Berghof Automation

What Berghof Automation does

Berghof Automation GmbH is a German industrial automation and test-systems manufacturer headquartered in Eningen under Achalm near Stuttgart. Founded in 1966 as part of the Berghof Group (still family-owned by the Zundel family) and led by Managing Director Eric Wildeboer, the company designs and produces programmable logic controllers (PLCs), compact and modular controllers, safety controllers (SIL3/PLe), industrial PCs, touch panels, I/O systems, and AI-enabled building automation controllers — all unified on the open CODESYS software platform with Linux-based real-time operating systems and broad multi-protocol support (EtherCAT, Profinet, CAN/CANopen, Modbus, BACnet, KNX, EnOcean, OPC UA, Ethernet/IP). The company pioneered the world's first freely programmable microprocessor-based industrial controller (FPS 76) in 1976 and holds proprietary technology such as the CANtrol Powertrack conductor-rail communication system, with more than 20,000 controllers deployed in electric overhead conveyor applications worldwide.

The company monetizes through direct, quote-based enterprise sales of hardware plus bundled software and services (retrofit, PLC programming, maintenance, repair, and AI energy optimization) across three primary divisions: Automation Technology, Test and Inspection Technology (automotive exterior/interior, seat testing with cobots, radome testing, PTFE insulation testing), and Building Automation. It serves enterprise OEMs and integrators in automotive, machinery and plant engineering (packaging, conveyor/intralogistics), building automation, healthcare logistics, mining, and public-sector applications, with reference customers including Trepak International, REHAU, ERMAFA, Paul Hartmann AG, Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart, and Gardena. Distribution combines a regional direct sales force (DACH, international, plus dedicated test/inspection specialists) with a global network of Berghof Certified Partners; the company also operates a Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) and is positioning for EU Cyber Resilience Act and EU Data Act compliance. Headcount sits in the 251–500 range, the legal entity is Berghof Automation GmbH (Germany), and the firm is DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 certified.

Name

Berghof Automation

Legal name

Berghof Automation GmbH

Website

https://berghof-automation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Berghof Automation GmbH is a German industrial automation manufacturer (founded 1966, Eningen) producing CODESYS-based PLCs, safety controllers, and test/inspection systems for automotive, machinery, building automation, and logistics enterprise customers under the family-owned Berghof Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Eningen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of industrial control systems including PLCs, compact controllers, modular controllers, safety controllers, industrial PCs, touch panels, and I/O systems. Products are manufactured in-house at Eningen headquarters.
2. Software and Licensing: Software solutions including CODESYS-based programming, QR code libraries, and cloud connectivity solutions. Linux-based systems with real-time extensions.
3. Professional Services: PLC programming, retrofit services, equipment maintenance and support, and custom system development. Services include system integration, commissioning, and on-site support.
4. Test and Inspection Technology: Customized testing and inspection systems for automotive exterior (bumper testing), automotive interior, automated seat testing with cobots, radome testing systems, and special test benches.
5. Repair Services: Dedicated repair service for automation equipment, mentioned via berghof-reparaturservice.com.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Berghof Automation manufactures and supplies programmable logic controllers (PLCs), compact, modular, and safety controllers, industrial PCs, touch panels, and I/O systems based on the open CODESYS platform with Linux real-time operating systems. The company also designs and builds customized test and inspection systems for automotive exterior/interior components, automated seat testing with cobots, radome testing, and special test benches. Related services include PLC programming, retrofit, equipment maintenance, and a dedicated repair service center.

