APEL

What APEL does

APEL S.A. (Aplicaciones Prácticas Electrónicas) is a privately-held Spanish industrial services company founded in 1981 and headquartered in Eibar, Guipúzcoa. The company specializes in preventive and corrective maintenance of power electronics equipment and induction heating machinery, with additional services spanning machine tool maintenance, custom inductor design and development, PLC and automation controller monitoring with CE compliance verification, and energy efficiency studies. APEL also distributes a broad multi-brand spare parts inventory including power semiconductors, capacitors, thyristors, diodes, protistors, resistors, transistors, matching transformers, and valves from manufacturers such as WESTCODE, EUPEC, SIEMENS, AEG, IR, IXYS, SEMIKRON, THALES, ICAR, VISHAY-DRALORIC, and INCO.

APEL generates revenue primarily through professional services contracts (preventive and corrective maintenance, machine tool maintenance, R&D project services) and hardware sales of power electronics components and spare parts. Pricing is quote-based and tailored per customer requirement; the go-to-market is direct sales to industrial clients, supplemented by participation in industry trade fairs (e.g., Bienal Española de Máquina-Herramienta), community outreach (ElektronbITs), and a multilingual website with newsletter subscription. The company operates an extranet portal that lets customers manage corrective maintenance reports and preventive maintenance (MDP) services.

The customer base comprises 20+ named enterprise clients across automotive components and Tier 1 suppliers (GKN, Dana, CIE Automotive, Gestamp, Nissan, John Deere, KYB Europe Iberia, Sogefi Group, Tenneco), industrial manufacturing (ABB, Bosch, HIASA, Olarra, Bahco), forging (Forjas de Bérriz, Forjas de Viana), heat treatment (Tratamientos Mig), steel (Sidenor, Celsa Atlantic, Aratubo), insulation (Ursa), and machine tool / CNC (Microdeco, GH Induction, Vicinay Sestao). APEL holds ISO 9001 certification via AENOR (since 1999, renewed 2021) and IQNet, a 2022 carbon footprint registration, and the 2023 IKANOS business excellence label, and is a member of Basque technology associations GAIA, Innobasque, and the BPTD electronics cluster.

Name

APEL

Legal name

APEL S.A.

Website

https://apelsa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

APEL S.A. is a privately-held Spanish industrial services firm, founded in 1981 in Eibar, specializing in preventive and corrective maintenance of power electronics and induction heating equipment, with multi-brand spare parts distribution and R&D services serving automotive, forging, heat treatment, and aerospace manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Maintenance Services

NAICS

Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341), Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415)

SIC

Electronic Components & Accessories (3670), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Electronic Coils, Transformers & Other Inductors (3677)

akta.pro primary industry

Heat Transfer Equipment (Heat Exchangers, Boilers, Condensers) (IMAHAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Thermal Management Components (Heat sinks, TIMs, fans/blowers, thermal pads) (IMAGAJAL), Automotive ECUs/Control Modules & Embedded Electronics Manufacturing (IMACAJAC)

Keywords

• Industrial maintenance services
• Power electronics maintenance
• Induction heating equipment
• Spare parts supply
• Machine tool maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Éibar

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Maintenance Services: Preventive and corrective maintenance services for power electronics and induction heating equipment, including scheduled servicing, fault correction, and ongoing monitoring to prevent unplanned shutdowns.
2. Machine Tool Maintenance: Specialized maintenance services for machine tools covering both scheduled and unscheduled needs to ensure continuous manufacturing operations.
3. Equipment and Spare Parts Sales: Sale of power electronics equipment and spare parts including power semiconductors, condensers, power triodes, matching transformers, high voltage rectifier bridges, and microelectronics.
4. R&DI Project Services: Custom research and development projects for advanced induction applications and specialized engineering solutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

APEL specializes in preventive and corrective maintenance services for power electronics and induction heating equipment used in industrial processes such as heat treatment, hardening, tempering, welding, forging, melting, and surface heating. The company also sells power electronics spare parts and components (capacitors, diodes, thyristors, transistors, transformers, valves) from brands such as WESTCODE, EUPEC, SIEMENS, ICAR, and THALES, and offers custom R&DI project services and tailored inductor design for specialized induction applications.

