Elgo Electronic
ELGO Electronic is a privately held German manufacturer of magnetic measurement and positioning systems serving industrial clients in elevator safety, machine building, drive technology, robotics, medical, and renewable energy sectors across 30+ countries via subsidiaries and distribution partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersRielasingen-worblingen, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Elgo Electronic does
ELGO Electronic GmbH & Co. KG is a privately held German manufacturer of magnetic-based measurement and positioning technology, founded in 1977 in Rielasingen-Worblingen and currently led by co-founder Helmut Grimm. The company designs and produces non-contact magnetic encoder systems, including absolute and incremental linear and angular measurement systems, position indicators (battery-powered and mains-operated), and positioning controllers (from compact single-axis units to Linux-based touchscreen CNC controllers). Its proprietary magnetic tape technology, with annual production exceeding 3.5 million meters, underpins a product range that meets SIL2/SIL3 functional safety certifications for elevator applications under EN 81-50 and EN 61508, and supports interfaces including CANopen, RS485, BiSS-C, SSI, IO-Link, and ABZ. Approximately 100 employees work at the expanded Rielasingen headquarters, which added 2,200 m² of production and storage capacity in 2017.
ELGO generates revenue primarily through hardware sales to industrial OEM customers across at least six verticals: mechanical engineering (wood, metal, stone processing), elevator and lift technology, drive technology and robotics, mobile automation, medical and laboratory technology, and renewable energy. The company employs a channel-led go-to-market model: four wholly-owned subsidiaries in Liechtenstein, the United States, China, and Japan serve as regional hubs, complemented by a distribution partner network spanning more than 30 countries and producing an 80% export share. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled through direct inquiry and quotation; the offering combines an extensive standard catalog with customer-specific encoder system development.
The firm is structured as a German GmbH & Co. KG limited partnership, with no external institutional investment, no public listing, and ownership concentrated with the founding family and management. Its competitive differentiation rests on decades of specialized magnetic measurement know-how, certified safety-critical product lines for elevators, and a globally distributed sales infrastructure rather than on software or AI capabilities.
Elgo Electronic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Elgo Electronic
- Legal name
- ELGO Electronic GmbH & Co. KG
- Website
- https://elgo.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- ELGO Electronic is a privately held German manufacturer of magnetic measurement and positioning systems serving industrial clients in elevator safety, machine building, drive technology, robotics, medical, and renewable energy sectors across 30+ countries via subsidiaries and distribution partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Elgo Electronic industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Position Measurement Systems
- NAICS
- Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial I/O, Signal Conditioning & Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) (IMAGABAD)
Keywords
Where Elgo Electronic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rielasingen-worblingen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Elgo Electronic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Magnetic Measurement Systems: Sale of magnetic linear and angular measurement systems including sensors, magnetic tapes, and magnetic rings. Both absolute and incremental measurement technologies offered for industrial applications.
- Position Indicators: Position display and visualization devices including battery-powered and mains-operated indicators for measuring and displaying position values.
- Positioning Controllers: Single and multi-axis positioning controllers for machine automation applications, including touch-screen CNC controllers and compact positioning controllers.
- Custom Encoder Systems: Customer-specific encoder systems developed and tailored to specific application fields, complementing the extensive standard product range.
- Shaft Information Systems: Safety-critical shaft information systems for elevator applications including SIL2 and SIL3 certified sensors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Standard product catalog with custom solutions available |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Elgo Electronic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ELGO Electronic develops and manufactures magnetic-based measuring and positioning systems for industrial automation. The portfolio includes absolute and incremental linear and angular encoder systems, shaft information systems for elevators, position indicators (battery-powered and mains-operated), and single/multi-axis positioning controllers. The company produces over 3.5 million meters of magnetic tape per year and serves industries including machine building, elevator technology, drive technology, robotics, medical/laboratory technology, mobile automation, and renewable energy.