Product overview

Berghof Automation is a pioneer in industrial automation with over 50 years of experience, offering a comprehensive portfolio of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and automation solutions. The product portfolio centers on the CODESYS-based platform architecture with multiple product lines: Industrial Raspberry Pi controllers (B-Nimis MC-Pi series), Compact Controllers (B-FORTIS CC-Prime, B-Fortis CC-Slim S01), Modular Controllers, Safety Controllers (B-Nimis SC-1000 with SIL3/PLe certification), Display Controllers (B-PRIMIS ET-Pro), Touch Panels, I/O Systems, and the proprietary CANtrol Powertrack for electric overhead conveyors. Supporting these hardware products is the CODESYS Platform for programming and configuration. In parallel, Berghof offers Test and Inspection Technology including Automotive Exterior/Interior Testing, Automated Seat Testing with Cobots, Radome Testing Systems, PITT PTFE Insulation Test Technology, and Special Test Benches. Services include Retrofit, PLC Programming, Equipment Maintenance, and Repair Service. The company also integrates AI capabilities for energy optimization in building automation applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CANtrol: Decentralized, CAN bus-based modular industrial control system with Powertrack communication for conveyor systems
• B-Nimis
• B-FORTIS
• B-PRIMIS

Products and services

• Industrial Raspberry Pi Controllers (B-Nimis MC-Pi / BC-Pi Series) Industrial-grade CODESYS-based quadcore programmable logic controllers built on Raspberry Pi hardware, with USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, WLAN, Bluetooth, SD card slot, and connectivity to EtherCAT, Profinet, CAN/CANopen, Modbus, and standard cloud services. Designed for packaging machines, motion/CNC/robotics, and flexible automation use cases.
• B-FORTIS CC-Prime Compact PLC Top-of-range compact PLC from Berghof's B-FORTIS series, delivering maximum performance in a minimum footprint and capable of controlling up to 13 servo motors via EtherCAT. Used in high-performance packaging and motion applications.
• B-Fortis CC-Slim S01 Compact Motion Controller Compact controller for efficient motion control with EtherCAT communication, cycle times as fast as 500 µs, and precise positioning for industrial motion applications.
• Modular Controllers Modular PLC systems providing flexible and scalable CODESYS-based automation with integrated HMI and fast commissioning for machinery and plant engineering.
• B-Nimis SC-1000 Safety Controller (Safety PLCs) Freely programmable CODESYS Safety PLC offering SIL3 and PLe certification, PLCOpen safety function blocks, cross-communication, FSoE slave integration, and modular expandability for industrial safety applications.
• Compact Controllers (Kompaktsteuerungen) Space-optimized PLC solutions offering maximum performance with minimal footprint for industrial applications where installation space is constrained.
• B-PRIMIS ET-Pro Display Controller Display controller with a 15.6-inch resistive touch panel for centralized control and visualization of industrial applications and operator interfaces.
• Industrial PCs (Industrie PC) Industrial-grade PCs designed for harsh manufacturing environments, suitable for visualization, edge computing, and integration with Berghof PLC systems.
• Touch Panels (Bedienpanels) Operator panels and HMI devices for intuitive control and monitoring of industrial processes, integrated with Berghof's PLC platforms.
• I/O System Input/output expansion modules that connect sensors and actuators to Berghof PLC systems for distributed automation architectures.
• CANtrol Powertrack Communication System Communication system via contact wire/conductor rail for electric overhead conveyor systems, providing decentralized, CAN bus-based modular control with over 20,000 controllers deployed in EHB systems worldwide.
• Automotive Exterior Testing Systems Test and inspection technology for automotive exterior components including bumper testing and end-of-line (EOL) testing systems with AI-powered machine vision and multi-camera documentation.
• Automotive Interior Testing Systems Test and inspection technology for automotive interior components and assemblies, supporting quality assurance and precise measurement for interior parts production.
• Automated Seat Testing with Cobots Collaborative robot-based automated testing systems for automotive seating components, enabling flexible worker handling and intelligent test sequences.
• Radome Testing Systems Specialized testing systems for inspection and quality control of radomes, used in radar and aerospace-related applications.
• PITT - PTFE Insulation Test Technology Berghof's proprietary testing technology for PTFE insulation testing in industrial applications.
• Special Test Benches (Sonderprüfstände) Custom-designed testing and inspection systems for specialized industrial applications beyond Berghof's standard product range.
• Retrofit Services Modernization and upgrade services for legacy PLC systems, including real-time diagnostics and seamless WMS integration with zero downtime, enabling smart modernization of installed equipment.
• PLC Programming Services (SPS-Coding) Professional PLC coding and programming services for industrial automation applications, system integration, commissioning, and custom logic development on Berghof and third-party platforms.
• Equipment Support and Maintenance Ongoing plant support, maintenance, and on-site service for industrial automation systems, including predictive maintenance and lifecycle support.
• Repair Service (Berghof Reparaturservice) Dedicated repair services for automation equipment provided through Berghof's specialized repair service center, handled by its wholly owned subsidiary Berghof Reparaturservice.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90 closures per minute throughput for packaging machines
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Scandinavian Drive Technologies (SDT)coreTechnology or IntegrationLong-standing technology partnership with SDT, a specialist in automation of machines and plants in Scandinavia. SDT specializes in motion applications with servo drives. SDT's customers require maximum performance with minimum space and no proprietary solutions. Berghof supplies controllers and operator panels for SDT projects including the Floating Capper.
• 3S - Smart Software Solutions (CODESYS)coreTechnology or IntegrationBerghof is among the first and most experienced partners of 3S and its CODESYS platform, which has become an internationally established engineering tool and world standard for many manufacturers. Berghof helped establish CODESYS as the preferred automation development environment.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• KUNBUS: German Industrial Raspberry Pi specialist (Revolution Pi) targeting a similar niche as Berghof's Industrial Raspberry Pi line. Emerging niche competitor in the same open-Raspberry-Pi-for-automation segment, particularly in building and energy applications.

