APEM SAS, part of the IDEC Group, and Alps Alpine Europe have announced a partnership to develop industrial human machine interface solutions, combining their respective expertise in response to growing industry demand for connectivity, automation, electrification and improved operator ergonomics.
The partnership will initially focus on the material handling sector, driven by growth in e-commerce, warehouse automation and last-mile logistics, before extending to off-highway vehicles, industrial machinery and other segments where ergonomics, connectivity and durability are increasingly important factors.
The two companies already have an established relationship through a joint venture in Japan. APEM specializes in rugged industrial HMIs with experience across demanding industrial markets; Alps Alpine Europe will contribute automotive-grade engineering, advanced electronics hardware and software development and high-volume production capabilities. The companies say that together they will help customers develop highly integrated HMI systems that meet the robustness, reliability and quality demands of industrial environments.
The collaboration is intended to deliver fully integrated HMI systems, including armrests, cockpits, dashboards, tiller heads and modular interface panels, developed as cohesive solutions rather than assemblies of discrete parts. Automotive-grade engineering practices will be applied to industrial robustness requirements, with sensing, connectivity and digital services embedded directly into the hardware.
Alps Alpine’s European manufacturing locations will support shorter supply chains and faster development timelines on complex programs. The partnership will also offer customers a single point of contact, reducing the complexity of managing multiple suppliers.
“Industrial customers are increasingly looking for HMI solutions that combine reliability, advanced functionality and scalability,” said Marc Enjalbert, CEO, APEM.
“By working very closely together, APEM and Alps Alpine Europe can align their complementary strengths to support customers more effectively in realizing their ambitions for future concepts with a dramatically higher level of functional integration — without sacrificing on robustness and quality,” said Sascha Kunzmann, president of Alps Alpine Europe.
The companies have established a joint team composed of members from both companies. The team’s mission is to engage with customers, identify new project opportunities and support the development of future integrated HMI platforms ahead of industrial launch.
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