MICHEL ITC – The specialized technology partner for custom-made HMI and display systems & precision industrial labeling

MICHEL ITC is a specialized technology partner, founded in early 1989, focusing on providing custom-made Human-Machine Interface (HMI) solutions and advanced display systems. With a team of 15-25 experienced professionals, the company acts as a strategic supplier for OEMs and manufacturers requiring precisely designed interface solutions that go beyond standard products.

The company operates at the intersection of industrial design, embedded systems engineering, and excellent manufacturing. They pride themselves on their flexible approach to product development and work closely with customers, from the initial concept to full production and after-sales support.

What are the company's main activities?

MICHEL ITC is active in four core technology domains:

Custom HMI solutions: Custom-made HMI systems designed to meet specific operational requirements, environmental conditions, and user experience. Our solutions integrate seamlessly with existing control architectures and production processes.

Display systems: Advanced display technologies, designed for demanding industrial environments. We offer solutions ranging from standard LCD/TFT screens to specialized configurations with improved durability, readability, and performance.

Input systems: Comprehensive input solutions, including membrane keyboards, capacitive touch interfaces, silicone switches, and hybrid input systems. All products are designed with attention to ergonomics and haptics, environmental resistance, and long-term reliability.

Labeling solutions: We offer our customers a total solution for outsourcing their labeling strategy to us as their designated partner. Durable, high-quality labeling systems, including metal substrate plates, that withstand industrial conditions while simultaneously guaranteeing readability and compliance with regulatory requirements. Our labeling solutions integrate aesthetically and functionally with the overall product design.

What is the latest news regarding new products/services?

In 2025-2026, MICHEL ITC expands its capabilities in several key areas:

Improved environmental resistance: New HMI solutions specifically designed for extreme temperatures, high humidity environments, and applications requiring an IP67+ protection rating, particularly for outdoor use and harsh industrial conditions.

Smart integration options: Development of HMI systems with enhanced connectivity features, including IoT integration, remote diagnostics, and cloud-based monitoring capabilities to support Industry 4.0 initiatives.

Rapid prototyping: Extensive capabilities for rapid prototype development, allowing customers to validate designs and user experiences before moving to full production.

Sustainable materials: Introduction of eco-friendly material options and design approaches that support clients' sustainability goals without compromising performance or sustainability.

What is the product/service offering?

Our extensive range covers the entire product development cycle:

Consultancy & Design Services

• Requirements analysis and development of technical specifications
• Industrial design and user experience optimization
• Design for Production (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA)

Production and manufacturing

• Development of custom-made tools and molds
• Production in small to large volumes
• Quality assurance and test protocols

Logistics and support

• Global logistics coordination and delivery management
• Technical after-sales support and warranty services
• Product life cycle management and obsolescence planning

What is the state of the market in which you are currently active?

The market for HMI and display solutions is currently growing strongly, driven by several converging factors. Industrial automation continues to accelerate, with manufacturers across all sectors investing in equipment modernization and digital transformation initiatives. This creates sustained demand for advanced, reliable interface solutions.

Our target sectors are showing particularly strong growth:

MedTech: Regulatory medical devices require highly reliable, intuitive interfaces. Recent customer successes demonstrate that we can meet stringent standards for medical and professional equipment.

Industrial and commercial kitchen supplies: Manufacturers of professional kitchen equipment demand solutions that withstand extreme temperatures, moisture, and intensive daily use, while maintaining precise control capabilities.

AgriTech: Smart farming and precision farming equipment requires robust, weather-resistant interfaces that function reliably under challenging outdoor conditions.

Smart home and building automation: The growing demand from consumers and businesses for integrated building management systems is leading to an increasing need for aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly control interfaces.

Infrastructure for charging electric vehicles: The rapid expansion of the electric vehicle charging network is creating demand for sustainable, vandal-resistant HMI solutions suitable for public installations.

Supply chain dynamics remain complex, with component availability and delivery times requiring careful planning. Our established relationships with suppliers and our inventory management strategies enable us to meet these challenges.

What can you tell us about market trends?

Several key trends are reshaping the landscape of HMI and display solutions:

Technological evolution

Touch-First Design: The migration from mechanical buttons to capacitive touch- and gesture-based interfaces continues, driven by user expectations arising from consumer electronics. However, industrial applications still require attention to operation with gloves, wet conditions, and tactile feedback.

Advances in display technology: Displays with higher resolution, improved readability in sunlight thanks to improved bonding technologies, and wider viewing angles are increasingly becoming the standard. OLED and miniLED technologies are beginning to penetrate industrial applications where their advantages justify the higher costs. E-ink technology with 1 to 5 colors has improved significantly and offers very low battery consumption for displays with long operating times or large dimensions.

Connectivity integration: IoT connectivity, remote monitoring, and predictive maintenance capabilities are increasingly considered standard features rather than optional extras.

