Toshiyuki Goto, President, EMD Technologies Philippines
The race to meet compact, high-performance, and future-ready automotive electronics is reshaping the industry from the inside out. The shift from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles is intensifying the demands on powertrain components, driving the need for miniaturized, energy-efficient, and high-reliability solutions. At the same time, automakers are navigating volatile raw material prices, rising expectations for smarter in-vehicle systems, and global pressure to align with evolving standards. In the Philippines, the automotive sector is steadily gaining ground, buoyed by increasing disposable incomes and remittances from abroad, but it remains a nascent production hub despite its export potential. One manufacturer stands out in this landscape is EMD Technologies Philippines Inc. (EMTEPH).
From Piece Parts to Industry Partnerships
A power relay manufacturer, EMTEPH delivers compact, cost-effective switching solutions that meet the world’s toughest automotive specifications for nearly three decades. The company’s expansion, from one production line to multiple units scaling up in two-to-three year intervals, mirrors a broader industry trend where more relays are required per vehicle, particularly in European, American and Asian markets. “In the 28 years that we have been operating, we have achieved world-class quality and performance through continuous improvement”, says Toshiyuki Goto, President, EMTEPH. “Since then, we have earned recognition from our global Tier I customers and even OEMs”, Toshiyuki adds. Its manufacturing philosophy is grounded in control over its entire production chain, from piece parts to final assembly.
Unlike competitors who rely on sourcing critical components, EMTEPH produces its own piece parts before moving to assembly. This model enhances cost control, safeguards quality, and allows the company to rapidly iterate when raw material markets fluctuate, such as the recent surge in bullion prices that made traditional silver oxide contacts cost-prohibitive. Rather than passing all of these volatility to clients, the company collaborates with contact manufacturers to optimize material composition and reduce consumption without compromising reliability.
At the same time, it applies Value Engineering principles to enhance functionality while minimizing waste. This internal efficiency translates directly into pricing advantages for customers, a factor increasingly critical in a market where pricing pressure coexists with rising technical complexity.
EMTEPH operates one of the world's largest power relay manufacturing facilities, integrating advanced engineering and precision automation
Miniature Marvels
EMTEPH operates one of the world's largest power relay manufacturing facilities, integrating advanced engineering and precision automation. The company’s vertically integrated production model encompasses the entire process, from press stamping, injection molding and relay assembly to functional testing and reliability analysis. This comprehensive approach enables it to maintain stringent quality control and adapt swiftly to evolving automotive requirements. Utilizing sophisticated tools such as Electron Probe Micro-Analyzers (EPMA), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), high-accuracy digital microscopes, and soft X-ray systems, the company ensures that each relay meets the highest standards of performance and reliability
Furthermore, its product portfolio includes a diverse range of miniature power relays tailored for various automotive applications. Notable series such as EX, ET, EP, EM, EL, HX, and EU offer solutions for motor and heater controls, lamps, solenoids, and power supplies. The EU series, for instance, achieves approximately 75 percent lower profiling compared to the ET series, addressing the industry’s demand for compact components. In addition, the company pioneered the development of twin relays, combining two relays within a single casing to facilitate applications requiring forward and reverse motor control, such as power windows and memory seats.
Vehicle Architecture meets Relay Innovation
The move from ICE to xEV platforms brings new engineering challenges, including higher voltages, rising current levels, and increasingly compact vehicle electronics. EMTEPH’s product development strategy centers on achieving the smallest form factor in the world within required performance limits. But reducing size introduces its own set of problems, especially related to heat generation and contact wear. Here, the company leverages advanced simulation technologies and material science to manage thermal profiles and ensure product durability.
The focus on miniature design is a response to an industry shift toward modular, zone-based vehicle architectures and integrated electronics. As customers push for more space-efficient relay solutions that can also support high-voltage functions, the company’s compact relays can offer a path forward without compromising on switching integrity or safety.
Furthermore, its proactive compliance model keeps it ahead of global and emergent standards. EMTEPH designs with an eye on possible future norms. A recent example is its alignment with Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), which is still under review in many jurisdictions. By incorporating support for such evolving standards into its designs, the company equips clients to remain competitive across multiple regulatory environments.
Smarter, Safer, & Electrified Vehicles
Beyond product features, the company’s commitment to customer proximity is clear. Whether through technical support, customization, or consistency in delivery, EMTEPH offers a value proposition tailored to Tier I suppliers and OEMs operating across American, European, Japanese, Chinese, and potentially Indian markets. The company is actively encouraging Indian automotive technology firms to trial its NEXEM-branded relays, confident that its combination of quality, cost, and service will prove compelling.
Next in line is power relays for fast-charging applications, which will debut next year. These relays must handle higher currents and voltages, while also addressing thermal and electrical safety issues under compressed charging cycles. Achieving that balance will be a technical milestone, and the company positions itself as one of the key contributors to that next leap in EV infrastructure. With the innovation and client-centric mindset, EMTEPH can be an engineering partner for organizations seeking a technically capable, globally trusted, and cost-efficient supplier of automotive power relays.
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