PrehKeyTec
PrehKeyTec GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer of customized programmable, silicone, and glass keyboards, OCR scanners, and DIN connectors, serving B2B customers across retail, office, aviation, manufacturing, healthcare, banking, and military verticals globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersBuffalo Grove, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What PrehKeyTec does
PrehKeyTec GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer of specialized data input hardware, headquartered in Mellrichstadt, Bavaria, with a dedicated sales office in Buffalo Grove, Illinois serving the Americas. The company designs, develops, and produces in-house five core product families: programmable keyboards (MCI/MSI/MC/MW series), IP66-rated silicone keyboards (SIK), hygienic glass keyboards (GIK/HospiTouch), OCR scanners with magnetic stripe and RFID (ML series), and DIN connectors. Its devices integrate reading and identification modules — MSR, smart card (ISO 7816, EMV), NFC (ISO 14443/15693/18092), RFID, fingerprint biometrics (FIPS-201), and barcode/OCR — and ship with proprietary configuration and integration software including WinProgrammer, MapMyKey, PKTUSBAPI (C#/.NET), MWXUSB.DLL, and OPOS/JavaPOS drivers.
Underlying capability is end-to-end vertical integration: ECAD, firmware, mechanical design, plastics/silicone/glass material engineering, prototyping, assembly, and lifetime support are all performed in-house, with 25% of staff in R&D and a domestic test laboratory. The company targets B2B buyers in nine named verticals — retail/POS, office, aviation, manufacturing & logistics, healthcare, banking, restaurants, emergency vehicles, and military technology — through a direct sales motion out of Germany and the US, complemented by OEM providers, system builders, and reseller partners.
The revenue model is hardware sales, sold both as catalog items and as custom/bespoke configurations with quote-based pricing; no public pricing is disclosed. Distribution and demand generation run through the direct German HQ and US sales office, trade show participation (notably NRF and IndiAirport), content marketing (blog, case studies), and a presence on LinkedIn, XING, Facebook, and YouTube. Ownership sits with PKT Verwaltungs GmbH as holding company, with Erik Miersch identified as managing director/shareholder; no external institutional investment is disclosed.
PrehKeyTec firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PrehKeyTec
- Legal name
- PrehKeyTec GmbH
- Website
- https://prehkeytec.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- PrehKeyTec GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer of customized programmable, silicone, and glass keyboards, OCR scanners, and DIN connectors, serving B2B customers across retail, office, aviation, manufacturing, healthcare, banking, and military verticals globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PrehKeyTec industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Data Input Hardware
- akta.pro primary industry
- Keyboards & Keypads (HDACAFAA)
Keywords
Where PrehKeyTec is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Buffalo Grove
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
PrehKeyTec business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: PrehKeyTec generates revenue primarily through the sale of physical data entry hardware products including programmable keyboards (MCI, MC, MW series), silicone keyboards (SIK series), glass keyboards (GIK, HospiTouch), OCR scanners (ML series), and DIN-connectors. Products are sold as standard catalog items and as customized/bespoke solutions tailored to specific customer requirements.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
PrehKeyTec product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PrehKeyTec GmbH designs and manufactures customized data entry hardware solutions, including programmable keyboards (MCI, MSI, MC, MW series), rugged silicone keyboards (SIK series), hygienic glass keyboards (GIK, HospiTouch), OCR scanners (ML series), and DIN-connectors. The company develops the underlying electronics, firmware, mechanical design and configuration software in-house and offers both catalog products and fully bespoke designs for retail/POS, office, aviation, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, banking, military, and emergency vehicle applications.
Product overview
PrehKeyTec is a German manufacturer of customized data entry solutions comprising five core product families: Programmable Keyboards (MCI/MSI/MC/MW series) offering customizable layouts with software configuration tools (WinProgrammer, MapMyKey) and optional integrated modules (MSR, OCR, fingerprint, display); Silicone Keyboards (SIK series) providing rugged IP66-rated waterproof input devices for industrial and healthcare use; Glass Keyboards (GIK/HospiTouch) delivering hygienic easy-clean surfaces for sterile environments; OCR Scanners (ML series) for document scanning and biometric ID reading; and DIN-Connectors for electronic connectivity. The company serves diverse industry verticals including retail/POS, office, restaurants, aviation, manufacturing/logistics, emergency vehicles, banking, and military technology, with a focus on customized solutions tailored to specific application requirements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Programmable Keyboards (MCI, MSI, MC, MW Series) Customizable programmable keyboards for POS, office and industrial applications with programmable key layouts, software-based configuration and optional integrated modules (MSR, OCR, fingerprint, display). Models include MCI 30, MCI 60, MSI 60, MCI 84, MCI 96, MCI 111, MCI 128, MCI 3100, MC 147, MC 147 A and MW 820.
- Silicone Keyboards (SIK Series) Rugged, waterproof silicone keyboards with IP66 protection for manufacturing, logistics and healthcare. Closed surfaces are resistant to liquids, cleaning agents and disinfectants. Models include SIK 21 (waterproof), SIK 65 (backlit logistic) and SIK 2500 (industrial, available in black and white).
- Glass Keyboards (GIK 2700, HospiTouch) Hygienic glass-surface keyboards with closed, easy-to-clean design available in black or white, resistant to acid and hand perspiration, suitable for sterile environments. Includes the GIK 2700 standard model and the HospiTouch healthcare-specific variant.
- OCR Scanner (ML 2) OCR scanner with magnetic stripe reader for fast document scanning. Reads 1D and 2D barcodes, travel documents conforming to ICAO 9303, captures document photographs and supports ePassport/eID reading via integrated RFID. Available as standard ML 2 and ML 2 A airline variants.
- DIN-Connectors DIN connectors offered as receptacles, cord plugs and couplings. RoHS-compliant specifications have been available since August 2005 with modified material numbering for traceability.
