OEM integration in the marine industry faces a range of challenges that can significantly impact system feasibility and long-term performance. Unlike high-volume industries such as automotive electronics, marine equipment manufacturers operate in an environment characterized by high level technological customization and scalability requirements, long product life cycles in continuous harsh operating environment, supply chain disruptions, and environmental regulations.
Within the marine equipment industry, which serves as a key upstream sector for shipbuilding, reliability and long-term availability are often prioritized over the rapid introduction of new features.
For OEMs developing marine control systems, these are not standalone components but deeply integrated elements of the vessel’s overall architecture. Successful integration therefore requires more than functional hardware alone; it demands a system-level approach.

Key challenges we observe by OEMs when integrating electronic control systems

From an OEM perspective, the integration project of a new marine control solution often depends on the possibilities of integration and how it fits into an existing system platform, as the functions it provides. Some of the challenges in such situations are:

1. Balancing modularity and customization in Marine OEM Systems
OEMs require solutions that can fit different boat electrical architectures, and meet individual customer demands, which require adjustments to existing manufacturing processes. Modular architecture plays a crucial role in reducing costs and boosting productivity, therefore is an important factor in marine industry.

2. Compatibility with existing systems
Marine electrical systems are “an invisible network powering every operation onboard” and as such often evolve significantly over time as technology platforms are modernized. New electronical controls settings must operate together with existing components, standards, and different system architectures.

3. Long-Term Availability and Lifecycle Consistency in Marine OEM Systems
To remain long-term reliable, OEMs must carefully consider long-term sourcing and technology platform consistency. It is critically important that core system components remain available and consistent over extended periods, without being subject to frequent design changes or, in the worst case, premature end-of-life decisions.

MRS Marine approach to OEMs
 

At MRS Marine, we design our control solutions with OEM integration as a core consideration from the earliest stages of development. We approach each solution as part of a broader onboard system. This influences how we design, document, and support our technologies.

With more than 25 years of experience developing solutions for the harshest industrial environments, we support our partners throughout the entire product life cycle. In addition, we provide continuous technical support throughout development, integration and operational phases, ensuring predictable performance and reduced integration risk. Our product strategy is based on long-term availability and controlled lifecycle management, minimizing redesign risks and protecting OEM investments over extended vessel lifetimes.

Modular system design
Our modular hardware solutions are designed for flexible system configurations, enabling OEMs to easily scale functionality across different requirements. The entire MRS Marine product lineup is fully complementary, allowing easy interaction between components. Through standardized communication protocols such as CAN Bus, CANopen, J1939 and NMEA2000, MRS products ensure smooth control and integration between units, reducing integration complexity and lowering barrier for OEMs transitioning to MRS solutions.

Certificates
Our solutions are developed in accordance with relevant marine and industrial standards and certifications, supporting compliance with regulatory and classification requirements. As a company with a strong automotive and vehicle background, MRS applies automotive-grade development, testing, and validation processes to its marine products, ensuring quality and reliability levels that exceed typical marine industry requirements.
MRS modules meet marine standards for vibration, temperature, water ingress (IP-rated), and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). We work closely with our customers to achieve the required classifications depending on the application and region, including ISO 9001:2015, DIN EN ISO 14001, RoHS.

Clear and predictable system behavior
Consistency and transparency are key in OEM environments. We prioritize clear I/O logic and predictable system behavior to simplify integration. For this reason, we offer a unified programming platform, Applics Studio, across our product portfolio, covering 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit controllers and gateways.
This enables flexible programming (by MRS or OEM partners - no extensive programming knowledge is required), streamlining development workflows across different controller architectures. Applics Studio provides a single environment for development, testing, diagnostics, and flashing. For more demanding projects where standard configurations are not sufficient, the platform supports C-CODE programming, enabling advanced application-level customization directly within Applics Studio to meet specific functional requirements without changes to the core hardware.

Supporting OEM Collaboration
OEM integration is not a “one-size-fits-all” process. It requires early technical dialogue, a shared understanding of system architecture, and a long-term view of product support and evolution. Flexibility and compatibility are important factors making transition to MRS products hassle-free. We believe that successful OEM partnerships are built on transparency, technical alignment, and mutual understanding - not just on specifications. As we continue to develop our marine control solutions, we remain open to early-stage OEM discussions and collaborative development opportunities.