Product overview

APEL (Aplicaciones Prácticas Electrónicas) is an industrial services company offering integrated solutions in power electronics and induction heating equipment. The company's portfolio consists of three core service pillars: Maintenance Solutions (preventive and corrective maintenance), RDI Projects (research, development, and innovation), and Spares (sale of components and spare parts). The spare parts offering includes capacitors, diodes, protistors, resistors, thyristors, transformers, transistors, and valves from major manufacturers such as WESTCODE, EUPEC, SIEMENS, ICAR, and THALES. Additional specialized services include tailored inductor design and development, machine tool maintenance, PLC/automation control monitoring, energy efficiency studies, and an Extranet platform for service management. APEL serves diverse industrial sectors including automotive, aerospace, forging, heat treatment, and stamping.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Maintenance Solutions Preventive and corrective maintenance services for power electronics and induction heating equipment, including scheduled servicing, fault correction, and ongoing monitoring. Covers processes such as heat treatment, hardening, tempering, welding, forging, melting, and surface heating for industrial clients in automotive, aerospace, forging, heat treatment, and stamping sectors.
• Machine Tool Maintenance Maintenance services for machine tools covering both scheduled and unscheduled needs to ensure manufacturing processes continue without unplanned shutdowns. Targets companies using CNC and automated equipment in the machine tool industry.
• R&DI Projects Custom Research, Development, and Innovation projects for advanced induction applications, including the Ludita exercise bike, domotic sensors, production process control, structural adhesives with selective unsticking using induction, and nanoparticle heating by magnetic induction for biomedical applications. Targets industrial clients with specialized engineering needs.
• Spares/Repuestos (Power Electronics Spare Parts) Sale of extensive range of power electronics spare parts including capacitors, diodes, protistors, resistors, thyristors, transistors, matching transformers, and valves. Sourced from multiple manufacturers including ICAR, VISHAY-DRALORIC, INCO, GE, LCC, CELEM, ESTA, RADIOCER, SIEMENS, WESTCODE, EUPEC, AEG, IR, IXYS, SEMIKRON, THALES, and YODE. Also includes power semiconductors, power triodes, high voltage rectifier bridges, and microelectronics.
• Tailored Inductor Design and Development Custom design and development of inductors for induction heating applications, including repair of cards and inductors, to meet specific customer process requirements. Targets industrial clients needing specialized induction solutions.
• PLC and Automation Control Services Monitoring of PLCs and automation controller functioning, compliance verification (CE marking), and machine adaptation services for industrial equipment.
• Energy Efficiency Studies Energy efficiency studies and power factor correction solutions to help industrial companies reduce electricity costs and meet legal requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 25% productivity improvement with planned preventive maintenance
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, minor and core.

• AENORsupportingOthersAENOR is a leading organization in development and dissemination of voluntary normalization and certification. APEL holds AENOR certification demonstrating compliance with quality standards (Certificate ER-1142-1999).
• IQNetsupportingOthersIQNet is an international network of certification bodies. APEL holds IQNet certification alongside AENOR certification for quality assurance.
• Armeria EskolaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPEL participated in the ElektronbITs event organized by Eibar Town Hall and Armeria Eskola to promote the Electronics and IT sector of Bajo Deba. The commercial director Iñigo Zulueta explained the company's activities and origin at this community event.
• GAIAsupportingOthersGAIA is the Basque technology association. APEL is a member of GAIA, indicating participation in the regional technology ecosystem.
• InnobasquesupportingOthersInnobasque is the Basque innovation platform. APEL's membership indicates participation in regional innovation initiatives.
• BPTD (Bajo Deba Electronics and IT Cluster)supportingOthersBPTD is the electronics and IT business cluster of the Lower Deba region. APEL participates in this cluster for regional business networking and collaboration.
• IKANOSsupportingOthersIKANOS provides environmental management certification. APEL holds IKANOS environmental label indicating commitment to environmental management standards.
• Equipment ManufacturerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPEL works in collaboration with equipment manufacturers for induction heating to respond to heating-related needs. They provide maintenance services and technical expertise in partnership with original equipment manufacturers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Inductotherm Group: World's largest manufacturer of induction heating and melting equipment. While primarily an OEM, Inductotherm also operates a global aftermarket service network that directly competes with APEL's third-party maintenance and spare parts business across the same customer base.
• Inductoheat (a Fluxtrol company): Specializes in induction heating equipment and process technology for heat treatment and forging. Competes with APEL in the same European heat-treatment and forging customer segments, both for new equipment and service contracts.
• Ajax Tocco Magnethermic: Designer and manufacturer of induction heating and melting systems with significant aftermarket service operations. Targets the same forging, heat treatment, and steel markets APEL services in Europe.
• GH Induction (Induction Heating Technology): Spanish/European induction heating equipment manufacturer (and an APEL customer) with its own service organization. Most direct geographic and product overlap with APEL, competing head-to-head for Spanish industrial accounts.
• EFD Induction (now part of Inductotherm): Manufacturer of induction heating equipment with an established service and spare parts offering across Europe. Competes with APEL for the same automotive and heat-treatment customer relationships in Spain and across the EU.

Emerging players

• ABP Induction Systems: European induction furnace and melting equipment supplier with growing service capabilities. Smaller and more focused than Inductotherm but overlaps with APEL's target customer base in European foundries and forging shops.
• Elektramer (Custom inductor / coil design): Custom inductor and coil design/repair specialist serving European induction heating customers. Directly comparable to APEL's 'Tailored Inductor Design and Development' add-on service line, with overlapping customer use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Siemens Industrial Services: Major industrial OEM with extensive service offerings for power electronics, drives, and automation equipment. A broad incumbent that competes with APEL for enterprise maintenance contracts when Siemens-branded equipment is involved.
• SECO/WARWICK: Global manufacturer of industrial heat-treatment furnaces and metallurgy equipment with a service division. Adjacent rather than identical to APEL's induction focus, but competes for the same heat-treatment maintenance budgets at steel and forging customers.
• ABB Service (ABB Motion / Drives Service): ABB (an APEL customer) operates a large captive service network for industrial drives and power electronics. Represents the OEM-captive threat: customers with ABB drives may shift maintenance to ABB's own service organization rather than third parties like APEL.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apel-s-a-

Compliance3 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 APEL