- Keyboard Mount with VESA Adapter Plate VESA-compatible mounting accessory for the entire PrehKeyTec keyboard range, with metric threads for VESA mounting brackets. Introduced as a new product in 2024.
- WinProgrammer Configuration Software System-wide, software-independent configuration utility for creating key assignments, key labels and shortcut key sequences directly in PrehKeyTec programmable keyboard firmware. Runs on Windows and includes templates and a C2K download utility.
- MapMyKey Software Windows background software for application-dependent key sequence and shortcut configuration on PrehKeyTec programmable keyboards, supporting application-specific keystrokes, launching of applications and opening of web pages.
- PKTUSBAPI Software Library Software library (V5.2.0.03, July 2025) written in C# with .NET Framework 4.0 for direct communication with PrehKeyTec USB devices and modules (MSR, Keylock, OCR, LCD), supporting multiple devices in parallel with event handling on Windows 32-bit and 64-bit.
Quantifiable outcome
- Programmable keyboards enabled law firm staff to perform accounting and financial statement tasks significantly faster, calling up evaluations and adding clients directly via programmed keys instead of mouse navigation in DATEV accounting software.
Companies that use PrehKeyTec
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
PrehKeyTec technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability2 records
Feature10 records
PrehKeyTec partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
PrehKeyTec competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Man & Machine, Inc. US-based maker of waterproof, washable, and medical-grade keyboards and mice; overlaps directly with PrehKeyTec's silicone and glass keyboard lines serving healthcare, laboratory, and industrial customers.
- Cherry SE: German-based keyboard and input device manufacturer with a comparable heritage in mechanical, industrial, and POS keyboards; competes head-to-head with PrehKeyTec in programmable and ruggedized keyboard segments across Europe.
- GETT Gerätetechnik GmbH: Specialist manufacturer of industrial, medical, and hygienic input devices including silicone and glass keyboards; directly comparable in ruggedized/clean-room use cases and verticals such as healthcare and manufacturing.
- iKey (Stealth Computer Corporation): Manufacturer of rugged keyboards, mice, and displays for industrial, military, and medical markets; highly comparable in rugged form factors, backlit/night-vision models, and MIL-spec positioning.
- Adesso, Inc. Computer peripherals vendor offering programmable POS keyboards and input devices; competes with PrehKeyTec at the more standardized end of the programmable keyboard spectrum.
Emerging players
- Elo Touch Solutions: Touchscreen POS and self-service kiosk provider; represents the touchscreen substitution dynamic for PrehKeyTec's traditional keyboard form factor in retail and hospitality deployments.
Broad incumbents
- Logitech International S.A. Global peripherals giant with broad keyboard portfolio; while primarily consumer/office, it competes in enterprise and specialty ergonomic keyboards, where PrehKeyTec's programmable and rugged lines also operate.
- Star Micronics Co., Ltd. Established POS peripherals vendor (printers, scanners, customer displays) that competes for the same POS integrator budget and increasingly offers bundled input peripherals alongside PrehKeyTec's category.
- NCR Voyix Corporation: Large POS and hospitality hardware/software vendor whose enterprise deployments absorb peripheral purchasing decisions; competes indirectly by offering integrated stacks that can displace third-party programmable keyboards.
- Posiflex Technology, Inc. POS terminal and peripherals manufacturer with broader hardware scope; relevant because Posiflex bundles POS keyboards into full POS solutions, competing with PrehKeyTec at the system-integration layer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
PrehKeyTec social profiles
Digital presencePrehKeyTec compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
PrehKeyTec financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PrehKeyTec leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
PrehKeyTec funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PrehKeyTec 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 PrehKeyTec
What does PrehKeyTec do?
PrehKeyTec GmbH designs and manufactures customized data entry hardware solutions, including programmable keyboards (MCI, MSI, MC, MW series), rugged silicone keyboards (SIK series), hygienic glass keyboards (GIK, HospiTouch), OCR scanners (ML series), and DIN-connectors. The company develops the underlying electronics, firmware, mechanical design and configuration software in-house and offers both catalog products and fully bespoke designs for retail/POS, office, aviation, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, banking, military, and emergency vehicle applications.
Is PrehKeyTec a public or private company?
PrehKeyTec is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was PrehKeyTec founded?
PrehKeyTec was founded in 2004. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is PrehKeyTec based?
PrehKeyTec is headquartered in Buffalo Grove, United States, in the North America region.
How does PrehKeyTec make money?
One revenue line is on record: hardware Sales.
Who are PrehKeyTec's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Man & Machine, Inc., Cherry SE, GETT Gerätetechnik GmbH, iKey (Stealth Computer Corporation) and Adesso, Inc.. Elo Touch Solutions is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Logitech International S.A., Star Micronics Co., Ltd., NCR Voyix Corporation and Posiflex Technology, Inc..
Does PrehKeyTec have an API?
Yes. PrehKeyTec offers multiple APIs for device integration: PKTUSBAPI (V5.2.0.03, July 2025) enables direct communication with USB devices and modules (MSR, Keylock, OCR, LCD) on Windows x32/x64 via C#/.NET Framework 4.x; MWXUSB.DLL (V4.16.0.0) enables direct communication with USB keyboards and modules within MS Windows applications; MWX Function DLL (V4.01) for PS/2 keyboards. Additionally supports OPOS (Object Push Application Service) and JavaPOS industry standards for POS device integration on Windows and Linux, controlling PosKeyboard, MSR, Keylock, ToneIndicator, Line Display, and Scanner modules. Developer documentation is at www.prehkeytec.com/support/keyboards.
What industry is PrehKeyTec in?
PrehKeyTec's product category is Data Input Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDACAFAA, Keyboards & Keypads.