Printec-DS Keyboard

What Printec-DS Keyboard does

Printec-DS HMI Solutions GmbH, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Steißlingen, Germany, is a privately held manufacturer of industrial keyboards, custom Human-Machine Interface (HMI) systems, and touch solutions. The company designs and produces ruggedized input devices — including plastic, stainless steel, silicone, and capacitive keyboards, membrane keypads, touch tables, and integrated display-HMI panels — engineered to operate in harsh environments (IP65–IP68, IK09 impact resistance, explosion protection). Marine-certified (IEC 60945) silicone keyboards, JOSCAR AU accreditation for defense and aerospace, and automotive-grade (IATF 16949) and medical-grade (ISO 13485) production via its Taiwan partner position Printec-DS across at least ten vertical end markets: industrial manufacturing, marine, medical technology, automotive, food processing, energy, defense/aerospace, and automation.

The company's product architecture combines proprietary switch technologies (long-stroke, short-stroke, silicone mats, capacitive key fields) with custom lighting (light guide film, individual dimmable LED backlighting) and in-house mechanical capabilities (sheet metal, plastic processing, keyboard drawers). Revenue is generated primarily through B2B project-based sales of custom-engineered HMI solutions, with production ranging from single-unit prototypes up to 15,000-unit annual series, complemented by hardware sales of standardized keyboard lines, prototyping/engineering services, and long-tail spare-parts supply extending 10–15 years post-purchase.

Go-to-market is enterprise-direct via a technical sales team with custom quotes, augmented by a worldwide representatives network, a US subsidiary (PDS HMI Solutions Corp., New Jersey), and a Taiwan production partner (Printec HT) for larger series. Marketing relies on trade fairs (e.g., MECSPE 2026 Bologna), LinkedIn/XING/Instagram/Facebook presence, and downloadable brochures. Customers are exclusively commercial/enterprise; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company exports to 58 countries and offers 900+ product variants.

Name

Printec-DS Keyboard

Legal name

Printec-DS HMI Solutions GmbH

Website

https://printecds.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Printec-DS is a German manufacturer, founded in 1983, that designs and produces rugged industrial keyboards, custom HMI systems, and touch solutions for B2B customers across marine, medical, automotive, defense, and industrial automation sectors, exporting to 58 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (33411)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Panel PCs & HMI Terminals (HDACALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

SCADA/HMI Platforms (IMAGABAB), Automotive Instrument Clusters, Displays & HMI Electronics Manufacturing (IMACAJAG)

Keywords

• Industrial keyboards
• HMI systems
• Membrane keypads
• Capacitive touch panels
• Rugged input devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Steißlingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Keyboard Hardware Sales: Sale of standard and custom industrial keyboards including plastic, stainless steel, silicone, and capacitive variants. Products include standard keyboard lines (DS104W, DS86W, W30-W60) and specialized models with protection ratings up to IP68 and IK09.
2. Custom HMI Solutions and Membrane Keyboards: Customized membrane keyboards, complete front panels with integrated displays, and tailored HMI systems. Delivery includes foil, silicone mat, housing, display/LED display, and PCB. Minimum order quantity starts at 1 unit for prototypes, series up to 15,000 units annually.
3. Engineering and Prototyping Services: R&D and prototyping services from concept to production-ready products including 3D design, construction variants, tool construction, and prototype coordination. Lean principles applied with zero-defect policy.
4. Touch System Solutions: Capacitive switches, touch tables with object recognition, media walls, rugged multi-touch systems, custom-shaped touchscreens, and wooden touch tables.
5. Spare Parts and Long-term Support: Long-term spare parts supply extending 10-15 years after purchase, retrofit solutions, and redesign services. Components available even decades after initial purchase, supporting product longevity and sustainability.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Printec-DS HMI Solutions GmbH, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Steißlingen, Germany, develops and manufactures custom industrial keyboards, HMI systems, and touch solutions designed for use in harsh environments. The company produces 900+ product variants in-house, including membrane keyboards, silicone keypads, capacitive switches, and touch panels, and ships to customers in 58 countries across more than ten industrial sectors.

