BN Automation

What BN Automation does

BN Automation AG is a medium-sized German engineering company founded in 1990 and headquartered in Ilmenau, Thuringia, providing process automation, data solutions, and information technology services to industrial and utility customers across the water, energy, and industry verticals. The company's offering spans the full automation engineering lifecycle—from basic and detail engineering through PLC and SCADA systems, process control technology, telecontrol technology, and safety instrumented systems (SIS)—including specialized migration capabilities for legacy platforms such as Contronic P, Teleperm M, Siemens ASX/LSX, and SIMATIC S5. Its proprietary software portfolio includes TIBS (Technical Information and Control System) for process data archiving, OEE analysis, and energy reporting, and anexio® for maintenance management; both serve as bridges between process and operations control layers. International projects have been delivered in Brazil, Spain, and Luxembourg, supported by offices in Ilmenau (headquarters) and Bergheim (North Rhine-Westphalia).

Revenue is generated primarily through project-based engineering services supplemented by recurring maintenance and after-sales contracts, 24x7 support, and software licensing for TIBS and anexio®. Customers include municipal water utilities (Syndicat des Eaux du Sud in Luxembourg), automotive manufacturers (DAF Caminhões/PACCAR in Brazil), and food and beverage producers (Agrozumos/Richard Hartinger Group in Spain). The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales, with technical proposals and project-based contracting through sales teams at the Ilmenau and Bergheim offices. Three vertical segments—Water, Energy, and Industry—form the segmentation approach. The company reported FY2025 revenue of €26.9 million, EBIT of €4.124 million (15.3% return on sales), and order intake of €39.4 million, with 156 employees.

BN Automation AG is structured as a publicly listed Aktiengesellschaft whose shares trade privately via a trustee service rather than on a stock exchange. The three founding families and their relatives retain 79% ownership, employees hold 8% through a share participation program introduced at the 2000 conversion from GmbH to AG, and external shareholders hold 13%; the shareholder base comprises 224 holders as of 2025. The firm maintains a 48.6% equity ratio and has historically distributed at least 50% of profits as dividends while reinvesting the remainder. Additional strategic positioning includes membership in the Cyber Security Alliance and participation in DWA/DVGW cyber security working groups for critical infrastructure compliance under the German IT Security Act, and a dual study partnership with Duale Hochschule Gera-Eisenach (DHGE) for talent development.

Name

BN Automation

Legal name

BN Automation AG

Website

https://bn-automation.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

BN Automation AG is a German engineering company founded in 1990 and headquartered in Ilmenau, providing process automation, data solutions, and IT services to water, energy, and industrial customers across Germany and internationally, with proprietary TIBS and anexio® software and €26.9 million in FY2025 revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Process Automation Engineering

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)

akta.pro primary industry

Control System Integration & Engineering Services (Design, Commissioning, Retrofits) (IMAGABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH), Process Automation Instrumentation & Control (DCS, Valves, Actuators, Analyzers) (IMAHAHAM), Process & Batch Control Software (Recipe Management, ISA-88) (IMAGABAH), Instrumentation, Controls & Automation (DCS/PLC/SCADA, SIS, Metering) (EUAEAFAC)

Keywords

• Process automation engineering
• SCADA and PLC systems
• Industrial data solutions
• Energy management systems
• Legacy automation migration

Headquarters

HQ city

Ilmenau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project-based Engineering Services: BN Automation generates the majority of revenue through engineering projects including automation systems, electrical engineering, and IT solutions. Projects are delivered to customers in water, energy, and industry sectors with typical project sizes ranging from €20-40 million in annual order volume.
2. Maintenance and After-Sales Services: Recurring revenue from maintenance contracts, after-sales services, 24x7 on-call standby, and remote maintenance services. Covers all components and levels of automation solutions from field devices through operational data management systems.
3. Software Products: License and support revenue from proprietary software products including TIBS (Technical Information and Control System) and anexio® (maintenance management). Software forms a bridge between process and operations control levels serving as MES, ODA, or maintenance system foundations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BN Automation AG designs and delivers integrated process automation, electrical engineering, data solutions, and IT security services for industrial and utility customers in the water, energy, and industry sectors. Core deliverables include PLC and SCADA systems, process control and telecontrol technology, safety instrumented systems, legacy automation migration (Contronic P, Teleperm M, Siemens ASX/LSX, SIMATIC S5), switchgear construction, ISO 50001 energy management, operational data management, MES/factory control systems, and proprietary software (TIBS, anexio®), supported by 24x7 after-sales maintenance.

