At Embedded World 2025 in Nuremberg, Kontron presented a broad industrial-IoT portfolio rather than a single headline launch. Its March 11–13 showcase covered AI-based network security, Ethernet switching, embedded boards and computer-on-modules, IoT software, industrial computers, and development and production services. The clearest takeaway: Kontron was showing pieces of a connected stack, from security and compute hardware to deployment and fleet-management tools.
What Kontron presented at Embedded World 2025
The event took place March 11–13, 2025, at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre. Kontron listed its stand as Hall 3, Booth 159. The company’s February 17, 2025 announcement described a portfolio spanning hardware, software and services across the value chain; its event material also listed product and service updates beyond the headline announcements.
Embedded World Exhibition & Conference reported almost 1,200 exhibitors from 46 countries and around 32,000 visitors for the 2025 event. That scale helps explain the breadth of Kontron’s display: it addressed designers choosing modules and boards, operators deploying industrial systems, and OEMs seeking software or production support.
AI-based security was the headline capability
Kontron described an intrusion-detection and firewall solution designed to monitor network traffic, detect threats in encrypted streams, block attacks and analyze previously unknown patterns. These are capabilities Kontron attributed to the solution in its February 17 announcement; the release does not provide independent test results, detection rates or deployment benchmarks.
#1 Best Overall
- ✅【High-Performance ESP32-S3 Processor】Powered by the ESP32-S3 dual-core Xtensa LX7 processor with up to 240MHz clock speed, this development board features 16MB Flash and 8MB PSRAM. It provides powerful performance for IoT devices, embedded systems, AI applications and advanced DIY projects.
- ✅【Pre-Soldered GPIO Headers for Easy Use】The board comes with pre-soldered GPIO headers, eliminating the need for manual soldering. It can be directly connected to breadboards, sensors and expansion modules, making project setup faster and more convenient for makers and developers.
- ✅【WiFi & Bluetooth 5.0 Wireless Connectivity】Built-in 2.4GHz WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 enable stable wireless communication for smart home, automation and IoT applications. The reserved IPEX antenna connector allows optional external antenna installation for different project requirements.
- ✅【Large Memory & Flexible Development】With 16MB Flash and 8MB PSRAM, this ESP32-S3 board provides more storage and memory resources for complex firmware, graphical interfaces, OTA updates and data-intensive applications.
- ✅【Arduino IDE, ESP-IDF & MicroPython Support】Compatible with Arduino IDE, ESP-IDF and MicroPython development environments. With dual USB-C interfaces and rich expansion options, it is suitable for robotics, sensors, automation and embedded system development.
K3881-C and K3882-C
The K3881-C was presented with 10GbE and 5G support. The K3882-C was positioned for standard server applications. Kontron did not specify additional processor, memory, physical-interface or performance details for these models in the announcement. The two model descriptions therefore establish different intended deployment contexts, but not enough detail for a like-for-like hardware performance comparison.
Compute and networking options
The board and module announcements serve different design needs: Pi-Tron CM5 and BL i.MX93 are embedded boards, while JUMPtec’s COM Express, COM-HPC and SMARC products are modular computer platforms. KSwitch M20 addresses networking rather than general-purpose compute.
| Product or family | Processor or architecture | AI capability | Networking or form factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| BL Pi-Tron CM5 | Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 is the CPU unit | Not stated in Kontron’s February 17, 2025 announcement | Industrial board; further interface details not stated in that announcement |
| BL i.MX93 | i.MX93 processor | MicroNPU for energy-efficient machine-learning workloads | Board; further networking and expansion details not stated in Kontron’s February 17, 2025 announcement |
| JUMPtec COM Express, COM-HPC and SMARC modules | Intel, AMD, ARM and TI processors across the presented modules | Varies by processor; not specified by module in the event summary | Computer-on-module standards; Kontron also presented baseboard design and production services |
| KSwitch M20 | Not stated in Kontron’s February 17, 2025 announcement | Not stated in that announcement | Modular L2/L3 Ethernet switch module; bandwidth up to 100 gigabits per second |
BL Pi-Tron CM5: Compute Module 5 in an industrial board
BL Pi-Tron CM5 uses Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 as its CPU unit and is intended for demanding industrial environments. For designers, the key distinction is that the Compute Module provides the processing core while Kontron supplies the board-level platform. The announcement does not detail environmental ratings, connectors, expansion options or whether a particular CM5 configuration is included, so those points need checking against the specific board documentation before a design decision.
BL i.MX93: an embedded board with a microNPU
Kontron said BL i.MX93 adds a microNPU for energy-efficient machine-learning workloads. That makes it the clearest board in this announcement for readers looking specifically for onboard AI acceleration. The material does not name supported models, software frameworks, throughput or power figures, so the microNPU should be understood as a stated hardware feature—not evidence of a particular inference performance level.
