Realtime Engineering

What Realtime Engineering does

Realtime Engineering AG is a privately held Swiss engineering office (Ingenieurbüro) specializing in embedded hardware and software development for electronic devices. Founded in 1998 (with engineering activity dating to 1994) and registered as an Aktiengesellschaft under CHE-107.612.819, the firm operates from a single headquarters at Rickenbacherstrasse 29, Gelterkinden, in the Basel-Landschaft canton. It is led by a small team of three HTL-qualified electrical engineers (Christian Waldmann, Rolf Maurer, Raphael Löffel) and serves three verticals: the pharmaceutical industry, the machinery industry, and building technology (Haustechnik).

The firm's core offering is end-to-end product development for microcontroller-based devices, spanning 8-bit to 32-bit architectures including Microchip PIC, 8051, ARM7, and ARM Cortex M0/M3/M4 families. Service lines cover product development (concept through series production), embedded hardware design using Altium Designer 22, embedded software development in C/C++/C# with real-time operating systems and connectivity (Ethernet/TCP-IP, USB, Modbus, RS-485, CAN), and EMC testing in an in-house laboratory covering ESD, burst, surge, and power-fail measurements per IEC/EN 61000-4-x standards. The firm emphasizes ultra-low-power circuit design for battery-powered devices and provides clients with full IP handover including source code, documentation, and production data.

The business model is project-based professional services plus production and trading of electronic devices, with no publicly disclosed pricing. Sales are direct and relationship-driven, supported by manufacturing partnerships with Placetec AG (SMD assembly) and H2D electronic (device and cable fabrication), both based in nearby Liestal. Marketing is minimal, limited to a corporate LinkedIn page, and the firm has no external funding, no parent company, and no disclosed institutional shareholders. Ownership is founder/management-held.

Name

Realtime Engineering

Legal name

Realtime Engineering AG

Website

https://www.rte-ag.ch/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Realtime Engineering AG is a Swiss 3-person engineering consultancy providing end-to-end embedded hardware and software development plus in-house EMC testing for microcontroller-based devices, serving pharma, machinery, and building technology clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Embedded Electronics Engineering Services

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344), Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (334)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Embedded Software & Firmware Tools (Compilers, Debug, RTOS tooling) (HDAHAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

DevOps, SRE & Platform Engineering Consulting (BPAHAEAK)

Keywords

• Embedded systems development
• Electronics engineering services
• Microcontroller programming
• EMC compliance testing
• Hardware software co-design

Headquarters

HQ city

Gelterkinden

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering Services: Project-based engineering services for hardware and software development, including consulting, design, prototyping, and production support
2. Electronic Device Production: Production and trading of electronic devices as part of their engineering office operations

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Realtime Engineering AG is a Swiss engineering office that develops custom hardware and software for microcontroller-based electronic devices, acting as an outsourced R&D department. The firm delivers full product development from concept through series production, including embedded hardware (8-bit to 32-bit microcontrollers), embedded firmware with real-time operating systems, and in-house EMC compliance testing, serving the pharmaceutical, machine, and building technology industries.

