FED
FED is a Berlin-based German professional association (e.V.) serving ~700 DACH members in electronics design and manufacturing through ZED and IPC certification programs, regional groups, events, technical publications, and a Moodle-based eLearning platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What FED does
FED - Fachverband Elektronikdesign und -fertigung e. V. is a Berlin-headquartered, registered professional association (e.V.) founded in 1993 that serves approximately 700 members across the DACH region in the electronics design and manufacturing industry. Its membership spans PCB designers, EMS providers, EDA software vendors, process and technology service providers, institutes, and universities. The association operates through 12 regional groups covering major German electronics clusters plus Austria and Switzerland, and four working committees (3D Electronics, Design and Assembly, PCB, Environment and Sustainability).
The portfolio of offerings is built around five pillars: (1) the four-level ZED (Zertifizierter Elektronik-Designer) certification program covering PCB design theory, assembly design, EDA software, component libraries, and high-speed design; (2) German-language IPC CIS/CIT certification training against IPC-A-600, IPC-A-610, IPC/WHMA-A-620, J-STD-001, and 7711/21; (3) a Moodle-based eLearning portal (elearning.fed.de) with member-free on-demand seminars; (4) events including the annual FED-Konferenz, FED talks webinars, FED vor Ort regional site visits, and the FED Austrian Electronics Day; and (5) the FED-Bibliothek des Wissens technical publication series and an online shop for FED documents and IPC guidelines. The association is ISO 9001:2015 certified under DQS audit.
The revenue model is a hybrid association mix: recurring membership dues from ~700 members, fee-based training and certification (member and non-member pricing tiers), event registration and sponsorship, document and IPC guideline sales in the FED online shop, and award sponsorships (PCB Design Award, Paul-Award). Go-to-market is community-led: the regional groups, working committees, and annual conference function as the primary acquisition and retention channels, while the eLearning portal and in-house corporate training provide scalable delivery.
FED firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FED
- Legal name
- Fachverband Elektronikdesign und -fertigung e. V.
- Website
- https://fed.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- FED is a Berlin-based German professional association (e.V.) serving ~700 DACH members in electronics design and manufacturing through ZED and IPC certification programs, regional groups, events, technical publications, and a Moodle-based eLearning platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where FED is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
FED business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from approximately 700 members including PCB designers, EMS firms, EDA companies, process and technology service providers, institutes, and universities.
- Training and Certification Programs: Revenue from ZED certification courses (Levels I-IV), electronics manufacturing seminars, IPC certification (CIS/CIT), in-house training, and online on-demand courses. Pricing varies for members vs non-members.
- Event Participation Fees: Revenue from the annual FED Conference, FED talks, FED vor Ort events, FED Austrian Electronics Day, and the Pan-European Electronics Design Conference. Registration fees for seminars and workshops.
- Document and Publication Sales: Sale of FED documents, IPC guidelines in German and English, technical publications, and training videos through the FED online shop. IPC documents priced in USD; FED documents in EUR including 7% VAT for paper and 19% for CD-ROM.
- Awards and Sponsorship: Revenue from PCB Design Award and Paul-Award sponsorships, as well as sponsoring awards for various association activities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | FED Documents - Member Pricing |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | FED Documents - Non-Member Pricing |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Training Courses - In-Person |
| Freemium | Annual | Online On-Demand - Member Benefit |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
FED product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FED (Fachverband Elektronikdesign und -fertigung) is a German professional trade association that delivers certified training programs (ZED Levels I-IV for PCB designers and German-language IPC CIS/CIT certifications), continuing education seminars, and industry events, including the annual FED-Konferenz, FED talks, FED vor Ort, and FED Austrian Electronics Day. The association also sells technical publications, FED documents, and IPC guidelines through its online shop, and maintains a Moodle-based eLearning portal serving its approximately 700 member companies across the DACH region electronics design and manufacturing ecosystem.