Dynamics in the sector

• Adaptation requirements: OEMs are increasingly striving for differentiation through unique user experiences and brand interfaces. This trend favors specialized suppliers such as MICHEL ITC, who can deliver truly custom solutions, over suppliers of standard components.
• Emphasis on sustainability: Environmental considerations are shifting from a desirable to a mandatory requirement. Customers seek suppliers who can demonstrate that they use sustainable materials, employ energy-efficient designs, and that products are recyclable at the end of their life cycle. MICHEL ITC's ISO 9001-certified supply chain offers significant transparency for low-impact components.
• Shorter development cycles: Competitive pressure demands a faster time-to-market. Suppliers who can shorten development time while maintaining quality gain a significant competitive advantage. With a dedicated team in Shanghai, China, and direct relationships with manufacturers, MICHEL ITC helps shorten the development time from prototype to series production. Independent project development is possible thanks to the wide variety of certified production partners in the supply chain.
• Complexity of the regulations: Increasing regulations in various sectors (particularly medical technology, railways, the automotive industry, and consumer safety) require suppliers to demonstrate in-depth expertise and documentation regarding compliance. Our validated supply chain, which operates according to ISO 9001 protocols, guarantees regulatory alignment across multiple product categories. Additionally, MICHEL ITC has launched a Digital Product Passport (DPP) initiative to future-proof products in anticipation of new EU regulations.

What are the most innovative products/services being brought to market?

MICHEL ITC's most innovative recent solutions include:

Hybrid input systems: Proprietary designs that combine capacitive touch control with physical feedback mechanisms, providing the intuitive experience of touch interfaces while maintaining the tactile confirmation and reliability that are crucial in professional applications. Successfully applied in commercial kitchen equipment operating in environments with high temperatures and high humidity.

Displays for extreme conditions: Custom-made display solutions designed to operate reliably at temperatures from -40 °C to +85 °C, featuring optical bonding techniques that prevent condensation and maintain readability in direct sunlight. Particularly relevant for agricultural machinery and outdoor applications.

Modular HMI architecture: A platform-based design approach that allows customers to use a common core architecture while simultaneously customizing specific elements. This significantly reduces development time and costs for product families, while maintaining brand differentiation.

Smart diagnostic integration: HMI systems with built-in QR code diagnostics monitor component status, predict maintenance needs, and provide detailed error messages. This supports customers' transition to service-oriented business models and improves customer satisfaction through reduced downtime. The digital product passport initiative not only ensures compliance with future EU regulations but also offers customers valuable, detailed information.

What estimates do you have for early 2026?

MICHEL ITC enters 2026 with a strong impetus and positive expectations on multiple fronts:

Growth forecasts

We expect revenue growth of 15-25% in the first half of 2026, primarily driven by:

• Expansion of existing customer relationships, whereby various large accounts increase their order volumes as their products gain more market share.
• Acquiring new customers in the EV charging and smart buildings sectors, where our technical capabilities align well with emerging needs. Our strong expertise in rail/transport, MedTech, AgriTech, and industrial catering technology will build a diverse customer base across multiple fast-growing sectors.
• Geographic expansion outside the traditional DACH region, particularly targeting Northern European and British markets where demand for high-quality, custom-made solutions remains strong.

Strategic initiatives

• Development of partner networks: We actively build strategic partnerships with complementary technology suppliers (PCB manufacturers, embedded systems specialists, industrial designers, engineering firms) to offer more complete solutions and reach a broader customer base.
• Expansion of the engineering team: Planned recruitment of 2-3 additional engineers in the first/second quarter of 2026 to support the increased project volume and to accelerate the development of new products.
• Improvement of production capacity: Continued growth of certified and audited production partners.

Market opportunities

The confluence of regulatory requirements, sustainability demands, and technological advancements creates a favorable climate for specialized HMI suppliers. Companies that can manage complex requirements while simultaneously delivering innovative, reliable solutions are well-positioned to capture market share from larger, but less flexible competitors.

MICHEL ITC's core strength lies in close customer relationships and a deep understanding of customer needs. This enables a direct translation of customer requirements into production execution. The company guides customers through the entire development process and combines multiple production capacities to deliver fully integrated HMI solutions. This end-to-end approach represents a significant competitive advantage and a growth opportunity.

Our focus on building long-term partnerships rather than transactional relationships, combined with our technical expertise and production flexibility, positions MICHEL ITC as a preferred supplier for demanding top brands and OEMs that view their HMI systems as strategic differentiators rather than standard components.

Challenges and measures to mitigate the risks

We remain aware of possible headwinds:

• Delivery of components: We remain vigilant regarding the availability of displays and semiconductors, using double purchasing strategies and strategic inventory management.
• Talent recruitment: Competition for qualified engineers remains fierce. We are tackling this through improved working conditions and collaborations with technical universities.
• Economic uncertainty: Although our target sectors are demonstrating resilience, we maintain operational flexibility to adjust capacity to market conditions.