Product overview
ELGO Electronic develops and manufactures magnetic measuring and positioning systems for industrial applications. The product portfolio is organized into three core categories: (1) Magnetic Measuring Systems including absolute and incremental linear measuring systems (EMAX, FMAX, EMIX series), absolute and incremental angle measuring systems (CMAX2, RMAX1, RMIX2), shaft information systems for elevators (LIMAX family), and rotary encoders; (2) Position Indicators including battery-powered (AZ/IZ series) and mains-operated displays (Z60-014 with RS485 interface); and (3) Positioning Controllers from compact entry-level (P4011, P40) to advanced touchscreen CNC systems (P40T, P52T). Products use non-contact magnetic technology with magnetic tapes and rings as reference standards, enabling wear-free position detection. The company also offers accessories including magnetic tapes, magnetic rings (including elastomer-based IP68 versions), CAN-I/O modules, and DC-Servo controllers. With over 3.5 million meters of magnetic tape produced annually, ELGO is a leading supplier in magnetic tape technology serving industries including elevator, machine building, drive technology, robotics, medical/laboratory technology, renewable energy, and mobile automation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Magnetic Measuring Systems Non-contact magnetic linear and angular measuring systems providing absolute or incremental position detection for industrial automation. Includes sensors, magnetic tapes/rings, and evaluation electronics.
- Z60-014 Quasi-Absolute Position Indicator Bus-capable modular measuring and display system supporting 1-3 axes with graphical LCD, RS485 interface for PLC communication, and quasi-absolute measurement via integrated rechargeable battery.
- PLMIX2 Incremental Sensor with CANopen Compact magnetic incremental length measuring sensor with integrated CANopen interface, resolution up to 0.005mm, 4m/s max operating speed, and 2mm reading distance.
- CMAX2 Absolute Angle Measuring System Ultra-compact absolute angle measuring system with miniaturized design (24.2 x 16 x 6.6mm), resolution up to 20-bit, BiSS-C or SSI communication, and incremental ABZ output signals for robotics, torque motors, and servo motors.
- LIMAX Shaft Information Systems Magnetic-tape-based shaft information systems for elevator applications providing absolute position detection and safety monitoring. Product lines include LIMAX STANDARD, LIMAX RED (SIL3 redundant), and LIMAX COMPACT (integrated safety).
- LIMAX1CP/2CP/3CP Safety Sensors LIMAX Compact series safety sensors combining absolute shaft position, speed monitoring, and safety functions (overspeed, final limits, ETSL, door zones, UCM) in single housing with electronic disconnection without relays.
- Positioning Controllers Single and multi-axis positioning controllers for machine applications, including compact entry-level P4011, P40 (1-2 axis), P40T touchscreen with programmable I/O, and P52T CNC touchscreen with LINUX OS.
- P52 CNC Touchscreen Controller Application-specific positioning controller featuring LINUX operating system and 7" or 10.1" touch LCD display, available as All-In-One or decentralized CNC system.
- EMAX Absolute Linear Measuring System Absolute magnetic linear measuring systems using dual-track pseudo-random encoding for distances up to 10 meters, including variants with IO-Link interface for industrial automation connectivity.
- EMIX Incremental Linear Measuring System Incremental magnetic linear measuring systems providing contactless, wear-free measurement. Multiple series (EMIX1, EMIX2, EMIX23) with various resolutions and interface options for different machine requirements.
- FMAX Absolute Linear Measuring System Absolute length-measuring system based on 3-track vernier principle with measuring lengths up to 650mm.
- GSI Guided Length-Measuring System Guided length-measuring system introduced in 2012 as a high-resolution alternative to glass scales, targeting precision measurement applications.
- NMAX Absolute Measuring System Absolute measuring system with 10/20m measuring length for 10mm wide magnetic tapes, expanding the absolute measurement product line.
- Battery-Powered Position Indicators Wireless position indicators with absolute or incremental magnetic measuring systems. AZ (absolute) and IZ (incremental) series offer completely self-sufficient operation for moving carriages and stop systems.
- Elastomer-Based Magnetic Rings
Quantifiable outcome
- Produces over 3.5 million meters of magnetic tape per year, making ELGO a leading supplier in magnetic tape technology
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Elgo Electronic
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Elgo Electronic technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Elgo Electronic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
34 partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.
- Omni Ray AGcoreOmni Ray AG is a Swiss trading and service company in industrial automation, founded in 1950 in Zurich. From June 2025, Omni Ray represents ELGO products in Switzerland for linear and rotative magnetic encoder systems in lab technology, medical technology, drive technology & robotics, mechanical engineering, renewable energies, and mobile automation sectors.