Others

• CODESYS (3S-Smart Software Solutions): Platform partner rather than competitor: CODESYS is the IEC 61131-3 runtime/engineering tool Berghof standardizes on. Berghof is "among the first and most experienced" CODESYS partners, making 3S a strategic ecosystem dependency rather than a competing vendor.

Direct peers

• WAGO Kontakttechnik: Manufacturer of modular controllers (PFC200), I/O systems, and building automation hardware with e!COCKPIT (CODESYS-based). Competes head-to-head with Berghof in industrial and building automation segments with similar open-standard positioning.
• Beckhoff Automation: German PC-based automation specialist with TwinCAT (a CODESYS-alternative IEC 61131 platform), EtherCAT-native controllers, and a strong mid-market following. Most directly comparable CODESYS-competing vendor targeting packaging, intralogistics, and building automation mid-market accounts.
• Phoenix Contact: PLCnext Technology controllers (open IEC 61131 platform), I/O systems, and industrial Ethernet infrastructure. Comparable as a German mid-premium open-standard automation peer with broad industrial and process-industry reach.
• B&R Industrial Automation (ABB): Machine automation specialist within ABB serving packaging, printing, and plastics. Comparable motion-control and EtherCAT-based PLC portfolio targeting the same packaging-machine OEMs (e.g., Trepak-style integrators) as Berghof.

Broad incumbents

• Siemens: Global market leader in PLCs (SIMATIC) and industrial automation. Broad incumbent whose product line, installed base, and global sales reach dwarf Berghof's, and whose CODESYS-independent SIMATIC platform defines the alternative to Berghof's open-standard approach.
• Schneider Electric: Modicon/Modicon M580 PLC vendor with deep building automation (EcoStruxure) and industrial offerings. Comparable as a broad incumbent covering both factory automation and building/HVAC segments served by Berghof.
• Rockwell Automation: Allen-Bradley/ControlLogix vendor and dominant North American PLC incumbent. Comparable in targeting automotive and discrete manufacturers, though with a proprietary Logix platform rather than Berghof's open-standard approach.
• Eaton: XP-503, XC, and GALILEO controller families plus XV touch panels overlap with Berghof's compact/modular PLC and HMI portfolio. Comparable in industrial automation breadth though with a North American-centric footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/berghof
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berghof-automation
• Xx.com/berghofgroup

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Berghof Automation