ELESTA GMBH

What ELESTA GMBH does

ELESTA GmbH, founded in 1997 and headquartered in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland, is a specialized manufacturer of electromechanical relays with forcibly guided contacts (compliant with IEC 61810-3) and industrial sensors for functional safety applications. The company operates as a subsidiary within the PILZ Group, with its industrial sensor division positioned as an innovation driver within the parent group. ELESTA's product portfolio spans approximately 25 relay series covering 2–10 poles, switching currents from 3 mA to 16 A, and excitation voltages from 3 VDC to 220 VDC, organized into families such as the SID double armature series (replacing two relays with one), ultra-flat SIF series (10.9 mm height), ATEX-capable SIM series, high-current SIR and SIP series, plus DIN-rail relay modules (SMF3, SMF5, SMD4) with integrated TVS-diode protection. The company also produces industrial sensors using FUJI NXTR S placement lines.

ELESTA's technology differentiation rests on three pillars: mechanically linked forcibly guided contacts that prevent simultaneous closure of counter-functional contacts even under fault conditions; proprietary SID double armature architecture reducing PCB space, material use, and energy consumption; and a comprehensive certification portfolio (TÜV, UL, cULus, CE) covering functional safety standards (IEC 62061, EN ISO 13849), railway (EN 50155), and ATEX requirements. Production runs on 100% green electricity, products are PFAS-free and REACH/RoHS compliant, and packaging was transitioned in 2024 to biodegradable bioform material, reducing transport distance by approximately 6,000 km.

The business operates as a B2B component supplier with quote-based pricing, no public price list, and revenue generated entirely through hardware sales of relays, modules, and sensors. Go-to-market combines direct field sales through regional offices in Northern and Southern Germany with a global distributor network serving 50+ countries (including Elgood Oy for Finland and the Baltics since May 2023). Customers are safety-critical equipment manufacturers across industrial automation and machine building (primary), medical technology, elevator and lifting systems, railway and transportation, process technology and combustion plants, and building control/access security. ELESTA also develops customer-specific relay variants collaboratively, with short delivery times and multi-year product availability commitments, functioning as a long-cycle embedded supplier into certified end-products.

Name

ELESTA GMBH

Legal name

ELESTA GmbH

Website

https://elesta-gmbh.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

ELESTA GmbH, a Swiss subsidiary of PILZ Group, designs and manufactures electromechanical relays with forcibly guided contacts and industrial sensors for functional safety, supplying certified components to safety-critical equipment manufacturers across industrial automation, medical, elevator, railway, and process industries via direct sales and a 50+ country distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electromechanical Safety Relays and Industrial Sensors

NAICS

Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (3353)

SIC

Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Electronic Components & Accessories (3670)

akta.pro primary industry

Electromechanical Components (Relays, Switches, Potentiometers, Encoders) (IMAGAJAB)

Keywords

• Electromechanical relays
• Forcibly guided contacts
• Functional safety relays
• Industrial safety sensors
• Relay modules

Headquarters

HQ city

Bad Ragaz

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electromechanical Relay Sales: ELESTA designs, develops, and manufactures electromechanical relays with forcibly guided contacts and relay modules, sold as components to equipment manufacturers for integration into safety-critical systems.
2. Custom/Specific Relay Variants: ELESTA develops customer-specific relay variants (e.g., EN 50155 for railway applications, process industry, elevator construction) with the customer, offering short delivery times and multi-year availability.
3. Sensor Products: ELESTA develops and produces sensor products for industrial automation in the field of functional safety, including safety sensors assembled on FUJI placement lines.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ELESTA GmbH develops, manufactures, and sells electromechanical relays with forcibly guided contacts compliant with IEC 61810-3, DIN-rail relay modules, and industrial safety sensors for use in functional-safety control systems. Its products are sold as components to equipment manufacturers in industrial automation, medical technology, elevator systems, railway, process technology, and building security, with standard series ranging from 2 to 10 poles and switching currents from 3 mA to 16 A.