Product overview
FED (Fachverband Elektronikdesign und -fertigung) is a professional association for electronics design and manufacturing in Germany, serving approximately 700 members including PCB designers, EMS companies, EDA companies, and process/technology service providers. The organization operates as a platform-based offering comprising: (1) Professional certification programs through the ZED (Zertifizierter Elektronik-Designer) four-level training concept covering PCB and assembly design from fundamentals to advanced levels; (2) IPC certification services providing German-language training for CIS/CIT credentials; (3) An eLearning portal built on Moodle for online professional development; (4) Event platforms including the annual FED-Konferenz, FED talks webinars, FED vor Ort regional events, and the Austrian Electronics Day; (5) A knowledge library (FED-Bibliothek des Wissens) and online shop for technical publications and IPC guidelines; and (6) Industry awards including the PCB Design Award and Paul-Award. The organization focuses on continuing education, standards development, and industry networking for the electronics sector.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ZED - Zertifizierter Elektronik-Designer: Four-level certification concept for PCB designers covering theory and practice, PCB design, and advanced technical seminars
- FED-Konferenz
- FED Austrian Electronics Day
- FED talks
- FED vor Ort
- PCB Design Award
- Paul-Award
- FED eLearning
- FED-Bibliothek des Wissens
- Pan-European Electronics Design Conference
Products and services
- ZED Certification Program (Zertifizierter Elektronik-Designer) Four-level certification program for electronics designers (Zertifizierter Elektronik-Designer) covering PCB design theory, PCB assembly design, EDA software, component libraries, and high-speed/specialized components. Structured curriculum from Level I through Level IV. Target audience: PCB designers and electronics circuit designers.
- IPC Certification Programs (CIS/CIT) German-language IPC certified training programs for Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) or Certified IPC Trainer (CIT) based on internationally recognized IPC guidelines including IPC-A-600, IPC-A-610, IPC/WHMA-A-620, J-STD-001, and 7711/21. Target audience: EMS firms, PCB manufacturers, and electronics designers needing recognized IPC credentials.
- FED eLearning Portal Moodle-based learning management system (LMS) offering online courses and training for professional development in electronics design and manufacturing, available free for FED members. Target audience: FED members and electronics industry professionals.
- Online On-Demand Seminars Self-paced online seminars covering foundational and specialized knowledge in assembly manufacturing and reflow soldering. Target audience: electronics manufacturing professionals seeking on-demand continuing education.
- FED-Konferenz (Annual Conference) Annual two-day conference serving as the most important platform for electronics design, PCB and assembly manufacturing professionals in the DACH region. Target audience: FED members, electronics designers, manufacturers, and industry stakeholders.
- FED talks Online seminar series covering current topics in electronics design and manufacturing. Target audience: FED members and electronics industry professionals.
- FED vor Ort Regional on-site events held at member company locations for networking and knowledge exchange. Target audience: FED members and regional electronics industry professionals.
- FED Austrian Electronics Day Annual electronics industry conference in Austria organized by FED regional group Austria. Target audience: Austrian electronics industry professionals and FED members.
- FED-Bibliothek des Wissens (FED Library of Knowledge) Technical publication series covering topics including EMV simulation, aspect ratios, IPC guidelines introduction, PCB specifications, and mechanical stress testing. Products available in PDF, CD, and paper formats. Target audience: PCB designers, electronics manufacturers, and engineers.
- FED Shop (Online Store) E-commerce platform selling FED documents, IPC guidelines on design, PCB and assembly manufacturing, and technical publications in PDF, CD, and paper formats. Target audience: FED members, non-members, and companies seeking industry standards documentation.
- PCB Design Award Competition recognizing outstanding PCB designers. Target audience: PCB designers and electronics industry professionals.
- Paul-Award Youth competition for technically enthusiastic individuals aged 15 to 25 years. Target audience: young technology enthusiasts and students.
- FED Membership Annual membership program providing access to industry networking platforms, expert exchange, comprehensive training offerings, working committees, project groups, and regional group discussions. Target audience: PCB designers, EMS firms, EDA companies, EDA software providers, process and technology service providers, institutes, and universities in the DACH region.
Quantifiable outcome
- 34th annual conference positioning FED as the central meeting point for the electronics industry
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use FED
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
FED technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
FED partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
FED competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FED social profiles
Digital presenceFED compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
FED financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FED leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
FED funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FED 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 FED
What does FED do?
FED (Fachverband Elektronikdesign und -fertigung) is a German professional trade association that delivers certified training programs (ZED Levels I-IV for PCB designers and German-language IPC CIS/CIT certifications), continuing education seminars, and industry events, including the annual FED-Konferenz, FED talks, FED vor Ort, and FED Austrian Electronics Day. The association also sells technical publications, FED documents, and IPC guidelines through its online shop, and maintains a Moodle-based eLearning portal serving its approximately 700 member companies across the DACH region electronics design and manufacturing ecosystem.
Is FED a public or private company?
FED is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was FED founded?
FED was founded in 1993. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is FED based?
FED is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does FED make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are training and Certification Programs, event Participation Fees, document and Publication Sales and awards and Sponsorship.
Does FED have an API?
No public API is recorded for FED.