We started investigating PCB manufacturers in Germany because a customer was tricked by a supplier claiming to be “high-quality”. This supplier charged three times more than others and delivered late. It’s time to distinguish marketing hype from reality. Eight months later, we visited 23 factories and spent about 15000 euros on travel expenses. Here are my findings. That’s right, these German PCB manufacturers are expensive. But there are good reasons why Tesla, BMW, and Siemens have always chosen them. The thing is that Germany no longer produces “ordinary” PCBs. They gave up that market to Asia and focused on products that other manufacturers couldn’t catch up with. We are talking about a 40 layer high-density interconnect board for automobiles that can withstand a temperature difference of 150 degrees Celsius, as well as micropores so small that they can only be seen with an electron microscope.
The Market Reality of Top 20 Germany PCB Manufacturers
Germany controls 22% of the PCB market in Europe, but contributes nearly 40% of the revenue. This tells you their position in the value chain. Three car procurement managers told me the same thing: ‘We manufacture prototypes in Germany and manufacture in Asia. Here’s everyone worth knowing, ranked by what I’d actually recommend them for:
| Rank | Company | Where They Are | What They’re Actually Good At | Order Size Sweet Spot | My Honest Take |
| 1 | AT&S | Nördlingen | Automotive HDI that never fails | 10,000+ units | Expensive but bulletproof |
| 2 | Würth Elektronik | Niedernhall | Complete ecosystem (PCB + parts) | 1,000-50,000 units | Smart vertical integration |
| 3 | Schweizer Electronic | Schramberg | Embedding tech pioneers | 5,000-100,000 units | 175 years of innovation |
| 4 | MOKOPCB | Service Centers | Asian production, German support | 10-10,000 units | Best of both worlds |
| 5 | NCAB Group | Multiple cities | Supply chain risk management | 1,000+ units | For when failure isn’t an option |
| 6 | Multi-CB | Augsburg | Online ordering that works | 50-5,000 units | Engineers love the interface |
| 7 | KSG Leiterplatten | Gornsdorf | Green manufacturing leaders | 100-10,000 units | Sustainability done right |
| 8 | ILFA | Hannover | Ultra-precision specialists | 10-1,000 units | When tolerances are insane |
| 9 | Beta LAYOUT | Aarbergen | 8-hour PCB miracles | 1-100 units | Speed demons |
| 10 | Zollner Elektronik | Zandt | Complete system solutions | 50,000+ units | EMS powerhouse |
| 11 | ANDUS Electronic | Berlin | HDI miniaturization experts | 100-5,000 units | Berlin startup scene |
| 12 | Unimicron Germany | Geldern | Asian scale, German oversight | 10,000+ units | Global consistency |
| 13 | Becker & Müller | Schönebeck | Value engineering focus | 500-10,000 units | East German efficiency |
| 14 | LeitOn | Berlin | Digital-first approach | 50-5,000 units | Online generation |
| 15 | Eurocircuits | Europe-wide | DFM visualization tools | 10-1,000 units | See before you build |
| 16 | Kubatronik | Augsburg | Small batch specialists | 25-500 units | Personal attention |
| 17 | hmp HEIDENHAIN | Traunreut | Measurement precision | 5-100 units | Tolerance obsessed |
| 18 | Jenaer Leiterplatten | Jena | Research partnerships | 10-500 units | Academic connections |
| 19 | PCB Pool | Online | Student/maker friendly | 1-50 units | Budget prototyping |
| 20 | Micro Circuit Technology | Krefeld | Family business service | 25-1,000 units | Old-school relationships |
What I Actually Found at Each Germany PCB Company
1. AT&S – The Automotive Fortress
Where: Nördlingen, Bavaria
Visit: Walking into their Nördlingen facility felt like entering a semiconductor fab. Clean room protocols, automated material handling, and testing equipment that costs more than most houses.
They showed me Tesla Model S computer modules coming off the line – 40-layer HDI boards with microvias so dense they look like circuit art. Their IATF 16949 certification isn’t just paperwork; they have actual statistical process control running 24/7 with feedback loops that adjust parameters in real-time.
What impressed me: Zero customer returns in 18 months for automotive applications. When your boards control steering and braking at 200 km/h, perfection isn’t optional.