Product overview

ELESTA GMBH develops and produces electromechanical relays with forcibly guided contacts (according to IEC 61810-3) and sensor products for functional safety applications. The product portfolio centers on relay series with 2-10 contacts covering switching currents from 3mA to 16A and excitation voltages from 3 VDC to 220 VDC. Key relay families include the innovative SID double-armature series (SID3, SID4) that replace two conventional relays with one device, the ultra-flat SIF series (10.9mm height), compact SIS and SIM series with ATEX capability, high-power SIR series (up to 10A), and SIP series for 3-phase applications (up to 16A). Supporting relay modules (SMF3, SMF5, SMD4) provide DIN rail-mountable solutions with integrated TVS diode protection and LED status indicators. The portfolio serves industrial automation, robotics, medical technology, elevator/lifting systems, process technology, railway technology, and building management. The company also manufactures industrial sensors and offers sustainable packaging as part of its environmental responsibility initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SID3 Baureihe 3-pole double-armature relay with two independent forcibly guided contact sets (2 NO + 1 NC) compliant with IEC 61810-3 Type A. Space-saving design that replaces two conventional relays in safety applications, with optional component mounting underneath the relay.
• SID4 Baureihe 4-pole double-armature relay with two independent forcibly guided contact sets (3 NO + 1 NC) compliant with IEC 61810-3 Type A. Two independently acting magnetic armatures and an environmentally friendly design.
• SIS 2 Baureihe 2-pole relay with forcibly guided contacts per IEC 61810-3 in a very compact design. Features high shock resistance, large excitation voltage range, low coil power consumption, and high switching reliability through serrated crown contacts.
• SIS 2 sensitiv Baureihe 2-pole sensitive relay with forcibly guided contacts. Minimal coil power consumption (200 mW nominal, 40 mW holding) and very low self-heating for medical and low-power applications.
• SIS 3 Baureihe 3-pole relay with forcibly guided contacts per IEC 61810-3 in a very compact form factor. High shock resistance and reliable switching through serrated crown contacts.
• SIS 3 sensitiv Baureihe 3-pole sensitive relay with very low coil power consumption (0.4 W) and forcibly guided contacts.
• SIS 4 Baureihe 4-pole relay with forcibly guided contacts (3 NO + 1 NC or 2 NO + 2 NC) in compact design. 48 x 16.6 x 16.5 mm dimensions.
• SIS 4 sensitiv Baureihe 4-pole sensitive relay with 0.33 W power consumption and forcibly guided contacts.
• SIS 6 Baureihe 6-pole relay with forcibly guided contacts (4 NO + 2 NC). Compact design with high reliability.
• SIS 6 sensitiv Baureihe 6-pole sensitive relay with 0.44 W power consumption and forcibly guided contacts.
• SIF 3 Baureihe 3-pole relay with forcibly guided contacts per IEC 61810-3 in an extremely flat 10.9 mm design with wide switching current range.
• SIF 4 Baureihe 4-pole relay with forcibly guided contacts in an extremely flat 10.9 mm design. Dimensions 41 x 29.4 x 10.9 mm.
• SIF 6 Baureihe 6-pole relay with forcibly guided contacts in an extremely flat 10.9 mm design. Dimensions 53.6 x 33.5 x 10.9 mm.
• SGR 282 ZK Baureihe Classic 2-pole relay with changeover contacts (2 CO or 1 NO + 1 NC) on 5.08 mm pitch. Molded coil construction suitable for ATEX applications. Current range 4 mA to 8 A.
• SIM 2 Baureihe Compact 2-pole relay with forcibly guided contacts. Molded coil construction suitable for ATEX applications. Crown contacts for high switching reliability.
• SIM 3 Baureihe Compact 3-pole relay with forcibly guided contacts. Molded coil construction for ATEX applications. Crown contacts and high creepage distances.
• SIM 4 Baureihe Compact 4-pole relay (2 NO + 2 NC) with forcibly guided contacts. Molded coil construction for ATEX applications.
• SIR 4 Baureihe High-performance compact 4-pole relay with forcibly guided contacts for switching loads up to 10 A. Crown contacts and large coil operating range.
• SIR 4 sensitiv Baureihe High-performance compact 4-pole relay with sensitive coil (0.36 W) and forcibly guided contacts for switching up to 10 A.
• SIR 4 power Baureihe Power relay with two power contacts for high peak currents (up to 60 A). 4-pole configuration (2 NO + 2 NC or 3 NO + 1 NC).
• SIR 6 Baureihe 6-pole relay with forcibly guided contacts. Configurable as 5 NO + 1 NC, 4 NO + 2 NC, or 3 NO + 3 NC.
• SIR 8 Baureihe 8-pole freely configurable relay with forcibly guided contacts. Coil voltages 4 VDC to 110 VDC.
• SIR 10 Baureihe 10-pole freely configurable relay with forcibly guided contacts.
• SIP 6 Baureihe 6-pole relay for highest loads in 3-phase applications and DC loads. Features 4 NO power contacts and 1 NO/1 NC or 2 NC signal contacts. Switching up to 16 A.
• SISF 2 Baureihe 2-pole relay with forcibly guided contacts (1 NO + 1 NC) for switching currents 3 mA to 6 A. Discontinued for new developments.
• SISF 3 Baureihe 3-pole relay with 2 NO + 1 NC contacts. Discontinued for new developments.
• SMF3 Relay Module 3-pole relay module with forcibly guided contacts for 35 mm DIN-rail mounting. Features LED status display and TVS-diode protection. 2 NO + 1 NC contact configuration. Switching current range 3 mA to 10 A; coil voltages 5 VDC to 110 VDC.
• SMF5 Relay Module 6-pole relay module with forcibly guided contacts for 35 mm DIN-rail mounting. Available as 3 NO + 2 NC (SMF328/329) or 4 NO + 1 NC (SMF418/419).
• SMD4 Relay Module 4-pole relay module with double-armature relay (two forcibly guided contacts in series per path) for 35 mm DIN-rail mounting. Features LED display and TVS-diode protection. Configurable as 3 NO + 1 NC (SMD318/319). Switching current range 3 mA to 8 A; coil voltages 5 VDC to 110 VDC.
• Industrial Sensors In-house developed and produced sensor products for industrial automation in functional-safety applications. Production uses FUJI NXTR S placement lines for rigid and semi-flexible printed circuit boards.
• Relay Sockets & Accessories Socket solutions including the SRD series for relay mounting and connectivity, supporting ELESTA relay integration into customer systems.
• Custom/Specific Relay Variants Customer-specific relay variants developed in collaboration with OEMs (e.g., EN 50155 for railway applications, process industry, elevator construction), offered with short delivery times and multi-year availability.

