What U&R does

U&R Hardware- und Systemdesign GmbH (U&R GmbH) is a privately held German engineering services and embedded hardware design firm headquartered in Erbach (Ringingen), Baden-Württemberg, 15 km from Ulm. Founded in 2001 and co-managed by Dipl.-Ing. Harald Unsöld and Dipl.-Ing. Karl-Heinz Röhm, the firm operates with a core team of eight highly qualified specialists and delivers custom hardware and embedded software to B2B customers in industrial plants, special vehicles, automotive systems, and military systems. Since 2003, it has completed over 666 projects. No external funding, parent company, subsidiaries, or public listing have been disclosed; the firm is registered as a German private limited company (HRB 4211, Amtsgericht Ulm).

The company's capabilities span the full electronics stack: schematic and PCB layout design, FPGA/CPLD development (Lattice, Xilinx), embedded firmware in C/C++ on STMicro STM32/SPC5, Microchip AVR/SAM, and Texas Instruments C2000 platforms, alongside precision analog design (24-bit/100Hz to 10-bit/200MHz ADCs, sub-300nVAC amplifiers, nanometer positioning, 10psec time resolution), industrial bus integration (LIN, IO-Link, CAN, Profibus, EtherCAT, PROFINET, Ethernet/IP), and interfaces including USB, I2C, SPI, PCIe, and Bluetooth. Named reference products include the PowerUnit HiL test system for Mercedes-Benz Group, the PCU (PistenBully Control Unit) and RIO CAN-IO module for Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG, the TRISAG II sag sensor for TROESTER GmbH, and the Sleep Lab at Home wireless diagnostic system developed with Charité Berlin, Universität Konstanz, Universität Reutlingen, and Suportis AG.

U&R monetizes through project-based custom-development contracts that take customers from concept and prototyping through series production, with qualifications covering CE, MIL, KBA, e1, and environmental testing (climate, vibration, shock). Distribution is exclusively direct enterprise sales with no public pricing; revenue mechanics are quote-driven one-off and professional-services engagements rather than recurring subscriptions. The customer base skews enterprise (Mercedes-Benz, Kässbohrer, TROESTER, Charité Berlin), with both OEM-style program work and shorter product-development engagements.

Name

U&R

Legal name

U&R Hardware- und Systemdesign GmbH

Website

https://ur-gmbh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

U&R Hardware- und Systemdesign GmbH is a privately held German firm that designs custom hardware and embedded software for industrial, automotive, special-vehicle, and military clients, with a small engineering team based near Ulm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Hardware and Embedded Systems Design

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Test, Measurement & Calibration Equipment Manufacturing Services (ATE, DAQ, metrology electronics) (IMAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Military Aerospace Ground Support Equipment (GSE) & Test Systems (IMABAMAL), ADAS Compute & Control Units Manufacturing (Domain Controllers/ECUs) (IMACAMAG), Real-Time & Industrial Control Processors (RT MCUs/PLC-class SoCs) (HDAHAJAL)

Keywords

• Custom hardware design
• Embedded software development
• Hardware-in-the-loop testing
• CAN-bus control units
• Measurement and control electronics

Headquarters

HQ city

Erbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Hardware Development: Design and development of custom hardware solutions including schematics, layouts, and prototypes for specific customer requirements. Covers the full product lifecycle from prototyping to series production.
2. Embedded Software Development: Software development services for embedded systems, including real-time simulation, control systems, and sensor integration.
3. Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing Systems: Development of HiL test systems enabling real-time vehicle simulation for engine and component testing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

U&R Hardware- und Systemdesign GmbH designs and develops custom hardware and embedded software solutions, covering the full product lifecycle from concept and schematic/layout design through prototyping to series production. The company delivers specialized electronic systems including CAN-bus control units, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) test systems, sensor solutions, and embedded measurement and control electronics for industrial plants, special vehicles, automotive, and military applications.