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JUMPtec modules: choose a standard and processor family
JUMPtec presented computer-on-modules in COM Express, COM-HPC and SMARC formats based on Intel, AMD, ARM and TI processors. Kontron also highlighted baseboard design and production services. This is a broader platform-selection story than a single module launch: the suitable choice depends on the required module standard, processor, carrier-board design and product lifecycle needs. The event summary does not map each processor vendor to individual module models.
KSwitch M20: modular Ethernet switching
KSwitch M20 is a modular Layer 2/Layer 3 Ethernet switch module with bandwidth described as up to 100 gigabits per second. Kontron did not specify the port configuration or conditions behind that maximum in the event announcement, so it should not be read as a per-port speed or a guaranteed application throughput.
Rank #3
- Powerful Processor for Embedded Systems: The Luckfox Lyra Zero W is powered by the Rockchip RK3506B SoC, featuring a 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A7 processor, delivering smooth performance for running Linux-based applications and making it suitable for embedded and IoT projects.
- High-Quality Display Interface: The board supports MIPI DSI 2-lane, allowing easy connection to high-resolution displays, ideal for applications like digital signage, HMI systems, and embedded interfaces.
- Extensive Connectivity Options: With USB 2.0 OTG, USB Host 2.0, and GPIO pins, the Lyra Zero W allows connectivity to various peripherals, making it versatile for sensors, devices, and other embedded systems.
- Onboard Wireless Capabilities: Equipped with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, the board supports seamless wireless communication, perfect for IoT, networking, and remote control applications.
- Cost-Effective Solution for Development: Offering a budget-friendly price, the Lyra Zero W provides a feature-rich platform for developers to prototype and create advanced embedded systems without exceeding their budget.
Software and deployment management
WebVisu IoT Bundle
WebVisu IoT Bundle combines a Chromium-based HTML5 browser with OEM branding and security features. That combination is aimed at embedded products that need a web-based user interface adapted to an equipment maker’s product identity. The announcement does not enumerate the security features or define supported browser versions.
Distribution Sets and KontronGrid
Distribution Sets package a boot loader, operating system and applications for granular deployment. KontronGrid’s REST API supports container configuration and third-party integration. Together, these features address two operational needs: composing software deployments from defined components, and connecting fleet or container-management workflows with other systems. The event material does not state supported scale, API limits or particular third-party platforms.
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Industrial computers and services in the wider portfolio
Kontron’s media kit also listed the KBox B-203-RPL and B-204-RPL industrial PCs and KISS 4U V4 RPL rackmount systems. It mentioned updates to EquipmentCloud and KontronGrid, as well as Electronics² development and production services. These entries show the display extended beyond new boards and modules to complete industrial systems, software updates and OEM-oriented engineering and manufacturing. The media-kit summary does not provide detailed configurations or release timing for each item.
Rank #4
- CH32V003 Development Minimum System Board for Nano RISC-V CH32V003F4U6 Chip TYPE-C USB 22Pin
- on-board 24MHz Crystal oscillator
- Power by TYPE-C USB
Are Kontron’s Qualcomm-based products available?
Not on the evidence in Kontron and Qualcomm’s March 11, 2025 collaboration announcement. The companies said their work had entered development to integrate Qualcomm 5G, AI and edge-computing technologies into embedded solutions for automotive, industrial automation, railways and smart cities. The release described the products as planned and gave no firm shipping date. It therefore establishes a development collaboration, not a confirmed product lineup or availability date; buyers should verify current status with the companies before planning around a specific Qualcomm-based Kontron system.
How to interpret the announcements
- For industrial AI at the board level: BL i.MX93 is the board explicitly identified with a microNPU. Pi-Tron CM5 is instead identified by its Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 CPU unit.
- For network threat monitoring: K3881-C and K3882-C belong to Kontron’s AI-based security offering; K3881-C is the model associated with 10GbE and 5G, while K3882-C is described for standard server applications.
- For modular platform design: compare JUMPtec modules by COM Express, COM-HPC or SMARC standard, processor family and the baseboard or production support needed for the product.
- For software rollout: Distribution Sets and KontronGrid address deployment and container configuration, while WebVisu IoT Bundle concerns the embedded browser experience and OEM branding.
Kontron’s event page described its range as including COM Express, SMARC and COM-HPC client/server modules, alongside high-performance motherboards and SMARTCASE chassis-kit solutions. Taken with the security, software, industrial-PC and services announcements, Embedded World 2025 was a portfolio demonstration across multiple layers of an industrial system—not evidence that every listed item was a newly launched, immediately orderable product.
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