Kontron develops and manufactures 5G communication modules ‘Made in Germany’. For automated testing and quality assurance in series production, Kontron is collaborating with NOFFZ Technologies as part of a technology partnership. From 10-13th November, both companies will be presenting their solutions at electronica 2026 in Munich.
Kontron is the only provider worldwide to develop 5G communication modules in Europe and manufacture them in Germany. The modules are developed in Germany, whilst series production is handled by the Kontron Automotive Organisation, which has over 30 years’ experience in manufacturing electronic assemblies for the automotive industry and industrial applications. At its Düsseldorf site, the company produces 5G Automotive Network Access Devices (NADs) and 5G Industrial M.2 communication modules. NOFFZ also brings testing technology expertise from North Rhine-Westphalia to the partnership. As a global specialist in test and automation solutions, the company contributes its many years of experience to the partnership.
The manufacturer is headquartered in Tönisvorst, near Düsseldorf. The collaboration between the two companies demonstrates how the entire value chain – from development through to production and testing – can be realised in Germany and Europe.
As complexity increases and production volumes grow, so too do the demands on quality assurance and traceability. Before dispatch, every module undergoes extensive high-frequency and functional tests, which are time-consuming. To ensure that high volumes can still be manufactured cost-effectively, Kontron and NOFFZ rely on highly parallelised test sequences and robot-assisted automation. Several test specimens are tested simultaneously, enabling short cycle times. The automated quality testing and integrated laser marking document the results of each individual module, thereby ensuring complete traceability. The manufacturing and testing concepts are also scalable for future communication modules.
Use in connected vehicles and the Industrial IoT
Kontron’s 5G NADs form the communication interface in connected vehicles for over-the-air software updates, remote diagnostics, eCall functionality, and future V2X applications. The Industrial M.2 modules are used in Industrial IoT solutions. For both sectors, manufacturing in Europe and resilient supply chains are becoming increasingly important – particularly for critical communication technologies.
Development, manufacturing, and testing from a single source
“With our 5G modules, developed and manufactured in Germany, we are creating the only European offering in the critical automotive infrastructure sector,” says Christoph Caselitz, Executive Vice President Automotive at Kontron. “Through our collaboration with NOFFZ, we are expanding our development and manufacturing expertise to include automated test solutions, enabling us to guarantee absolute quality and traceability even with high production volumes.”
“Complex communication modules place high demands on automated testing. Parallelisation and automation enable short cycle times, a wide range of variants and seamless traceability,” says Markus Solbach, Managing Partner at NOFFZ Technologies. “Together with Kontron, we are demonstrating that Europe can cover the entire value chain for 5G – from development through to series production.”
Kontron and NOFFZ at electronica 2026
At electronica 2026, both companies will provide information on the latest developments in 5G communication modules. Other topics include wireless technology, antenna solutions, non-terrestrial networks (NTN) and satellite communications, as well as manufacturing technologies and automated test systems.
In addition, Kontron will be presenting its Electronics² portfolio at electronica and showcasing its global development and manufacturing capabilities in Europe, North America and Asia.
Kontron will be exhibiting in Hall A1, Stand 449, from 10 to 13 November 2026. NOFFZ will be presenting its solutions in Hall A4, Stand 418. Experience the NOFFZ UTP 9090 Kontron system via VR headsets and discuss innovative RF adaptations and cutting-edge RF technologies with experts.