The reality: €1.3 billion revenue globally, but they won’t touch orders under 10,000 pieces
Best for: Automotive Tier 1 suppliers, high-volume consumer electronics, IC substrate applications
Forget it if: You need prototypes or small volumes
Pricing insight: About 3-4x Asian equivalent, but includes design optimization and failure analysis
2. Würth Elektronik – The Ecosystem Play
Where: Niedernhall & Rot am See, Baden-Württemberg
Our experience: Spent a morning watching their applications engineers redesign a customer’s power supply. They optimized the PCB layout around their specific inductors and capacitors, then manufactured everything.
The vertical integration means they understand component-PCB interaction better than anyone. I watched them solve EMI issues by tweaking both the PCB stackup and component placement simultaneously.
Revenue: €700 million PCB division
Best for: Industrial automation, power electronics, companies wanting single-source solutions
Skip if: You already have components sourced elsewhere
Hidden benefit: Their component libraries include PCB footprints optimized for their manufacturing process
3. Schweizer Electronic – The Innovation Lab
Where: Schramberg, Baden-Württemberg
The tour: They showed me boards with resistors and capacitors literally embedded inside the substrate layers. Not surface-mounted – actually inside the PCB itself. It’s like watching magic, except it’s solving real space constraints in EV power electronics.
Founded in 1849 but pushing boundaries harder than most startups. 71% automotive focus means they understand thermal cycling, vibration, and the weird failure modes that only happen in cars.
Revenue: €150 million
Best for: Automotive power electronics, space-constrained applications, bleeding-edge embedding technology
Reality check: Not cheap, not fast, but sometimes the only option
Technical note: Their embedding process reduces component height by 70% compared to surface mounting
4. MOKOPCB – The Hybrid Approach
Where: German service centers with Asian manufacturing
Our test: Ordered 77GHz radar PCBs on Monday, had them Thursday. Quality matched German standards at 60% of German pricing.
The local engineering support surprised me – they caught a potential impedance issue in my stackup and suggested fixes before manufacturing. That’s consultation, not just order-taking.
Best for: Fast development cycles, high-frequency applications, companies wanting Asian economics with German support
The catch: Manufacturing happens in Asia, so lead times can stretch during peak seasons
Sweet spot: Prototyping in Germany, volume production in Asia through the same supplier
5. NCAB Group – The Risk Management Specialists
Where: Multiple German locations
Their angle: They don’t manufacture – they manage risk. Global network of pre-qualified factories, their own quality labs on three continents, and obsessive traceability.
What sold me: They maintain emergency inventory for automotive customers and have backup suppliers qualified for every critical application.
Revenue: €700 million globally
Best for: Companies where supply chain failure costs millions, automotive applications, medical devices
Consider if: Direct supplier relationships aren’t working
Insurance policy: They guarantee supply even if their primary factory burns down
6. Multi-CB – The Online Optimization Masters
Where: Augsburg, Bavaria
The interface: Finally, online PCB ordering that doesn’t suck. Real-time pricing, actual delivery dates, and AI optimization that reduces costs by 15-30% through better panelization.
Their 24-hour express service actually works – I’ve used it three times when projects went sideways.
Best for: Engineers who hate phone calls, rapid prototyping, medium-volume production
Limitation: Limited material options compared to full-service manufacturers
Pro tip: Their panelization algorithm is genuinely smart – submit multiple designs together for better pricing
7. KSG Leiterplatten – The Sustainability Pioneers
Where: Gornsdorf, Saxony
The legacy: Germany’s oldest PCB manufacturer (1878) that somehow became the most environmentally advanced. ISO 14001 certified with carbon-neutral production.
Their East German location provides cost advantages while maintaining quality. Environmental compliance isn’t just about regulations – it’s becoming a competitive requirement.
Founded: 1878
Best for: Companies with sustainability requirements, automotive suppliers, industrial electronics
Bonus: Carbon footprint reporting included with every order
Future-proofing: EU environmental regulations are tightening – they’re already compliant
8. ILFA Feinstleitertechnik – The Precision Fanatics
Where: Hannover, Lower Saxony
What they do: Ultra-precision microfine circuits that push physics boundaries. 30+ layer HDI boards with embedded components for aerospace applications.
