GESAS

What GESAS does

GESAS GmbH, founded in 1996 and headquartered in Hockenheim, Germany, is a privately-held engineering firm that designs and manufactures custom electronic input systems, control systems, and human-machine interface (HMI) panels for industrial OEMs. The company serves manufacturers across multiple verticals including shipbuilding and marine propulsion, construction and earthmoving equipment, agricultural machinery, industrial printing systems, factory automation, and machine tools. Its named customer base spans Schottel, Bosch Rexroth, Bombardier, Leica, Annaburger, Stetter, Keller Grundbau, TREIF, Satisloh, manroland websystems, AVL Dix, and Komeg.

The technology stack is centered on microcontroller-based embedded systems using Renesas M16C/M32C, NXP ARM Cortex, and Atmel processors, with proprietary firmware developed in C and Embedded Linux distributions built via Yocto Project for the 7-inch flagship HMI panel. Products support industrial fieldbus protocols including CAN (2.0A/2.0B, ISOBUS), Interbus-S, Profibus-DP, RS232, RS485, and Ethernet. The portfolio includes the 7-inch High Performance HMI Panel with capacitive PCAP touchscreen (maritime-certified), ISOBUS job computers for precision farming, ship bridge control panels with Germanischer Lloyd approval, CAN gateways with galvanic isolation, and application-specific controllers for concrete mixers, wheel loaders, detergent dosing, and agricultural counters. All products are designed for harsh industrial environments with IP65 to IP69K protection ratings and extended temperature ranges.

GESAS operates a sales-led B2B model targeting industrial OEMs through direct technical consultation from concept to serial production, with custom project quotations rather than published price lists. Revenue is generated from three streams: custom development projects (one-time engineering fees combined with serial production orders), serial manufacturing services (minimum 50 units/year), and technical consulting and development support. The company commits to 10+ year product availability and spare part continuity, a key value driver for industrial customers with multi-decade product lifecycles. With approximately 18 employees, ~3.5 million EUR in annual revenue, ISO 9001:2008 certification, and a shareholder-managed structure led by Managing Directors Michael Zapp and Thilo Schüttke, GESAS is a small, specialized niche player.

Name

GESAS

Legal name

GESAS GmbH

Website

https://gesas.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GESAS GmbH designs and manufactures custom embedded electronic input systems, control systems, and HMI panels for industrial OEMs across marine, construction, agricultural, printing, and automation sectors, serving customers including Schottel, Bosch Rexroth, and Bombardier.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Electronics

NAICS

Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)

akta.pro primary industry

Embedded & HMI Electronics Manufacturing (Industrial PCs, HMIs, Panel PCs) (IMAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH), Process Control & Automation Electronics Manufacturing Services (PLCs, I/O, DCS/SCADA hardware) (IMAGAGAK), Industrial Control Cabinets & Power Distribution (Panels, Switchgear for Automation) (IMAHAHAK)

Keywords

• Industrial control systems
• Embedded electronics manufacturing
• HMI panel solutions
• Custom input systems
• Marine electronics design

Headquarters

HQ city

Hockenheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Electronic Systems: Design, development and manufacture of custom input systems, display systems, and control systems for industrial applications. Revenue generated from project-based custom development fees combined with serial production orders. Long-term product availability and replacement part supply as additional revenue stream.
2. Serial Manufacturing Services: Assembly and manufacturing of electronic devices and assemblies for customers. Includes PCB population, device assembly, wiring, testing, protective coating, and packaging. Minimum production quantities from 50 units per year.
3. Technical Consulting and Development Support: Engineering consultation services including feasibility studies, product design, prototype development, and technical documentation. Part of comprehensive customer engagement for custom solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

GESAS GmbH develops and manufactures custom electronic input systems, operating systems (HMI panels), and control systems based on microcontrollers for industrial applications. The offering spans the full lifecycle from technical consulting and feasibility study through prototype development, serial production, and long-term spare-part supply, with minimum production quantities from 50 units per year. Products are designed for harsh environments, support industrial fieldbus protocols (CAN, ISOBUS, Interbus-S, Profibus), and serve OEM customers in shipbuilding, agricultural machinery, construction equipment, printing systems, and industrial automation.

