PORTO, Portugal, Jan 5, 2026 – Critical Manufacturing has partnered with Canonical to support cloud-native manufacturing platforms by integrating Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software with cloud infrastructure technologies.
The partnership addresses deployment barriers through an integrated approach. Canonical provides an enterprise Kubernetes platform designed for secure production use. Kubernetes manages and scales containerized applications. The platform integrates with Critical Manufacturing MES and supports cloud, hybrid, and on-premises deployments. This approach lets manufacturers select infrastructure models that match operational needs without reducing system stability or control.
“This partnership brings together two platforms that manufacturers rely on to modernize operations,” said Mark Lewis, VP application services at Canonical. “By validating Critical Manufacturing MES on Canonical Kubernetes, we are creating a strong foundation for manufacturers looking for secure, scalable deployment options across cloud, hybrid, or on-premises environments.”
Critical Manufacturing can deploy its MES in environments built on Canonical technologies. Using Canonical’s Kubernetes platform and secure Linux systems, Critical Manufacturing can shorten onboarding time and entry barriers for manufacturers adopting cloud-native execution platforms, especially where Canonical infrastructure is already established.
Will Trogdon, VP partner ecosystem at Critical Manufacturing, said, “Driven by a shared ambition to accelerate cloud-native manufacturing, we partnered with Canonical to offer a seamless, secure, and scalable way to deploy Critical Manufacturing MES in the environments that suit their operations.”
The partnership gives manufacturers a single platform to run manufacturing execution securely. It supports cloud, hybrid, and on-premises deployments, allowing operational flexibility and lower ownership costs. Customers can also use Canonical’s certified infrastructure partners as they standardize systems globally. Canonical noted that the partnership will allow Critical Manufacturing to test its products with Canonical Kubernetes.
José Pedro Silva, R&D director at Critical Manufacturing, added, “This collaboration supports a practical path to connected manufacturing execution. Canonical Kubernetes gives our customers a reliable infrastructure layer that complements the flexibility of our MES, especially as they expand across sites and adopt new digital capabilities.”
The partnership targets manufacturers across industries and digital maturity levels. By integrating Critical Manufacturing MES with Canonical cloud infrastructure, the companies support production systems that remain secure, responsive, and scalable as operational needs change.
Source: Critical Manufacturing
About Critical Manufacturing
Critical Manufacturing provides Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) to support advanced manufacturing industries. Founded in 2009, the company offers Critical Manufacturing MES platform. This platform helps manufacturers improve efficiency, quality, and agility by linking shop-floor operations with enterprise systems. It serves industries such as electronics, semiconductors, medical devices, and complex discrete manufacturing. Critical Manufacturing focuses on smart factory transformation through real-time data collection, analytics, and automation. Headquartered in Porto, Portugal, the company operates worldwide and has a customer base in Europe, North America, and Asia. The company continues to grow with the rising demand for digitalization and Industry 4.0 solutions. As a subsidiary of ASMPT, Critical Manufacturing leverages financial support and technical expertise. The company is growing with rising demand for Industry 4.0 solutions.
About Canonical
Canonical is a privately held software company that develops and supports the Ubuntu Linux operating system and related platforms. The company provides open-source software, security updates, and commercial support for cloud, server, desktop, and edge computing environments. Founded in 2004, Canonical is headquartered in London, England, and operates with a globally distributed workforce. Its customers include enterprises, developers, cloud providers, and IT teams across technology, telecommunications, and enterprise computing sectors. Canonical’s product portfolio includes Ubuntu operating system releases, Ubuntu Pro extended support services, Landscape systems management software, and tools for infrastructure provisioning and orchestration. The company supports both community and enterprise deployments, focusing on maintenance, updates, compliance, and security patching. Canonical employs about 1,800 people across North America, Europe, and Asia.