STEINEL

What STEINEL does

STEINEL GmbH is a privately held German industrial manufacturer founded in 1959 and headquartered in Herzebrock-Clarholz, Germany, that develops intelligent sensor technologies and connected lighting systems for professional building automation. The company's core product portfolio centers on two hardware categories: sensors (presence detectors, motion detectors, smart space sensors, and multisensors built on passive infrared, high-frequency, and ultrasonic sensing technologies) and connected LED lighting (indoor, outdoor, and linear luminaires with integrated sensors and Bluetooth Mesh networking). Supporting these is a Building Intelligence layer that integrates with major standards (KNX, DALI-2, BACnet, MQTT, REST) and the Capstone software platform for centralized building status monitoring and room usage analytics. Over more than 60 years, the company has registered more than 300 patents and produced more than 3,000 products, including proprietary technologies such as True Presence detection, the patented IR Quattro square lens, and the Dual HF corridor sensor.

STEINEL operates a professional B2B business model targeting planners, architects, electricians, building owners, investors, and system integrators. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time hardware sales (sensors, luminaires, system components, and accessories), supplemented by professional services (commissioning, technical support, training), and an OEM Solutions division in Switzerland (STEINEL Solutions) that licenses sensor IP through custom development and manufacturing partnerships. Distribution is channel-led through electrical wholesale trade (Elektrogrosshandel), system integrators, direct sales to planners/architects, and consumer e-commerce (steinel-shop.de), with a separate STEINEL Tools division selling hot air and hot-melt gluing tools through steinel-tools.de. Pricing follows B2B net terms (EXW Germany, 30-day payment, EUR 500 free-shipping threshold).

The customer base is geographically and vertically diverse, with documented enterprise references spanning airports (Munich, Al Maktoum Dubai, Salzburg), healthcare (Saint Elizabeth Hospital), manufacturing (ANDRITZ Soutec), mining (Anglo American), retail (Westmorland Shopping Centre), education (Stuttgart City Library), hospitality (Moxy, Radisson), and residential developments (Plus-Energy House Berlin, Rütihof Zurich) across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. STEINEL is led by three Managing Directors (Martin Frechen, Thomas Möller, Christian Jäger) and is independently owned with no disclosed parent, institutional investor, or public shareholders.

Name

STEINEL

Legal name

STEINEL GmbH

Website

https://steinel.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Smart Building Sensors and Connected Lighting

NAICS

Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512), Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing (335132), Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (3351)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640), Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822)

akta.pro primary industry

Lighting Controls & Building Integration (Drivers, sensors, dimming, lighting control panels, networked lighting) (IMAGAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lighting Controls & Smart Lighting Systems (BPABAGAC), Building Automation Systems (BAS/BMS) Integration & Controls (BPABAGAA)

Keywords

• Building automation sensors
• Presence detection systems
• Connected LED lighting
• Smart space sensors
• Industrial hot-melt tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Einsiedeln

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sensor Hardware Sales: STEINEL generates revenue primarily through the sale of professional-grade sensors including presence detectors, motion detectors, smart space sensors, and multisensors. Products are sold through direct sales, e-commerce, and professional trade channels. Revenue is one-time per installation with varying price points based on sensor type and interface capabilities.
2. Connected Lighting Hardware: Sale of sensor-switched LED lighting products including indoor lights (wall/ceiling, downlights, linear), outdoor lights (bollard, floodlights, solar), and connected lighting systems. The RS PRO 5100 series is a flagship connected lighting product with integrated sensors and Bluetooth Mesh.
3. System Components and Accessories: Sale of system components for KNX, DALI-2, and Bluetooth systems, as well as accessories including remote controls, surface-mounting adapters, guard cages, and ceiling adapters.
4. Professional Services: Commissioning services for installers, technical customer support, and system integrator services including KNX software, application descriptions, and firmware. Also includes webinars and training for professional buyers.
5. OEM Solutions: Customized development and manufacturing services for OEM customers through the STEINEL Solutions division in Switzerland, providing tailored sensor and lighting solutions for specific applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

STEINEL develops and manufactures intelligent sensor-controlled lighting, presence and motion detection sensors, and connected building automation hardware used for energy-efficient lighting and HVAC control. Its product range covers presence detectors (PIR, HF, ultrasonic, True Presence), smart space sensors, multisensors, Bluetooth Mesh LED luminaires, indoor/outdoor connected lighting, and a separate Tools division producing professional hot air and hot-melt glue applicators. The Capstone software platform and KNX, DALI-2, BACnet, MQTT and REST integrations enable centralized building management across commercial, industrial, hospitality, healthcare, education and residential segments.

Product overview

STEINEL is 'The Inventors' Company' that develops and produces intelligent light management, workspace management, and building intelligence solutions. The product portfolio centers on two main hardware categories: Sensors (presence detectors, motion detectors, smart space sensors, multisensors) and Lighting (connected LED lighting, indoor/outdoor lights). Sensors use technologies including passive infrared, high-frequency, ultrasonic, and Bluetooth Mesh for presence and motion detection, supporting building automation protocols KNX, DALI-2, BACnet, and MQTT/REST via IP. The Connected Lighting line integrates sensors with LED luminaires for energy-efficient, networked building solutions. Supporting platforms include Capstone software for building monitoring and room usage analytics, while the separate STEINEL Tools division offers industrial hot air and hot-melt tools. OEM Solutions provides customized development services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STEINEL Tools: Hot air and hot-melt gluing tools division
• STEINEL Solutions
• True Presence
• Control PRO
• Connected Lighting
• RS PRO 5100