Product overview

Realtime Engineering AG is an engineering consulting firm (Ingenieurbüro) founded in 1998, specializing in hardware and software development for electronics. Since 1994, they have developed electronics for the pharmaceutical, machinery, and building technology industries. The company operates as a product-independent development partner offering four interconnected service areas: Product Development (project management from concept to production), Embedded Hardware Development (microcontroller systems from 8-bit to 32-bit), Embedded Software Development (microcontroller programming with real-time operating systems), and EMC Testing (in-house and accredited external lab services). All development work centers on microcontroller systems, with expertise across Microchip PIC, 8051, ARM7, and ARM Cortex processor families, designed using Altium Designer 22.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Embedded Hardware Development (Microcontroller Systems) Design of microcontroller-based embedded hardware from 8-bit to 32-bit controllers, covering Microchip PIC, 8051, ARM7, and ARM Cortex M0/M3/M4 families, with specialization in ultra-low-power circuits for battery-powered devices and LCD display driving. Schematics and layouts produced with Altium Designer 22. Targeted at industrial firms in pharma, machinery, and building technology.
• Embedded Software Development (Microcontroller Firmware) Firmware development for microcontrollers using Keil and tools such as C++, C# (Visual Studio, CodeGear RAD Studio / Borland Delphi VCL), real-time operating systems, SQL databases, and connectivity stacks for Ethernet (TCP/IP), USB, Modbus, RS-485, and CAN. Targeted at B2B clients building time-critical, connected industrial devices.
• EMC Testing (EMV Messungen) In-house electromagnetic compatibility testing during the prototype phase, including ESD (IEC/EN 61000-4-2), burst (IEC/EN 61000-4-4), surge (IEC/EN 61000-4-5), and power-fail/voltage-dip tests (IEC/EN 61000-4-11), with final CE measurements handled by an accredited external lab. Targeted at manufacturers needing early-stage EMC compliance.
• Product Development (Produkt Entwicklung) Full end-to-end product development management from initial idea and concept through prototyping and into series production. Functions as an external R&D department for electronics and computer science, handing over complete documentation, source code, and production data so clients retain full IP and manufacturing independence. Targeted at industrial firms seeking outsourced electronics R&D.

Quantifiable outcome

• High immunity of finished products achieved through EMC testing during prototype phase

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Placetec AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial electronics manufacturing partner based in Liestal, Switzerland, specializing in SMD assembly services. Placetec AG provides manufacturing and assembly capabilities that complement Realtime Engineering's design expertise, particularly for testability and producibility optimization during hardware development.
• H2D electronicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevice construction and cable manufacturing partner based in Liestal, Switzerland. Provides fabrication services for electronic devices and custom cable assemblies developed by Realtime Engineering.
• LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited CompanyminorMarketing PartnerSocial media platform operator for Realtime Engineering's corporate LinkedIn page, enabling company visibility and professional networking.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• SYS TEC electronic: German embedded systems engineering firm providing custom hardware/software development, microcontroller programming, and real-time industrial solutions. Comparable as a similarly sized specialist in embedded design services targeting industrial customers.
• Ginzinger electronic systems: Austrian embedded electronics design services company offering hardware/software development and series production. Directly comparable as a boutique DACH-region embedded engineering firm with end-to-end product development capability.
• MicroConsult: German embedded systems training and engineering consulting firm. Comparable because it operates in the same niche of embedded software/firmware expertise and serves industrial clients with specialized microcontroller work.
• SSV Software Systems: German embedded software and hardware engineering firm with focus on microcontroller applications and connectivity (CAN, Ethernet). Comparable as a specialist in industrial embedded development with similar technology stack.
• Pyramid Solutions: US-based embedded systems and software engineering consultancy serving industrial, medical, and aerospace clients. Comparable as a similarly sized boutique providing custom embedded design services.

Broad incumbents

• Bertrandt: Large German engineering services provider with significant embedded/electronics development practices across automotive and industrial sectors. Comparable in capability but far broader in scale and customer base than the subject firm.
• Assystem: French-listed engineering and infrastructure consulting firm with embedded and industrial systems capabilities. Comparable as a larger incumbent operating in adjacent embedded/industrial engineering services across Europe.
• AKKA Technologies: European engineering and technology consulting group (now part of Adecco) with embedded systems and digital engineering practices. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering overlapping embedded and industrial development services.
• Capgemini Engineering: Global engineering services arm of Capgemini, including embedded software and intelligent systems practices. Comparable as a massive incumbent whose embedded offerings overlap with the subject firm's capabilities but at much greater scale.

Regional players

• Cicor Technologies: Swiss-headquartered electronics manufacturing services provider with embedded systems and PCB assembly capabilities. Comparable as a regional peer in the Swiss/DACH electronics ecosystem with adjacent service offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/realtime-engineering-ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Realtime Engineering