- Schroeter electronic HandelsgesellschaftcoreSchroeter electronic from Hamburg takes over customer support for German postal code areas 2, 3, and 4. The company has long-standing experience in selling components for control and automation technology.
- Rauh IndustrievertretungencoreMaximilian Rauh is a new partner for German postal code area 9, providing consultation and support for magnetic measuring and positioning products. The company brings long-standing experience in component distribution for control and automation technology.
- ELGO Batscale AGcoreSubsidiary in Balzers, Liechtenstein, founded in 1998. Handles development and sales of safe shaft information systems for elevators, including LIMAX RED and LIMAX COMPACT product lines.
- ELGO Electronic, Inc.coreSubsidiary in Schaumburg, Illinois, USA, founded in 2008. Serves as regional headquarters for North American market with Sales Manager Alexander Scherr.
- ELGO ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY Co., LTD.coreSubsidiary in Wuxi, China, founded in 2008. Serves as regional headquarters for Chinese market.
- ELGO Electronic K.K.coreSubsidiary in Kanagawa, Japan, founded in 2002 (originally in Yokohama). Manages Japanese market operations.
- FVC Techno BvbaregionalDistribution partner for Belgium, managed by Frederik van Criekinge from Linden.
- ESD Bulgaria Ltd.regionalDistribution partner for Bulgaria, managed by Tsano Simeonov from Sofia.
- NORDIC A/SregionalDistribution partner for Denmark, Iceland, Greenland, and Faroe Islands, managed by Morten Nielsen from Middelfart.
- FISEG OyregionalDistribution partner for Finland, managed by Aki Luukkainen from Espoo.
- ICA Systèmes MotionregionalDistribution partner for France, managed by Pierre Traut from Haguenau.
- WHP Technika Kft.regionalDistribution partner for Hungary, managed by Juhasz from Budapest.
- Emolice LimitedregionalDistribution partner for Ireland, based in Dublin.
- BTSensors S.r.l.regionalDistribution partner for Italy covering Emilia Romagna, San Marino, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Trentino Alto Adige, and Marche regions. Managed by Salvo Catania from Negrar di Valpolicella.
- Remak S.r.l.regionalDistribution partner for Italy covering Automation, Motor & Drives segments. Managed by Andrea Brunner from Milan.
- euro HUBNER benelux b.v.regionalDistribution partner for Netherlands, based in Venlo.
- AP Automatyka S.C.regionalDistribution partner for Poland, based in Poznań.
- ELEKTRO-TRADING Sp. z o.o.regionalDistribution partner for Poland, based in Gliwice.
- EncoSolution, S.L.regionalDistribution partner for Portugal and Spain, managed by Sten Sorensen from Barcelona.
- PS, d.o.o.regionalDistribution partner for Slovenia, managed by Marko Vrabl from Logatec.
- Thermokon-Danelko ABregionalDistribution partner for Sweden, managed by Per Liegnell from Ängelholm.
- NEC Mühendislik Hizmetleri Ticaret A.Ş.regionalDistribution partner for Turkey, managed by Nihat Coşkun from Istanbul.
- Emolice Sensing and ControlregionalDistribution partner for United Kingdom, managed by Emily Quinn from Basingstoke.
- Flexible Electronic SystemsregionalDistribution partner for South Africa, managed by Larusha Pienaar from Johannesburg.
- Cortesa Imporadora LTDAregionalDistribution partner for Brazil, managed by Karl Rauscher from Pinhais, Paraná.
- Mactrol Motion ControlregionalDistribution partner for India, managed by Mr. Bedi from Ghaziabad.
- WeSense Motion 2012 Ltd.regionalDistribution partner for Israel, managed by Sharon Gilboa from Kiryat-Tivon.
- Servo Dynamics Pte. Ltd.regionalDistribution partner for Singapore, managed by Herr Teo from Singapore.
- MIKRO Mi Tech Co. Ltd.regionalDistribution partner for South Korea, managed by Mr. G.M. Lee from Hwaseong-si.