Product overview

Printec-DS offers a comprehensive portfolio of industrial input devices and Human-Machine Interface (HMI) solutions manufactured in Germany. The core product line includes plastic keyboards (DS104W, DS86W, W30-W60), stainless steel keyboards (12T-ES through 108T-ES series), silicone keyboards (DS83S, DS85S, DS105S), marine-certified keyboards (IEC 60945), military keyboards, and stainless steel trackballs. These are complemented by customized HMI solutions including membrane keyboards, custom HMI systems, and display integration services for automotive, medical, and general industrial applications. The touch systems portfolio includes capacitive switches, touch tables with object recognition, media walls, rugged multi-touch displays, custom-shaped touchscreens, and wooden touch tables. The products integrate various switch technologies (long-stroke, short-stroke, silicone rubber, capacitive), backlighting options (LED, light guide), and protection classes (IP65-IP68, IK09, EMC, explosion protection). The company provides complete solutions from concept through prototyping to in-house manufacturing, supporting individual customization from single units to 15,000 pieces annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industrial Keyboards

Quantifiable outcome

• Products certified to IK09 impact protection and IP65-IP68 water/dust protection ratings
• +3 more outcomes

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, minor and core.

• University of SevillastrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2025Academic partnership for industrial PhD program led by Diana Scherz (Marketing Manager at Printec-DS). Research focuses on applying Large Language Models (LLMs) for developing marketing strategies in new markets. Supervised by Dr. Juan Antonio Ortega (University of Sevilla), Thomas Holeczek (Printec-DS), and Dr. Wilhelm Daniel Scherz (HTWG Konstanz).
• HTWG Konstanz (University of Applied Sciences)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2025Academic partner in the industrial PhD program. Supervised by Dr. Wilhelm Daniel Scherz from HTWG Konstanz. Known for excellence in engineering, business, and applied sciences with strong industry connections.
• SolarcomplexminorOthers · 1 February 2019Solar installation company that installed the 100 kW photovoltaic system on Printec-DS's ~1,800 m² roof. System generates ~100,000 kWh annually with ~40,000 kWh used internally.
• PDS HMI Solutions Corp.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS subsidiary headquartered in New Jersey serving North American customers. Established to provide closer support to US customers and reduce delivery times as part of international growth strategy.
• Printec HT (Taiwan)coreTechnology or IntegrationCertified production partner in Taiwan for automotive and membrane solutions. Certified according to EN ISO 13485 (medical devices) and IATF 16949 (automotive). Responsible for larger series production while project planning, development, and quality control remain at the German headquarters.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• InduKey: German manufacturer of industrial keyboards, silicone keyboards, stainless steel keyboards, and membrane input systems. Closest direct peer to Printec-DS with overlapping product portfolio, customer base, and German manufacturing footprint.
• EAO: Swiss-based manufacturer of industrial switches, HMI components, and rugged human-machine interface systems serving rail, machinery, and process industries. Comparable in custom HMI solutions and industrial-grade input devices.
• Bartec: German manufacturer of explosion-proof HMI, industrial keyboards, and operator panels for hazardous-area applications. Comparable in IECEx/ATEX-certified industrial HMI and rugged input devices.
• Storm Interface: UK-based manufacturer of rugged and sealed keyboards and keypads for public access, industrial, military, and marine applications. Comparable in IEC 60945 marine-certified and IP-rated rugged input devices.
• Hoffmann + Krippner: German manufacturer specializing in membrane keyboards, custom HMI front panels, and input systems for medical, industrial, and automotive applications. Direct peer in custom HMI solutions.
• Beijer Electronics: Swedish manufacturer of HMI panels and industrial automation software serving machinery and process industries. Comparable in industrial HMI panels and operator interface terminals.
• iKey (by CTI): US manufacturer of rugged keyboards, pointing devices, and displays for industrial, military, marine, and medical applications. Direct peer in ruggedized input devices for harsh environments.

Broad incumbents

• Siemens: Global industrial automation giant offering SIMATIC HMI panels and industrial PCs. Competes in factory HMI but with vastly broader portfolio, scale, and integrated automation systems.
• Schneider Electric: Global industrial automation incumbent offering Magelis HMI panels, industrial PCs, and PLCs. Overlaps with Printec-DS in factory automation HMI but as part of a much broader automation portfolio.
• Pepperl+Fuchs: German specialist in industrial sensors, explosion protection, and HMI solutions. Comparable in hazardous-area and rugged industrial input devices, but with a much broader process automation portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookde-de.facebook.com/printecds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/printec-ds-keyboard-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/printecds_hmi_solutions

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Printec-DS Keyboard