Success Stories
Here are some major success stories over the years. Due to the specificity of the targeted markets of our clients - especially concerning the Japanese market that requires perseverance, tenacity and diligence - we, at EFE, are looking for long term partnerships and are usually representing a limited number of clients at the same time.
| KW-Software GmbH | (1996 - 2013) | Supplier of Software for the Automation Manufacturers | |
| Digital-Logic AG | (2006 - 2009) | "x86" Embedded Computers Manufacturer | |
| PASS Engineering GmbH | (2004 - 2008) | Supplier of PASSOLO, a Software Localization Tool | |
| Hilscher GmbH | (2003 - 2006) | Communication Hardware & Software Manufacturer | |
| Gespac SA | (1990 - 2000) | Board Computers Manufacturer |
KW-Software GmbH (1996 - 2013)
a PHOENIX CONTACT company
- A German company located in Lemgo, near Hanover
- Supplier of software for the automation market
- Known for its SoftPLC products (compliant to the Standard IEC 61131), Safety related products (up to SIL3) and various Profinet (Industrial Ethernet communication protocol) products (software & hardware)
- EFE did lead the business development of KW-Software in Japan, China (up to 2005) and Taiwan (up to 2009)
EFE did also take care of the localization in Japanese and Chinese of the software supplied by KW-Software
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Results
Japan
- The products of KW-Software are used, for their PLCs and Controllers, by major Japanese manufacturers
- In order to strengthen its local presence, a fully owned Japanese subsidiary is established in 2010
- The business is fully transferred to this Japanese subsidiary during the year 2013
China
- Started, in the year 2000, by widely promoting the Standard IEC 61131 with the collaboration of the Chinese association CAMETA
- In December, 2004, the “KW-Software GmbH Representative Office” is established in Shanghai, with 2 Chinese employees
- The business is fully transferred to this Representative Office during the year 2005
Digital-Logic AG (2006 - 2009)
- A Swiss company located in Solothurn (between Bern, Basel and Zurich)
- Developer and manufacturer of small form factor computer systems – ‘Computer on Modules’, PC/104 boards, fan less boxes etc. – based on the Intel Architecture (x86)
- EFE acted as a ‘Business Developer’ of Digital‐Logic for the Japanese market
(up to the takeover, in the end of 2009, by Kontron) - In 2014, EFE is still selling products to some specific customers
PC/104 products  Computer On Module 
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Industrial computers "Vehicle" systems  |
Results
- Mid of 2007 (1 year after the start of this venture): we created a 1st sales network of 2 distributors
- 2nd part of 2007: start of the sales
- In the end of 2009, we got a list of about 30 Japanese customers active in the same fields - transportation, military, automotive, testing, etc. - where Digital-Logic was also active worldwide
ESEC - May, 2009 in Tokyo
PASS Engineering GmbH (2004 - 2008)
- A German company located in Bonn
- Supplier of PASSOLO, a 'Software Localization Tool' (for localizing the User Interface, Dialogs and Error messages)
- EFE was the exclusive partner of PASS Engineering in Japan and a distributor for China
- All the business had been fully transferred to SDL Japan in 2009 (after the takeover by SDL UK of PASS Engineering)
TC Symposium – Sept. 2005 in Tokyo
Hilscher GmbH (2003 - 2006)
- A German company located in Frankfurt
- Developer and manufacturer of ‘Industrial Communication’ hardware & software for the automation market
Results
Japan
- 2003 - 2005: sales and market study
- End of 2005: establishment of Hilscher Japan, with 2 employees, in Tokyo
China
- 2004 - 2006: sales and market study
- End of 2006: an “Hilscher Representative Office” is established in Shanghai
Gespac SA (1990 - 2000)
- A Swiss company located in Geneva
- Developer and manufacturer of industrial boards for embedded systems and real time applications
Results
- EFE established a network of distributors in China, Taiwan, Korea and Malaysia (1 distributor per country) and a network of 3 re-sellers in Japan
- Result in 1994 (after 4 years): 10% of the worldwide turnover of Gespac come from Asia
- In 2014, EFE is still selling products to one of its first customer acquired more than 20 years ago!