KARO electronics

What KARO electronics does

KARO electronics (legal entity Ka-Ro electronics GmbH) is a privately held German embedded systems manufacturer founded in 1988 in Aachen by Kaussen and Rosenstein. The company designs and produces Computer-on-Modules (COMs) based on application processors from NXP (i.MX series), STMicroelectronics (STM32MP series), and Renesas (RZ/G series). It sells two proprietary module families — the QS solder-in family (compact 27x27mm to 29x29mm form factors) and the TX SODIMM plug-in family — distinguished by pin- and software-compatible scalability that lets customers migrate across performance tiers without redesigning baseboards. Beyond its own branded modules, KARO provides Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) covering SMT and THT assembly, prototyping, software development, preprogramming, custom modifications, and RMA, all executed in-house at its Aachen facility across three production lines with a stated capacity of 16 million electronic components per month.

The company manufactures over 500,000 Linux-based Computer-on-Modules annually and reports more than 1,000 customers worldwide (as of 2020), with end markets concentrated in industrial embedded systems requiring long-term availability, extended temperature ranges, and process reliability. Its go-to-market combines direct technical engagement with a global network of authorized distributors anchored by Mouser Electronics (US catalog), Future Electronics (Canada/Germany/Singapore), and ten regional partners covering Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the UK, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the US East Coast. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

KARO is ISO 9001:2015 and DIN EN certified, RoHS-compliant, and remains founder-controlled with no disclosed external funding rounds, M&A activity, or parent company. Leadership is anchored by co-founder Matthias Kaussen (CEO/Production/CHRO) and Ekkehard T. Meurers (CFO/Sales). Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

KARO electronics

Legal name

Ka-Ro electronics GmbH

Website

https://karo-electronics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Embedded Computing / Computer-on-Modules

NAICS

Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (33411)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Embedded & Compute Modules (SoMs, COM Express/SMARC, industrial SBC modules) (IMAGAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Computer-on-modules
• Embedded systems
• Electronic manufacturing services
• Contract manufacturing
• SMT THT production

Headquarters

HQ city

Aachen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Computer-on-Module Sales: Sale of proprietary embedded computer-on-modules (QS and TX families) based on NXP, ST, and Renesas processors. Modules are application-ready and designed for long-term availability.
2. Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS): Contract manufacturing of custom electronic assemblies for third-party customers, including prototypes, small batches, and high-volume production using SMT and THT technologies.
3. Development and Consulting Services: Tailored consulting and development services covering hardware and software aspects, including customer-specific module variants, baseboard design, and software development.
4. Preprogramming Service: Pre-programming of modules with customer software during production and testing, eliminating the need for customer-side programming and reducing production time and cost.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Ka-Ro electronics designs, manufactures, and sells proprietary Computer-on-Modules (QS solder-in and TX plug-in SODIMM families) based on NXP i.MX, ST STM32, and Renesas RZ/G processors for industrial embedded systems. The company also provides full-service Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) including SMT and THT contract manufacturing, prototyping, consulting, software development, preprogramming, and RMA/repair services, all from its in-house facility in Aachen, Germany.

Product overview

KARO electronics is a German embedded systems company offering two main computer-on-module families: the QS solder-in COM family (with ST STM32MP, NXP i.MX, and Renesas RZ/G processors) and the TX SODIMM plug-in COM family (providing scalability with pin-and software-compatible modules). The company manufactures over 500,000 Linux-based Computer-on-Modules annually, powered by processors from NXP, STMicroelectronics, and Renesas. Beyond its own products, KARO provides comprehensive Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) including SMT/THT production, prototyping, software development, preprogramming, and RMA services—all under one roof in Aachen with ISO 9001:2015 certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• QS Solder-in COMs: QS solder-in computer-on-module family featuring various processors from NXP, ST, and Renesas
• TX Plug-in COMs

