About Us

From the track to the road: 50 years of power electronics.

The history of APS began in 1975, when the first on-board network converter built by EAO AG was installed in a vehicle of the Lucerne-Stans-Engelberg Railway (now Zentralbahn). The quality of this engineering craftsmanship speaks for itself: these original devices have been in operation for over forty years and are expected to continue their service for another decade.

From 1975 to 1998, the company established itself as the market leader for Swiss operators of light rail vehicles (LRVs) and developed converters for trolleybuses, trams, and mainline trains. Following a management buyout of EAO's power electronics division in 1998, the APS electronic AG established. We established our headquarters in Niederbuchsiten – a strategic location in the heart of Europe with excellent business infrastructure.

A Centre of Excellence (1998–2025)

For over two decades, APS established its reputation as a first-class partner in the railway industry. In 2009, we became a subsidiary of Kiepe Electric GmbH, and from 2017 to 2025, we operated as part of the Knorr-Bremse Group. During this time, APS served as the global Competence centre for onboard network converters with natural convection cooling and supplied over 6,000 static converters for trains, trams and buses to Germany, Spain, the USA, Australia, China and beyond.

2026: A New Era of Independence

As of 1 January 2026, the APS Applied Power Systems AG the business activities of Kiepe Electric Schweiz AG. Now as a subsidiary of Manser Group AG, we are returning to our roots as an agile, entrepreneurial force. With individual members of the management team being shareholders in the company, we are ideally placed for quick decisions and long-term stability.

Electrifying the future: The charging business

Building on 50 years of experience in high-voltage railway systems, APS has expanded its portfolio to serve the global demand for eMobility infrastructure. We are no longer just a component manufacturer; we are also a total solutions provider for charging infrastructure.

We are transferring our „rail-grade“ engineering standards to the road, and are now developing and manufacturing High-Power Charging Technology for electric buses. Trucks, vans and heavy commercial vehicles. From the modular APS Depot Charger for depots to the prefabricated APS Terminal Charging System for logistics centres – our charging solutions are built with the same durability and reliability that have distinguished our railway products for half a century.

In the fast lane: global reach

APS Applied Power Systems AG is firmly established in the domestic market; our technology has earned the trust of major Swiss operators such as SBB, BLS and RBS, as well as renowned manufacturers such as Stadler and Alstom. Today, we generate 50% of our turnover abroad – proof that Swiss engineering expertise is in demand worldwide.