Kontron Strengthens its Carrier Board Design Services Program

Top Outsourcing Partner for Customer Specific Embedded Computer Technology

SAN DIEGO/Nuremberg, Germany, November 28, 2007 – At the SPS/IPC/Drives (Hall 7, Booth 7-306) Kontron strengthens its position as a top outsourcing partner for customer specific embedded computer technology. One of the highlights are carrier board designs for computer-on-modules (COMs) with application specific interfaces and industrial functions for automation, entertainment, gaming, telecommunication, medical applications, test and measurement, transportation and POS/POI. The designs are based on the COM standards: COM ExpressTM / ETXexpress, microETXexpress, nanoETXexpress, ETX®, X-board® and DIMM-PC®.

Kontron will present its carrier board design services for OEMs based on different CPU technologies from low-end, low-cost controllers and ultra low power technology to high-end multi-core technology. As a global leader in embedded computing technology, Kontron offers the basis for high-performance and cost-effective individual carrier board designs. This includes carrier boards for PCIe as well as PCI and ISA devices. Different formats, interfaces and functions (e.g. battery management, CAN, DeviceNet, Ethernet, FireWire, touch screen controller, S-ATA, security, sound, SPDIF, storage, USB, UTMS, Video Frame, Grabber and WLAN amongst others) tailor made for the certifications of various vertical markets rounds off the list of features.

With years of experience in the design and production of tailor-made carrier boards, Kontron and its carrier board design partners have established themselves as the world’s top performing outsourcing partner for computer-on-module carrier board designs. Experienced developers implement the latest interface technology on computer-on-module carrier boards. Countless layouts have been successfully developed and produced as series products over the last few years. Numerous customers use Kontron’s Boards & More services in order to optimize the use of their resources for their own core know-how. Close cooperation with the customer’s development team as well as professional and transparent project management during the development phase and whole product life cycle eases the strain even further for customers. They can therefore concentrate on their core-competences whilst at the same time maintaining a clear overview of projects.

Carrier board designs with COMs are interesting for numerous applications since each application gets exactly the carrier board it needs. The alternative would be a completely individual development that costs time and money, is more risky and is less scalable. Carrier board designs reduce the design process significantly, thereby accelerating time-to-market and making the investment in a Kontron carrier board design particularly secure. In addition, evaluation boards and starter kits are available that enable application developers to directly start their software development. Moreover, the designs are always based on valid COM standards. This adds even further security.

A further advantage of having carrier boards developed by Kontron is that OEMs receive their solutions as functionally tested units. Additionally, Kontron offers long term availability for the carrier boards and life cycle management that is in accordance with standard COMs. The service level is thereby significantly higher and more reliable than conventional design houses.

However, if a COM / carrier board solution does not exactly fit the application, full custom designs are also possible for appropriate numbers of units.

For more information on Boards & More, please visit: http://www.kontron.com/boardsandmore

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About Kontron
Kontron designs and manufactures standard-based and custom embedded and communication solutions for OEMs, systems integrators, and application providers in a variety of markets. Kontron engineering and manufacturing facilities, located throughout Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, work together with streamlined global sales and support services to help customers reduce their time-to-market and gain a competitive advantage. Kontron’s diverse product portfolio includes: Computer-on-Modules, SBCs/blades, open-modular platforms and systems, HMIs, and custom capabilities. Kontron is a Premier member of the Intel® Embedded and Communications Alliance and was awarded 2006 Intel Member of the Year. The company is a recent three-time VDC Platinum vendor for Embedded Computer Boards. Kontron is listed on the German TecDAX stock exchange under the symbol "KBC". For more information, please visit: www.kontron.com.

For more information:
Reader contact Americas:
Kontron America Inc.
14118 Stowe Dr
Poway, CA 92064-7147
United States of America
Tel: (888)-294-4558
Fax: (858) 677-0898
sales@us.kontron.com
www.kontron.com

Editor contact Americas:
Richard Pugnier
Kontron America Inc.
14118 Stowe Dr
Poway, CA 92064-7147
United States of America
Tel: (858) 623-3006
Fax: (858) 677-0615
richard.pugnier@us.kontron.com

DIMM-PC®, PISA®, ETX®, ETXexpress® , microETXexpressTMt, X-board®, DIMM-IO® and DIMM-BUS® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Kontron Embedded Modules GmbH. Kontron is trademark or registered trademark of Kontron AG. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks or copyrights by their respective owners and are recognized.