Products and services

• QS Solder-in Computer-on-Module Family Compact solder-in computer-on-module family for direct PCB integration, offered in 27x27mm to 29x29mm form factors with processors from NXP (i.MX 91/93/95/8M Mini/8M Plus), ST (STM32MP13/15/23/25), and Renesas (RZ/G2L). Targeted at industrial embedded OEMs requiring miniaturized, application-ready modules with long-term availability.
• TX Plug-in Computer-on-Module Family SODIMM-form factor plug-in computer-on-module family offering scalability with pin- and software-compatible modules based on NXP (i.MX 91/93/8M Mini/8M Plus/6UltraLite/6), ST (STM32MP15/25), and Renesas (RZ/G2L) processors. Designed for industrial embedded OEMs that need to scale across performance tiers from a single hardware design.
• Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) Full-service contract EMS including SMT and THT production, prototyping, and high-volume series production with three state-of-the-art production lines and over 16 million electronic components per month capacity. Includes 24-hour quote turnaround and 48-hour express prototyping.
• Development Services Custom electronic module, assembly, and system development using state-of-the-art CAD tools, including concept, realization, prototyping (48-hour express service), software creation, documentation, certification, and series production.
• Consulting Services Professional consulting for product selection, operating systems, and module specifications based on many years of project experience.
• Preprogramming Service Pre-programming of modules with customer software during production and testing, enabling direct integration without additional installation or programming work and reducing production time and cost for the customer.
• Software Development Services Software development for ARM, Linux, and Windows Embedded platforms including bootloaders, device drivers, and BSP development with seamless hardware-software integration.
• Customized Products Custom adaptations of Computer-on-Modules including memory size, temperature range, processor version, and modified pinout based on customer requirements.
• RMA Service & Repair Return Merchandise Authorization service for defects or technical issues including reliable repair, returns, and replacements processing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500,000 Linux-based Computer-on-Modules manufactured annually
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mouser Electronics, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized catalog distributor for Ka-Ro electronics computer-on-modules, covering the United States market from Mansfield, Texas.
• Future ElectronicscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorldwide authorized distributor with operations in North America (Canada), Germany (Aschheim-Dornach), and Singapore, serving global customers with Ka-Ro embedded modules.
• GLYN GmbH & Co. KGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional authorized distributor covering Germany (Idstein), Austria (Brunn am Gebirge), Switzerland (Esslingen), and Poland (Wroclaw).
• Logic Technology BVminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for the Netherlands market, located in Beek.
• Direct Insight Ltd.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based authorized distributor covering Great Britain market, located in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
• Melchioni s.p.a.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian authorized distributor based in Milano.
• ErtisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench authorized distributor based in Bordeaux.
• Steliau Technology Iberia S.L.U.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpanish authorized distributor covering the Iberian Peninsula, based in Barberà del Vallès.
• Strategic Test CorporationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based authorized distributor serving the Boston, MA market.
• ARIES Embedded GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman authorized distributor based in Fürstenfeldbruck.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PHYTEC: German SOM and embedded computing specialist (phyCORE, phyBOARD families) built on NXP i.MX and similar processors. Direct competitor in DACH industrial embedded with comparable engineering-driven GTM and customization depth.
• Toradex: Swiss-headquartered provider of ARM-based System on Modules (Apalis, Colibri, Verdin families) using NXP i.MX and other processors. Closely comparable mid-sized, design-focused SOM competitor with overlapping product philosophy and target customers.
• SECO: Italian-headquartered embedded and edge computing company with COM, SBC, and AI-edge modules based on NXP and other ARM processors. Closely comparable mid-sized European SOM competitor with overlapping industrial customer base.
• congatec: German-headquartered global specialist in Computer-on-Modules (COM Express, SMARC, Qseven) and edge computing platforms. Direct head-to-head competitor with Ka-Ro in industrial embedded SOMs serving OEMs across Europe, North America, and Asia.

Emerging players

• Aries Embedded: German distributor and module integrator focused on industrial SOMs and reference designs. Already listed as a Ka-Ro authorized distributor but also develops competing SOM-based solutions for niche industrial use cases.
• emtrion: German embedded module and EMS house offering SOMs and custom embedded boards. Closely comparable in size, geography, and product mix to Ka-Ro, with overlapping DACH industrial customers and EMS capabilities.
• Variscite: Israeli SOM specialist focused on NXP i.MX-based modules (DART, VAR-SOM, Symphony boards). Comparable product family and NXP silicon dependency, but smaller and more design-engineer-focused than Ka-Ro.

Broad incumbents

• Kontron: Austrian/German-listed industrial computing major with a broad portfolio spanning COMs, SBCs, IoT gateways, and full system solutions. Competes directly with Ka-Ro in COMs but offers a much wider, established portfolio as a multi-decade incumbent.
• Advantech: Taiwan-listed global industrial computing incumbent offering COMs, embedded boards, and full systems. Broader and significantly larger than Ka-Ro but overlaps in the industrial SOM value chain and competes for the same OEM customers.

Others

• MSC Technologies: European embedded computing distributor and integrator, also an Avnet company, stocking COMs and SBCs from multiple brands. Functions both as a potential distributor channel and adjacent competitor to Ka-Ro in industrial SOM supply.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 KARO electronics