- R.T.P. Technology Supply Ltd. PartnershipregionalDistribution partner for Thailand, managed by Rittha Phongsimaporn from Bangkok.
- BANG LI DA CO., LTD.regionalDistribution partner for Taiwan, managed by Sam from Tainan City.
- Treotham Automation Pty. Ltd.regionalDistribution partner for Australia, managed by Stephen Finn from Macquarie Park, NSW.
- Engineering Machine Sales Ltd.regionalDistribution partner for New Zealand, based in Auckland.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Elgo Electronic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Heidenhain: Heidenhain is the leading German manufacturer of linear and angle encoders, both magnetic and optical, serving industrial automation, machine tools, and elevator markets - directly comparable to ELGO across the same product category and customer base.
- SICK AG: SICK is a global German sensor manufacturer offering linear encoders, magnetic and inductive position sensors, and safety solutions for industrial automation - directly competing with ELGO in factory automation and safety applications.
- Balluff: Balluff produces magnetic and inductive position sensors, linear transducers, and IO-Link-enabled encoders for industrial automation - directly comparable to ELGO's incremental/absolute linear measurement portfolio.
- Pepperl+Fuchs: Pepperl+Fuchs offers a broad industrial sensor portfolio including magnetic linear and rotary encoders, position feedback systems, and IO-Link connectivity solutions - directly overlapping ELGO's core measurement products.
- Renishaw: Renishaw manufactures optical and magnetic encoders (acquired RLS) plus position feedback systems for industrial automation and robotics - a direct competitor in both linear and rotary encoder markets.
- Novotechnik: Novotechnik specializes in precision linear and rotary position sensors including contactless magnetic and inductive technologies - directly comparable product lines and customer profile to ELGO.
- ifm electronic: ifm electronic is a major German manufacturer of industrial position sensors, encoders, and IO-Link-enabled measurement devices for factory automation - a direct peer in industrial position sensing.
- Leine & Linde: Leine & Linde manufactures heavy-duty rotary encoders and linear measurement systems for industrial automation - comparable product architecture and target markets to ELGO's encoder business.
Emerging players
- CEDES: CEDES is a Swiss specialist in elevator and escalator safety sensors, light curtains, and door-zone detection systems - directly comparable to ELGO's LIMAX elevator safety product line.
Broad incumbents
- Siemens: Siemens offers encoders, positioning controllers (SINUMERIK, SIMOTION), and full industrial automation portfolios - a broad incumbent whose positioning controller and drive business overlaps with ELGO's P52 controller and motor-feedback products.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Elgo Electronic social profiles
Digital presenceElgo Electronic compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Elgo Electronic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Elgo Electronic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Elgo Electronic subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Elgo Electronic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Elgo Electronic M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Elgo Electronic
What does Elgo Electronic do?
ELGO Electronic develops and manufactures magnetic-based measuring and positioning systems for industrial automation. The portfolio includes absolute and incremental linear and angular encoder systems, shaft information systems for elevators, position indicators (battery-powered and mains-operated), and single/multi-axis positioning controllers. The company produces over 3.5 million meters of magnetic tape per year and serves industries including machine building, elevator technology, drive technology, robotics, medical/laboratory technology, mobile automation, and renewable energy.
Is Elgo Electronic a public or private company?
Elgo Electronic is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Elgo Electronic founded?
Elgo Electronic was founded in 1977. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Elgo Electronic based?
Elgo Electronic is headquartered in Rielasingen-worblingen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Elgo Electronic make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Magnetic Measurement Systems are the primary driver. The others are position Indicators, positioning Controllers, custom Encoder Systems and shaft Information Systems.
Who are Elgo Electronic's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Heidenhain, SICK AG, Balluff, Pepperl+Fuchs, Renishaw, Novotechnik, ifm electronic and Leine & Linde. CEDES is listed as an emerging player. Siemens is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Elgo Electronic have an API?
No public API is recorded for Elgo Electronic.
What industry is Elgo Electronic in?
Elgo Electronic's product category is Industrial Position Measurement Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGABAD, Industrial I/O, Signal Conditioning & Remote Terminal Units (RTUs). Its NAICS code is 334513 and its SIC code is 3823.