Quantifiable outcome

• SID relay replaces two conventional relays, reducing PCB space and component count
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Elgood OycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2023Elgood Oy, based in Vantaa, Finland, serves as ELESTA's exclusive distributor for Finland and the Baltic States since May 2023. The company is a member of the ADDTEC Group (140+ companies, 3,000 employees), serving industrial automation, process industry, and energy sectors. Elgood provides local sales support, product management, and one-stop shopping through its well-stocked warehouse and web store.
• Pilz GmbHflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerELESTA GmbH is a member of the Pilz group of companies. ELESTA's industrial sensor division became the innovation driver within the Pilz group. Marcel Mettler, ELESTA's current CEO, previously served as Managing Director of the Pilz sales branch in Switzerland and as Vice President – Europe Region Central East at Pilz.
• Stiftung ArwoleminorOthersStiftung Arwole is an organization supporting social and economic inclusion of adults with learning difficulties and mental or psychological disabilities. ELESTA has worked with Arwole since 2014, having them clean containers used daily in the company.
• ARGO FoundationminorOthersARGO Foundation, based in Chur with eight facilities in the canton of Graubünden, operates workshops with protected jobs and training places. ELESTA has partnered with ARGO since 2008 for cable assembly.
• Feschtland WerkstättenminorOthersFeschtland Werkstätten is a second-labor-market production workshop run by the Brocki Grischun association, offering jobs for adults with mental disabilities. ELESTA has partnered with Feschtland since 2008 for collection of recycling materials.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Omron: Japanese industrial automation incumbent offering safety relays and safety controllers. Overlaps with ELESTA in functional-safety components but competes primarily through integrated safety-system solutions rather than standalone relays.
• ABB: Global automation and electrification major offering safety relays and safety control products. Overlaps with ELESTA in industrial functional-safety applications but as part of a much broader portfolio.
• Siemens: Global industrial automation incumbent whose SIRIUS safety relay line competes with ELESTA in functional-safety applications. Competes through integrated automation portfolios rather than as a focused relay specialist.
• Schmersal: German safety specialist focused on safety switches, sensors, and safety relay modules. Comparable functional-safety portfolio and customer overlap with ELESTA, with broader emphasis on safety sensors and interlocks.
• TE Connectivity: Global connector and relay manufacturer with a broad safety-relay portfolio. Competes with ELESTA in functional-safety applications but as part of a much wider component and connector catalog serving diverse industries.

Direct peers

• Wieland Electric: German manufacturer of electrical interconnection and safety products including safety relay modules. Direct competitor to ELESTA in DIN-rail safety relay modules for industrial automation and building control.
• Panasonic Industry: Panasonic's industrial-components division manufactures relays including safety-relay product lines and was a co-presenter with ELESTA at the Power of Electronics user forum — overlapping in safety-relay technology and customer segments.
• Finder: Italian relay manufacturer offering a broad portfolio including safety relays with forcibly guided contacts. Competes directly with ELESTA across industrial automation, elevator, and process-industry safety applications.
• Phoenix Contact: German manufacturer of industrial connectivity and automation products including safety relays with forcibly guided contacts. Closest direct competitor to ELESTA in IEC 61810-3 compliant relays for functional-safety applications.

Emerging players

• Hongfa Technology: China's largest relay manufacturer with expanding safety-relay offerings. Competes primarily on price in adjacent general-purpose segments but is increasingly targeting functional-safety niches overlapping with ELESTA's catalog.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 ELESTA GMBH