Product overview

GESAS develops and manufactures custom electronic input systems, operating systems, control systems, and HMI panels for industrial applications. The product portfolio includes the 7" High Performance HMI Panel as a flagship product featuring capacitive touchscreen and embedded Linux, complemented by specialized control systems (ISOBUS-Jobrechner AMS5 for agriculture, Fahrmischersteuerung for concrete mixers, and various industrial control modules), custom input systems and operating panels for ships, construction machinery, and printing machines, as well as industrial PCs and measurement technology. The company also provides certified assembly services for electronic devices and components. Products are designed for harsh industrial environments with specifications including extended temperature ranges, high IP protection ratings, and maritime certifications. The modular product architecture allows customers to select specific control units, operating panels, and gateway modules that integrate with various fieldbus systems (CAN, Interbus-S, Profibus, Ethernet).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 7" High Performance HMI Panel Industrial 7-inch HMI panel with capacitive PCAP multi-touch touchscreen, i.MX6 Dual Lite (ARM Cortex-A9) processor, 800x480 TFT display, dual redundant CAN interfaces, dual Ethernet, USB 2.0, and SD card slot; designed for maritime applications with Lloyd certification. More than 60,000 units in operation worldwide.
• Eingabesysteme (Input Systems) Custom input and operating systems including membrane keyboards, control panels, and human-machine interfaces with integrated microcontrollers tailored to industrial applications. Includes ship bridge panels, machine keyboards for CNC machine control, and operator terminals for press brakes.
• Steuerungssysteme (Control Systems) Mobile and industrial microcontroller-based control systems for agricultural vehicles, construction machinery, ships, and industrial automation, including the ISOBUS-Jobrechner AMS5 job computer, Fahrmischersteuerung concrete mixer controls, SMART control 3, wheel loader controls, Agrar-Jobrechner, and CAN gateways with galvanic isolation.
• Industrie PCs (Industrial PCs) Custom industrial computer systems designed for demanding industrial environments, supplied as individual solutions for OEM integration.
• Messtechnik (Measurement Technology) Measurement and quality data systems for industrial applications, supplied as part of GESAS's system-supplier offerings.
• Baugruppen-Montage (Electronic Assembly Services) ISO 9001 / UKAS-certified assembly of electronic devices and components including development support, material procurement, PCB population, device assembly, wiring, testing, conformal coating, and packaging. Minimum production quantities from 50 units per year.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% more effective compared to standard solutions

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WAGO: Manufacturer of spring-clamp terminals, programmable controllers (WAGO PFC), and HMI touch panels for industrial automation. Comparable broad incumbent with overlapping controller and HMI product categories targeting similar machinery OEMs.
• Phoenix Contact: German manufacturer of industrial connection technology, controllers, HMIs, and I/O systems. Comparable broad incumbent competing in control-cabinet and HMI categories adjacent to GESAS's custom control-panel and gateway products.
• Beckhoff Automation: German PC-based control and HMI specialist offering TwinCAT, embedded PCs, and panel terminals. Comparable as a broad incumbent in industrial control with overlapping HMI and embedded-PC product categories that target the same OEM machinery builders.
• B&R Industrial Automation: Provider of PLCs, industrial PCs, HMIs, and integrated automation (now part of ABB). Comparable broad incumbent whose HMI and control portfolio targets the same machine-builder and mobile-equipment OEMs that GESAS serves.
• Siemens Digital Industries: Global leader in industrial automation offering SIMATIC PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA systems. Comparable as the dominant broad incumbent whose integrated automation portfolio competes against GESAS's custom control/HMI offerings, particularly in machine-building and process automation.

Direct peers

• TQ-Systems: German provider of embedded computing modules, industrial PCs, and custom electronics for harsh-environment industrial use. Directly comparable to GESAS in the embedded/custom industrial electronics space serving OEMs with mixed-volume production.
• Garz & Fricke: German specialist in industrial HMI panels and embedded computing platforms with capacitive touch and ARM-based architectures. Closely comparable to GESAS in HMI product positioning, target verticals, and engineering-led business model.
• Phytec: German manufacturer of embedded microcontroller modules and SBCs for industrial applications. Direct peer because Phytec operates in the same German embedded-industrial niche with overlapping customer base; GESAS even co-marketed at embedded world 2020 in the Phytec booth.

Emerging players

• ADS-Tec Industrial IT: German specialist in ruggedized industrial PCs, HMI panels, and IoT edge devices for harsh industrial environments. Comparable emerging player with overlapping industrial-HMI and embedded-PC positioning relative to GESAS's product portfolio.
• Wachendorff Prozesstechnik: German provider of industrial HMIs, operator panels, and process visualization solutions. Comparable niche player with similar target customers (machinery and plant builders) and overlapping HMI product offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gesas-gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 GESAS