Product overview

U&R offers custom hardware and embedded software development solutions, providing a portfolio of specialized products including the RIO CAN-IO module for industrial vehicle applications, the PowerUnit Hardware-in-the-Loop test system for automotive simulation, the TRISAG II sag sensor for wire processing machines, the PCU control unit for snow grooming vehicles, and the Sleep Lab at Home medical diagnostic system. The company delivers complete product development from concept through series production, including schematic design, layout, software development, and prototype construction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PowerUnit (HiL Test System) Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) test system developed for Mercedes-Benz Group that performs real-time vehicle simulation for engine testing and validation of sensor and actuator component responses.
• RIO (CAN-IO Module) CAN-IO module developed for Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG that decentralizes input and power outputs via the CAN bus for distributed vehicle electronics.
• TRISAG II (Sag Sensor) Sag sensor developed for TROESTER GmbH that detects wire sag in industrial machines and provides an output signal used for closed-loop speed control of embedded machinery.
• PCU (PistenBully Control Unit) Central control unit developed for Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG that controls numerous CAN interfaces to operate and control the PistenBully snow groomer.
• Sleep Lab at Home Home-based diagnostic system for sleep apnea and hypopnea developed with Charité Berlin, Universität Konstanz, Universität Reutlingen, and Suportis AG. Uses wireless sensors to measure blood oxygen saturation, pulse, breathing, and movement, with AI-supported algorithms to enable medically interpretable diagnosis.

Quantifiable outcome

• 666+ projects successfully completed since 2003

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Charité BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on Sleep Lab at Home project for diagnosing sleep apnea and hypopnea diseases. U&R designed schematics, layout, software, and prototype construction. The project uses wireless sensors to measure blood oxygen saturation, pulse, breathing, and movement with AI-supported algorithms for medical interpretation.
• Universität KonstanzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on Sleep Lab at Home project. University contributes academic research expertise for the diagnostic system.
• Universität ReutlingenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on Sleep Lab at Home project. University contributes academic research expertise for the diagnostic system.
• Suportis AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner on Sleep Lab at Home project. Suportis AG participates in the healthcare diagnostic device development.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National Instruments (NI): Large US-headquartered test & measurement and data acquisition platform; broader portfolio but overlaps with U&R in test/measurement electronics and HiL test system integration for industrial and automotive customers.
• Bertrandt: Large German engineering services provider offering automotive electronics, embedded systems, and validation services; competes with U&R for outsourced custom hardware and embedded development projects from OEMs.

Direct peers

• dSPACE GmbH: German market leader in Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) simulation and automotive embedded development, serving the same Mercedes-Benz-class OEMs with overlapping real-time vehicle simulation and ECU validation capabilities as U&R's PowerUnit.
• Vector Informatik: Stuttgart-based automotive embedded software and CAN/Ethernet toolchain provider; competes directly with U&R in CAN-bus control unit development and automotive embedded engineering services for German OEMs and Tier-1s.
• PLS Programmierbare Logik & Systeme: German developer of HiL test systems and real-time simulation platforms for automotive and industrial customers; directly comparable to U&R's PowerUnit HiL offering and target customer profile.
• ipg Automotive: German provider of vehicle simulation software and HiL/testing solutions for ADAS and autonomous driving development; comparable in automotive simulation and validation focus to U&R's HiL capabilities.
• ETAS (Bosch): Bosch subsidiary providing automotive embedded software, middleware, and HiL testing solutions; competes with U&R in ECU development, real-time simulation, and automotive validation tooling for European OEMs.
• Hitex (Infineon Technologies): German embedded development tools and services firm specializing in microcontroller software, safety-certified development, and hardware design support; directly overlaps with U&R's STM32/SPC5/AVR/SAM embedded competencies.

Others

• Microchip Technology: MCU and FPGA vendor whose AVR, SAM, and FPGA/CPLD products underpin U&R's processor and FPGA design work; supplier/ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor.
• STMicroelectronics: Semiconductor vendor whose STM32 and SPC5 MCU families form a core part of U&R's processor portfolio; ecosystem relationship rather than competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Compliance7 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 U&R