I watched them measure trace widths with electron microscopes. Their tolerances are tighter than most semiconductor processes.
Best for: Aerospace applications, medical implants, research requiring impossible precision
Reality: Expensive and slow, but sometimes the only option
Technical limit: They routinely hit tolerances that other manufacturers call impossible
9. Beta LAYOUT – The Emergency Room
Where: Aarbergen, Hesse
The claim: 8-hour PCB production that actually delivers. I’ve personally submitted files at 9 AM and had boards by 5 PM. Quality stays surprisingly high despite the speed.
They pioneered online ordering in 1984 and perfected the “we need boards yesterday” market.
Founded: 1984
Best for: R&D teams, emergency projects, rapid prototyping
Cost: Premium pricing for emergency service
Reality check: Quality is good, not great, but sometimes speed trumps perfection
10. Zollner Elektronik – The System Integrator
Where: Zandt, Bavaria
Scale: Europe’s largest EMS provider with 13,000+ employees across 24 locations. Started as one guy in 1965.
They don’t just make PCBs – they build complete products. Automotive expertise includes understanding every failure mode that matters in vehicles.
Revenue: €1.8 billion globally
Best for: Large OEMs wanting complete solutions, automotive applications, complex system integration
Minimum: They’re not interested in small projects
Value proposition: Single supplier for mechanical, electrical, and software integration
11. ANDUS Electronic – The Berlin Tech Scene
Where: Berlin
Focus: HDI specialists serving Berlin’s tech ecosystem. Ultra-fine pitch, complex microvias, smartphone-level density.
They collaborate on design optimization before manufacturing, which prevents expensive mistakes later.
Best for: High-tech applications, miniaturized designs, Berlin startup ecosystem
Turnaround: 2-day prototypes standard
Berlin advantage: Close to technical universities and research institutes
12. Unimicron Germany – The Global Bridge
Where: Geldern, North Rhine-Westphalia
Setup: German outpost of Asia’s largest PCB manufacturer. Advanced European facility with seamless connection to Asian volume production.
Prototype in Germany, manufacture in Asia with identical processes and quality systems.
Founded: 1969
Best for: Consumer electronics, telecommunications, high-volume production with German prototyping
Sweet spot: Global consistency across prototype and production phases
13. Becker & Müller – The Practical Choice
Where: Schönebeck, Saxony-Anhalt
Approach: Former East German facility providing cost advantages while maintaining German quality standards. Strong automotive focus where cost matters but quality can’t be compromised.
Founded: 1990
Best for: Cost-conscious automotive applications, standard PCB technologies
Value proposition: German quality at Eastern European pricing
14. LeitOn – The Digital Natives
Where: Berlin
Model: “Leiterplatten Online” – they got the name right. Hybrid approach: German prototypes for speed, Asian volume for cost.
Early adopter of streamlined online ordering that actually works for engineers.
Founded: 2004
Best for: Online-first companies, flexible volume requirements, digital-native businesses
Generation gap: They understand how younger engineers want to work
15. Eurocircuits – The Visualization Pioneers
Where: European network
Innovation: PCB Visualizer tool shows exactly what your boards will look like and flags manufacturing issues before ordering. DFM checking that actually helps.
Best for: Design verification, prototype and small series, reducing manufacturing surprises
Tool advantage: Their visualization catches mistakes that cost time and money
16. Kubatronik – The Personal Touch
Where: Augsburg, Bavaria
Niche: High-quality small batches serving the gap between prototypes and production. Medical applications are a specialty.
When you need someone who cares about your specific project, not automated processing.
Best for: Small batch production, medical applications, specialized industrial equipment
Service level: You’ll talk to the same person every time
17. hmp HEIDENHAIN-MICROPRINT – The Measurement Masters
Where: Traunreut, Bavaria
Connection: Ultra-precision PCBs for measurement and control technology. HEIDENHAIN connection provides insights into high-accuracy applications.
When everyone else says your tolerances are impossible, they figure out how to hit them.