Products and services

• True Presence Premium presence detection sensor using STEINEL's proprietary True Presence technology to detect actual human presence (not just motion) for lighting and HVAC control in commercial buildings.
• HPD 2/3 (Human Presence Detection) Human presence detection sensors that identify whether a space is occupied, enabling intelligent lighting and HVAC control in commercial buildings.
• EO Smart Space Sensor Smart space sensor combining multiple detection technologies for room usage analysis and workspace management, working with Capstone software for data insights.
• DALI-2 LuxMaster DALI-2 compatible sensor with LuxMaster functionality for intelligent lighting control and constant light regulation in commercial installations.
• IR Quattro Passive infrared presence detector with patented square detection zone pattern, 1,760 switching zones, up to 16 m² presence detection area, and mechanically scalable detection reach.
• Dual HF High-frequency corridor sensor with dual-direction detection covering up to 20m in two directions; detects movement through glass, wood, and stud walls regardless of temperature.
• IS 3360 MX Highbay Highbay infrared motion detector designed for mounting heights up to 14 meters in industrial environments with narrow aisles and high ceilings, covering up to 1,000 m² or 60m long corridors, with DALI-2 variants available.
• RS PRO 5100 SC Sensor-switched LED linear light with integrated motion detector and Bluetooth Mesh connectivity for connected lighting applications, configured via app.
• RS PRO 5150 SC Sensor-switched LED linear light variant with integrated motion detector and Bluetooth Mesh connectivity for commercial and industrial connected lighting installations.
• Capstone Building status monitoring software that works with STEINEL sensors (including EO Smart Space Sensor) to provide room usage analytics and centralized building insights anytime, anywhere.
• 24V Garden Lighting System Low-voltage 24V outdoor garden lighting system with sensor-controlled and connected lighting options for residential and commercial outdoor applications.
• STEINEL Tools (Hot Air and Hot-Melt Glue Applicators) Separate business division offering professional and industrial hot air tools and hot-melt glue applicators, sold through steinel-tools.de.
• OEM Solutions STEINEL Solutions division (Switzerland) providing customised development and manufacturing of sensor and lighting solutions for OEM customers with specific application requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% energy savings in car park lighting (Westmorland Shopping Centre)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• KNX AssociationcoreTechnology or IntegrationSTEINEL is a member and supporter of the KNX building automation standard. The company offers a complete range of KNX-compatible sensors, presence detectors, and system components for KNX building automation systems. Products include KNX interfaces for presence detectors, actuators, and system components.
• DALI-2 / DALI AlliancecoreTechnology or IntegrationSTEINEL products are DALI-2 certified and compatible with the DALI-2 lighting control standard. The company offers DALI-2 LuxMaster products, presence detectors with DALI-2 interfaces, and full DALI-2 lighting control solutions.
• Bluetooth SIG (Bluetooth Mesh)coreTechnology or IntegrationSTEINEL Connected Lighting products utilize Bluetooth Mesh technology meeting Bluetooth SIG standard requirements. RS PRO 5100 series features Bluetooth Mesh for wireless networking of sensors and lights.
• BACnet InternationalcoreTechnology or IntegrationSTEINEL offers IP-based sensors with BACnet, MQTT, and REST integration for modern building automation systems, enabling connection to IP-based building management platforms.
• ETS (Engineering Tool Software)coreTechnology or IntegrationSTEINEL KNX presence detectors can be set up using ETS (Engineering Tool Software), the standard configuration tool for KNX installations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lutron Electronics: US-headquartered specialist in lighting controls, dimmers and shading systems — directly comparable to STEINEL in architectural lighting controls and is a known market leader in this niche.
• CP Electronics: UK presence-detection and lighting-control specialist (now part of Legrand) focused on commercial building applications, overlapping with STEINEL's PIR/HF sensor portfolio.
• B.E.G. (Brück Electronic GmbH): German manufacturer of presence and motion detectors, lighting controls and KNX integration — direct competitor to STEINEL in professional B2B sensors and lighting controls across DACH and wider Europe.
• Theben AG: German-based manufacturer of KNX presence detectors, motion detectors and building automation components with a comparable B2B channel strategy through electrical wholesale and installers.
• Helvar: Finland-based lighting-controls and luminaire-component company offering DALI-2 lighting control and wireless lighting solutions — directly comparable to STEINEL's DALI-2 and Bluetooth Mesh Connected Lighting portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• ABB: Global building automation provider whose BMS integrates presence detectors and lighting controls; STEINEL has already been integrated into ABB BMS at 23 Marina Dubai, demonstrating direct competitive overlap.
• Signify (Philips Lighting): Global lighting leader with Philips Interact connected lighting and LED luminaires — competes with STEINEL Connected Lighting at scale and bundles sensors into a much broader lighting portfolio.
• Schneider Electric: Global energy management and automation group with EcoStruxure/Wiser building solutions — large incumbent in BAS/BMS and connected lighting that competes with STEINEL on large enterprise specifications.
• Zumtobel Group: Austrian professional lighting company with integrated lighting management and sensor-controlled LED luminaires that overlap with STEINEL's indoor/outdoor sensor-switched lighting ranges in European markets.
• Legrand: Global building electrical and digital systems group with strong lighting-control presence (incl. CP Electronics) and a broad BAS portfolio that competes head-to-head with STEINEL's sensor products via the professional channel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@steinelgroup
• Instagraminstagram.com/steinel_group
• Xx.com/STEINEL_Germany
• Facebookfacebook.com/steinelgmbh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/steinel

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about STEINEL