Approximately six weeks ago, ADLINK Technology, Inc. (New Taipei City, Taiwan) announced the 100% acquisition ofLiPPERT Embedded Computers GmbH (Mannheim, Germany), providing a major increase in market share for modular computing products. (https://www.lippertembedded.de/en/information/news/312-adlink-acquires-lippert.html )
ADLINK’s first major push into the modular computing segment was the firm’s 2008 acquisition of AMPRO Computers, Inc. (San Jose, CA), now doing business as AMPRO by ADLINK. AMPRO, historically, was the inventor and a leading supplier of PC/104 family modules, as well as a pioneer in the field of Computers-on-Modules (COMs). Indeed, AMPRO’s Encore COMs had won several awards, including the EDN Innovation of the Year in 2001, and Electronique’s Electron d’Or in 2002.
Since the 2008 acquisition, the combined firm’s market shares have been quite healthy. VDC estimates that, in 2011, ADLINK held a 6.25% market share in PC/104 Family modules (the number 5 position), a 3.01% share in COMs (the number 8 position), and a 13.69% share in “other stackable” CPU modules (EBX, EPIC), yielding the number three position.
LiPPERT is also a major player in the modular field, particularly in the area of PC/104 Family modules. The firm had an estimated 2011 market share of 3.41%, occupying the number 13 slot. The combined shares of ADLINK and LiPPERT (9.67%) would have given ADLINK the number two slot, second only to the Eurotech Group.
Although LiPPERT has also been active in both the COMs and “other stackables” arenas, the firm’s market shares are substantially smaller; the addition of LiPPERT’s shares to those of ADLINK would not have been sufficient to move the firm higher in rank.
However, both firms bring considerable across-the-board expertise to the table. VDC expects this combination to be quite formidable, particularly in the PC/104 Family field.