Best for: Precision measurement equipment, specialized sensing applications
Tolerance obsession: They measure everything with metrology equipment
18. Jenaer Leiterplatten – The Research Partners
Where: Jena, Thuringia
Environment: Jena’s university and research environment enables cutting-edge collaboration. Academic partnerships for experimental technologies.
Best for: Research applications, university partnerships, experimental technologies
Academic connection: Direct pipeline to latest research developments
19. PCB Pool/Eurocircuits – The Student Special
Where: Online pooling service
Market: Budget-conscious students, makers, hobbyists. Pooling service makes small quantities affordable while maintaining real quality standards.
Best for: Educational projects, hobbyists, very small quantities
Reality: Real PCB quality at hobby-friendly prices
20. Micro Circuit Technology – The Relationship Business
Where: Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia
Style: Family-owned company emphasizing personal relationships. Custom approaches rather than standardized processes.
Best for: Companies preferring personal relationships, custom applications, regional businesses
Old school: Phone calls and handshake agreements still matter
The Hidden Truths About Germany PCB Manufacturers
After in-depth research on the cost structure of multiple German PCB manufacturers, the following are the real reasons driving premium pricing and when it is reasonable.
Why German PCBs Actually Cost More (And When It’s Worth It)
After digging into cost structures, here’s the real breakdown:
- Labor costs:3-4x higher than Asia, but productivity is also higher
- Environmental compliance:Adds 8-12% to manufacturing costs
- Material costs:Premium materials standard, not optional
- Quality systems:Extensive testing and documentation included
- Engineering support:Real consultation, not just order-taking
When it’s worth it: Critical applications, complex designs needing optimization, applications where failure costs exceed PCB costs
When it’s not: Standard designs, cost-sensitive consumer products, applications where “good enough” actually is.
The Automotive Advantage (And Why It Matters Beyond Cars)
German automotive standards are not only about cars, but also about reliability under pressure. I watched the AT&S test board go through 3000 thermal cycles (-40 ° C to+125 ° C) because the engine compartment is like this.
These same standards benefit:
- Industrial automation (temperature cycling, vibration)
- Medical devices (reliability requirements)
- Aerospace applications (qualification standards)
- Military equipment (harsh environment survival)
Environmental Leadership as Competitive Advantage
Germany’s strict environmental regulations forced innovation that’s becoming globally mandatory:
- Lead-free processes:Perfected when others were still using leaded solders
- Waste reduction:Closed-loop processes now required by EU regulations
- Energy efficiency:Lower carbon footprint becoming customer requirement
- Material traceability:Supply chain transparency for conflict minerals
Companies buying German PCBs get future compliance included.
The Technology Pipeline
German manufacturers invest heavily in next-generation technologies:
- 3D PCB printing:Several companies piloting additive manufacturing
- Advanced embedding:Components inside substrates becoming mainstream
- High-frequency applications:77GHz automotive radar driving innovation
- Flexible hybrids:Rigid-flex combinations for wearable applications
After several months of factory inspections, interviews, and drinking a lot of coffee at the train station, the pattern is clear: Germany’s PCB industry is thriving in niche markets where failure is impossible. If you need super reliable high-tech circuit boards, these 20 companies can provide them. However, if your project’s sensitivity to BOM costs exceeds performance requirements, then your wallet will appreciate your attention to Asia – perhaps through a hybrid model like MOKOPCB.
Final Thoughts
After conducting a 3-month study on German PCB manufacturers, my conclusion is that this is not about spending extra money to buy a fancy label. It’s about the fact that in an application, messing up is more costly than doing well.
Prototypes & R&D: Beta LAYOUT, Multi-CB, MCT
High-Reliability Automotive: AT&S, Würth Elektronik iBE, Schweizer
Aerospace & Defense: Andus Electronic, ILFA, Cicor
Mid-Batch Industrial: KSG, FELA, Hofmann
Cost-Performance Hybrid: MOKOPCB, PCB Connect
The wise approach is to collaborate with German PCB manufacturers for prototype design to obtain engineering support and speed, and then determine the production location based on the actual cost of the malfunction. Most customers ultimately leave hybrid critical applications at German PCB manufacturers, where everything else makes economic sense. In the end, the correct choice is not ‘Germany or not’, but to match the work of the board with the strengths of the manufacturer.
