About us

plc-tec AG

plc-tec AG develops and distributes Power Line Communication System (PLC) IP cores and reference designs for highly reliable real-time applications, based on an in-house developed Power Line data bUS PLUS technology. 

Core Competences

  • Reliable PLC: Experts in advanced communication technology and schemes that adress specifically reliability and real-time of PLC 
  • Customizing of PLC to any customers’ applications requirements and environments, starting with channel measurements, custom-specific application layer based on PLUS, etc. 
  • Generate further value on-top the communication use case: plc-tec has complete control of the broadband PLUS signal and the required digital and analog signal processing. Examples: PLUS Time-Sync, cable diagnistics, etc. 
  • Design and development processes that comply with international functional safety standards such as RTCA DO-254/178, IEC 61508, etc.
  • Aggregates more than  
    • 120 person years experience with PLC, starting in the early years of PLC developments in the 90s 
    • 50 person years experience in the design and realisation of Embedded Systems, Systems-on-Chip und ASICs.
  • Sets itself highest standards regarding quality, functionality (reliability, availability, real-time) and cost effectiveness. 

Network

  • Close relationships with industrial leaders 
  • Cooperating with different R&D partners incl. HSLU’s Competence Center Intelligent Sensors and Networks, a leading research group in PLC, safeguarding access to the latest research results in PLC, Mission-and-Time-Critical communications and Enbedded Systems  
  • Partners for PCB assembly and electronics manufacturing  
  • Member of Swissrail, EUROCAE, ARINC, Electrosuisse  

Milestones

More than 25 years of experience in PLC 

End of the 90s

Members of plc-tec were in the Ascom team which pioneered several  industry’s firsts in the broadband PLC technology 

Since 2005

PLC for aircraft applications (with aeronautics leaders like Airbus, Thales, …) 

Members of plc-tec were involved in Ascom’s train passenger information systems development, e.g. of Ascom’s PLC Rail Gateway product  

Since 2009

Cooperation with Diehl Aerospace, a leading aircraft system supplier 

Since 2010

PLC for Smart Grids (Medium Voltage applications)

2012

Start of the development of first PLUS version 

2014

Foundation of plc-tec AG

Since 2016

PLUS for train applications (PLUS PCN)

2017

Win of the prestigious Crystal Cabin Award for aircraft cabin innovations, with HSLU and Diehl Aerospace 

2018

Licence contract with Diehl Aerospace reg. the usage of PLUS AVIONICS in aerospace markets

Since 2018

Cooperation with SBB Cargo for the data communication backbone of the future Full Digital Freight Train 

2022

PTB has the best results of the three candidate train backbone technologies in the DAC4EU tests.  

European DAC Delivery Program (EDDP) shortlists Power PLUS Train Backbone as one of three candidates for Europe’s Full Digital Freight Train. 

2022

Swiss DAC+ Test Train is designed and implemented for the testing of the main digital and automized train functions with PTB as train backone communication 

2023

PLUS AVIONICS is chosen as a key data communication solution for the electrification for the future aircraft in the  Dutch Luchtvaart in Transitie: Advanced Electrical Wiring project of Fokker ELMO.

2023

Results of the DAC+ tests with 1’000s of kilometers of test drives and more than 1’000 coupling cycles in real operational conditions in all seasons demonstrate that PTB reliably meets the communication requirements of the major train functions.

Leadership Team

Ulrich Dersch

Stephen Dominiak

Jürgen Wassner

Markus Dilger

CEO

CTO

CDO

Senior Rail Industry and Innovation Advisor

earned a PhD in semiconductor physics and began his career in communication technologies in the ABB Research Center Dättwil / Switzerland. He then worked for Ascom for 17 years, in the end as CTO and Head of Development, building and leading the group that made numerous prizewinning technological landmarks in PLC. In 2008, he joined HSLU, where he founded the Competence Center Intelligent Sensors and Networks which he lead until 2021. In 2014, he co-founded plc-tec AG.

has a BSc degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago in the USA and a MSc degree in Information and Communications Engineering from the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen in Germany. He started his career working at Ascom before joining HSLU in 2009 where he led the research group Communications Technologies. During his time at HSLU he was the lead designer of the Power Line data bUS (PLUS) protocol. In 2014, he co-founded plc-tec AG. 

received a MSc degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Dresden and a PhD in microelectronics from ETH Zurich. He has worked in the telecommunication industry as ASIC-Designer before joining Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in 2007, where he now leads a research group and teaches digital design and signal processing. In 2014, he co-founded plc-tec AG. 

earned a PhD in semiconductor physics in the team of Nobel laureate Klaus von Klitzing and began his career in the semiconductor industry. He became SVP of Infineon’s Corporate Research department in 2006. In 2010 he took over the leadership of the rail communication specialist duagon AG. Under his leadership, duagon developed many landmark products and grew by a factor of ten. He will support plc-tec to realize its mission to become the leader for powerline communication technology in rail. 

Leadership Team

Ulrich Dersch

CEO

earned a PhD in semiconductor physics and began his career in communication technologies in the ABB Research Center Dättwil / Switzerland. He then worked for Ascom for 17 years, in the end as CTO and Head of Development, building and leading the group that made numerous prizewinning technological landmarks in PLC. In 2008, he joined HSLU, where he founded the Competence Center Intelligent Sensors and Networks which he lead until 2021. In 2014, he co-founded plc-tec AG.

Stephen Dominiak​

CTO

has a BSc degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago in the USA and a MSc degree in Information and Communications Engineering from the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen in Germany. He started his career working at Ascom before joining HSLU in 2009 where he led the research group Communications Technologies. During his time at HSLU he was the lead designer of the Power Line data bUS (PLUS) protocol. In 2014, he co-founded plc-tec AG. 

Jürgen Wassner ​

CDO

received a MSc degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Dresden and a PhD in microelectronics from ETH Zurich. He has worked in the telecommunication industry as ASIC-Designer before joining Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in 2007, where he now leads a research group and teaches digital design and signal processing. In 2014, he co-founded plc-tec AG. 

Markus Dilger

Senior Rail Industry and Innovation Advisor

earned a PhD in semiconductor physics in the team of Nobel laureate Klaus von Klitzing and began his career in the semiconductor industry. He became SVP of Infineon’s Corporate Research department in 2006. In 2010 he took over the leadership of the rail communication specialist duagon AG. Under his leadership, duagon developed many landmark products and grew by a factor of ten. He will support plc-tec to realize its mission to become the leader for powerline communication technology in rail. 

Investor Information

plc-tec AG is a private company open for strategic investors. If you are interested in a strategic investment with plc-tec pls. contact our investor council, led by Ulrich Dersch (ulrich.dersch@plc-tec.ch).