Powering Discovery: Kontron's Long-Standing Partnership with CERN

When science pushes its boundaries, it needs technology that goes beyond. For decades, Kontron Hartmann Wiener GmbH has stood alongside CERN – the European Organization for Nuclear Research – providing highly specialized solutions to support some of the world's most ambitious research projects.

This partnership is more than just a supplier relationship; it's the result of a shared vision: to understand the fundamental building blocks of the universe with technology that can be relied upon every second.

A Connection with History – and Future

The roots of our collaboration date back to the 1980s. What began with the development of robust power supply solutions has evolved into a broad technological partnership, ranging from classic VME64x and PXIe systems to highly integrated, customized solutions for extreme environments.

For over 20 years, our products have been reliably used in CERN experiments, often under extreme conditions such as high radiation, immense magnetic fields, or continuous 24/7 operation. We're not only proud of this, but we also see it as a commitment to meet these demands with every new development.

Technological Excellence for the HL-LHC

With the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC), CERN is currently embarking on one of the largest upgrade projects in the history of particle physics. The goal is to drastically increase the number of collisions in the accelerator, enabling deeper insights into the universe.

This increased "luminosity" places entirely new demands on detectors, control systems, and, of course, the underlying infrastructure. This is precisely where Kontron Hartmann Wiener comes in.

Selected Projects at a Glance

HL-LHC Collimators Controls Upgrade

The Challenge: The HL-LHC will have over 700 MJ of stored energy – almost double the previous amount. This requires a highly precise collimation system to safely guide the proton beam and protect magnets from damage.

Our Solution: Robust PXIe chassis with high bandwidth and synchronized timing – perfectly suited for critical real-time control. PXIe systems offer not only performance but also modularity and reliability in continuous operation.

CMS Phase II Upgrade

The Challenge: The CMS experiment is one of the world's most complex detector systems. Under high radiation and in strong magnetic fields, extremely sensitive sensors must be supplied with constant voltage – with a total load of over 50 kW.

Our Solution: Radiation- and magnetic field-tolerant Low-Voltage power supplies with the highest stability, designed for long-lasting operation with minimal susceptibility to interference. Our power supplies ensure the function of front-end electronics and readout chips, even in the harshest environments.

ATLAS ITk Pixel & Strip Upgrades

The Challenge: The new silicon trackers of ATLAS – the so-called ITk – require customized HV and LV power supplies with the highest precision, remote controllability, and seamless integration into CERN's own DCS (Detector Control System).

Our Solution: Kontron developed specific power supplies (LV, HV, VPP3, Vopto), including features such as regulated ramp times, floating outputs, interlocks, and exact temperature monitoring. The solutions are fully DCS-compatible and designed for decades of continuous operation.

Why CERN Trusts Kontron

What makes our collaboration special is our deep understanding of the physical and systemic requirements of research. For us, it's not just about technical specifications, but about systemic solutions that reliably harmonize with the entire infrastructure.

Our products meet the highest quality standards, are CE-compliant, and are regularly tested under extreme conditions. The fact that some of our VME64x power supplies from 2006 are still reliably in use today speaks for itself.

Together for the Research of Tomorrow

CERN is already looking ahead with concepts like the Future Circular Collider (FCC), a 91 km long next-generation accelerator. Such projects challenge not only scientists but also technology partners.

Thanks to the integration of Hartmann Electronic GmbH and the acquisition by Kontron AG, Kontron Hartmann Wiener GmbH is now technologically broader and more future-proof than ever before: from ruggedized VPX systems and powerful backplanes to modular embedded solutions.

Innovations such as Artificial Intelligence in accelerator control, predictive maintenance, or automated data evaluation will also play a greater role in the future, and we are ready to help shape them.

Conclusion: Proud of a Special Partnership

The collaboration with CERN is not only a showcase for Kontron Hartmann Wiener GmbH but also a sign of trust, continuity, and shared progress.

We are proud to contribute to the exploration of the fundamental laws of the universe with technology "Made in Germany" that lasts. And we look forward to being a reliable partner for science in the coming decades.

Would you like to learn more about our solutions or discuss a specific project?

Contact us – we look forward to hearing from you.