting hardware included.
• AC Adapters (ac12vuk, ac12vus2, ac12veur3) 12V DC AC adapters with regional plug variants: ac12vuk (UK plug, CE marked), ac12vus2 (US plug, UL certified, DOE Level VI), and ac12veur3 (Euro plug, CE marked). 2A max output, compatible with alix1 and apu series boards.
• Flash Recovery Modules (spi1a, lpc1a) SPI flash recovery module (spi1a) for apu2/apu3 boards and LPC flash recovery module (lpc1a) for ALIX and WRAP boards. These install on the SPI or LPC header to override potentially blank or corrupted on-board flash, enabling BIOS recovery. Manufactured in China.
• POST Code Displays (post4d, post5a, post2b) PCI (post4d) and miniPCI (post5a) POST code displays with dual digit LED showing BIOS diagnostic codes during power-on self-test. post2b is an ISA version. EOL status for some models, available while supplies last. Includes remote display kit (postrd) with 20-inch cable for development and test fixture applications.
• Antennas and Pigtail Cables (antsma, antsmadb, pigsma, pignr, pignm, nmcab1) Wireless connectivity accessories including SMA reverse antennas (antsma 2.4GHz 5dBi, antsmadb dual band 5dBi), I-PEX to SMA pigtail cables (pigsma 15cm, pignr 18cm I-PEX to N reverse, pignm 18cm I-PEX to N male), and N male RF cables (nmcab1 50cm CLF-400 low loss). Compatible with PC Engines wireless modules and boards.
• poe1a2 Passive POE Adapter Passive Power over Ethernet injector using unused wire pairs of 100baseT cable for remote power delivery. Not IEEE 802.3af compliant. Compatible with ac18veur, ac18vuk, and ac18vus AC adapters.
• brk1d Wall Mount Bracket Steel wall mount bracket for case1d* enclosures. Includes mounting hardware and spacers for air flow. Not recommended for apu1 series boards due to potential cooling impairment.
• tinyBIOS Firmware Open source embedded PC firmware / BIOS for WRAP and ALIX boards. Small 16-32KB footprint with approximately 10,000 lines of assembly code, designed for unattended operation without setup screens. Published under Common Public License. Not recommended for new designs; coreboot is the preferred modern alternative.
• coreboot Firmware for apu Boards Open source system BIOS used on apu boards. Supports iPXE network boot and USB boot. Hosted at pcengines.github.io. Provides modern boot capabilities and full hardware control for embedded and network appliance applications.
• TinyCore Linux USB Installer Dedicated USB installer for setting up bootable drives and performing BIOS flash upgrades on apu series boards. Boots from USB memory stick or SD card. Available for Windows, Linux, and MacOS.

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration20 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TekLagercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary European distributor for APU products. Ships from Sweden to DE, DK, FI, NO, SE markets. Carries APU boards and enclosures.
• mini-box.comcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor US distributor offering ALIX, APU, CF, MPCI, and enclosures.
• ISP SuppliescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS distributor for ALIX and APU products and accessories.
• NetiksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Serbia (BA, RS) offering ALIX, APU, CF, POE, enclosures.
• Compex (WLE900VX, WLE600VX, WLE200NX)coreTechnology or IntegrationCompex manufactures miniPCI Express wireless radio cards (802.11ac/a/b/g/n) sold through PC Engines. QCA9880/QCA9882/AR9280 chipsets. Origin: China.
• Wistron Neweb (DNMA92, CM9)coreTechnology or IntegrationWistron Neweb manufactures wireless miniPCI modules (DNMA92 802.11a/b/g/n, CM9) sold through PC Engines. Also noted as having good production capacity for PC Engines boards.
• Data Power / PhisoncoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerManufacturers flash storage products (msata16g/e, sd4b, cf4slc, cf8slc, ssd16slc, ssd32slc) using Phison controllers and MLC/SLC NAND flash.
• Seanen ElectronicsminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerManufacturer of AC adapters (ac12vus2, ac12veur3) for PC Engines products.
• Qualcomm AtheroscoreTechnology or IntegrationChipset provider for wireless radio modules (QCA9880, QCA9882) used in Compex WLE900VX and WLE600VX products. Chipsets currently on allocation or discontinued.
• Wistron Neweb (Manufacturing)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerContract manufacturer with good production capacity for PC Engines boards. However, board test process may limit production throughput.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Deciso: Deciso designs rack-mount firewall and Asterisk appliances built around PC Engines apu/alix boards, operating in the same OPNsense-based network appliance OEM space and sometimes branded as both customer and adjacent peer.
• Protectli: Protectli builds fanless, small form factor x86 mini PCs purpose-built for pfSense, OPNsense and other open-source firewall distributions, directly competing with PC Engines' apu platform for the same DIY and SMB firewall integrator audience.
• Qotom: Qotom manufactures compact, fanless mini PCs with multiple Intel NICs targeting pfSense, Sophos, and other firewall/router OS use cases, overlapping PC Engines' apu2/3/4/6 customer base and reseller channels.
• Netgate: Netgate sells pfSense-branded firewall appliances built around compact x86 hardware with multi-gig NICs, serving the same network security OEM and integrator market that PC Engines' apu boards have historically powered.
• VIA Technologies: VIA makes low-power x86 embedded platforms and single-board computers (e.g. VAB series) targeted at networking, signage and industrial applications, making it a comparable low-power x86 SBC vendor to PC Engines.

Broad incumbents

• AAEON: AAEON produces a wide range of industrial and embedded single-board computers and box PCs with multiple Ethernet ports, serving the same industrial networking and embedded customer base as PC Engines but at significantly larger scale.
• Advantech: Advantech is a major industrial embedded computing vendor with extensive SBC, box PC and network appliance offerings, competing with PC Engines for industrial networking and IoT gateway customers at much larger volume.
• Kontron: Kontron designs and manufactures embedded computing platforms, motherboards and SBCs for industrial and communications applications, overlapping with PC Engines in the network appliance and embedded x86 space.

Emerging players

• Topton: Topton sells a broad catalog of low-cost fanless mini PCs and barebones with multiple Ethernet ports aimed at the OPNsense/pfSense community, increasingly competing with PC Engines on price-performance in the same hobbyist and small integrator segment.
• Jetway Information: Jetway manufactures compact embedded and mini-ITX boards with multiple LAN ports targeting networking and industrial applications, a smaller-scale peer comparable to PC Engines' SBC-focused catalog.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pc-engines-gmbh

Compliance14 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&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PC Engines