Augsburg-based Kontron has clinched a substantial contract worth €120 million to supply wall box charging stations to a prominent German automotive manufacturer. The order, facilitated through Kontron’s subsidiary eSystems, entails the development and manufacturing of fully networked wall boxes tailored for the European and Chinese markets.
According to Kontron, production under the contract is slated to commence in the third quarter of 2024 and extend through 2028. The wall boxes, based on eSystems’ ghostONE platform, will feature advanced connectivity capabilities including Ethernet, LTE, WiFi, and support for industry standards like EEBUS, MODBUS/TCP, OCPP, and ISO15118.
Jochen Paukert, Managing Director of eSystems, highlighted the innovation behind their wall boxes, stating, “Our fully networked wallbox can do ‘smart charging next level’. Charging an electric car is then not just a matter of refueling with electricity. Our wallbox enables the safe integration of renewable energy into the grid, the use of self-generated PV power and lower costs thanks to dynamic tariffs.”
The strategic acquisition of eSystems earlier this year, as part of Kontron’s takeover of Munich-based electronics firm Katek, positioned Kontron to secure such high-profile projects. This latest contract marks the second major initiative in smart charging systems for Kontron, following a recent approval for contracts valued at over €200 million.
Kontron CEO Hannes Niederhauser emphasized the significance of these developments, stating, “These major orders show: Our ’smart charging’ business unit is a central and extremely value-adding component in our portfolio. With this new project, we are further strengthening our growth in this forward-looking area.”
Kontron, under the ownership of Austrian company S&T since 2017, has underscored its strategic importance in the smart technology sector, bolstered by partnerships including Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn.