Product overview

BN Automation AG is a medium-sized engineering company offering an integrated portfolio of automation, information technology, and electrical engineering solutions. The product suite is organized into five main divisions: BN Automation (process automation, PLC/SCADA, process control, telecontrol, safety, and migration), BN DataSolutions (energy management, operational data management, MES, and factory control systems), BN Software (TIBS and anexio®), BN Electrical Engineering (switchgear construction and electrical project planning), and BN Information Technology (IT infrastructure and security). The company employs over 160 staff and serves the water, energy, and industry sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BN DataSolutions: Data solutions and operational data management services including energy management, manufacturing execution systems, and factory management systems.
• BN Software
• BN Electrical Engineering
• BN Information Technology
• BN Academy
• anexio®
• TIBS

Products and services

• BN Automation (Process Automation Solutions) Process automation solutions for industrial and utility customers covering advice, basic and detail engineering, process instrumentation, PLC and SCADA systems, process control technology, telecontrol technology, safety instrumented systems, and migration of legacy automation systems (Contronic P, Teleperm M, Siemens ASX/LSX, SIMATIC S5). Targeted at industrial and utility customers in water, energy, and manufacturing sectors.
• BN DataSolutions Data integration and management solutions enabling horizontal and vertical integration of operational data, covering advice and conception, energy management per ISO 50001, operational data management, maintenance management, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), and production and factory control systems. For industrial and utility customers.
• BN Software (TIBS and anexio®) Software solutions bridging process and operations control levels, providing TIBS (Technical Information and Control System) for process data archiving, ATV logging, OEE analysis, and monthly energy reporting, plus anexio® maintenance management software. Used by industrial and utility customers as a foundation for MES, ODA, or maintenance systems.
• BN Electrical Engineering Electrical engineering services for industrial and utility customers, including planning electrical projects, switchgear construction, and construction supervision and installations.
• BN Information Technology IT services covering IT infrastructure, IT security (including German IT Security Act compliance for critical infrastructure operators), communication solutions, and IT service and support. Targeted at utilities and industrial customers required to comply with critical infrastructure regulations.
• After-Sales Service and Maintenance Recurring maintenance contracts and after-sales services including 24x7 on-call standby, support hotline with fixed response times, spare parts storage, preventive maintenance, and remote maintenance covering field devices, automation, and operational data management systems for water, energy, and industrial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dondelange water works ultra-filtration plant: 3x200 m³/h capacity (600 m³/h total)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Duale Hochschule Gera-Eisenach (DHGE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership for dual study programs in Electrical Engineering/Automation Technology. Theory phases at DHGE campus in Gera alternate quarterly with practice phases at BNA offices in Ilmenau or Bergheim. BNA provides rent-free company apartments in Gera and Ilmenau for students. Dr. Thomas Licht has supervised over 50 successful dual students to graduation.
• Cyber Security AllianceminorOthersBNA is a member of the Cyber Security Alliance, which informs their IT security consulting services for operators of critical infrastructure as required by the German IT Security Act.
• DWA/DVGW Cyber Security Working GroupminorOthersBNA participates in the DWA (German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste) and DVGW (German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water) cyber security working group, contributing to sector recommendations for critical infrastructure protection.
• Richard Hartinger GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgrozumos SA, a member company of Richard Hartinger Group, is a key customer for whom BNA delivered energy and operational data management systems for their juice production facility in Spain producing 180 million units annually.
• DAF Trucks N.V. (PACCAR Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBNA supplied electrical, instrumentation and control technology for DAF's automated gluing plant for truck windows at their new assembly facility in Ponta Grossa, Brazil.
• Syndicat des Eaux du Sud (SES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxembourg water utility supplying 23 towns and communities. BNA delivered switchgear, control and instrumentation technology for Dondelange water works ultra-filtration plant expansion.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Bilfinger: German-listed industrial services provider with significant process-industry automation and electrical engineering scope for water, energy, and industrial clients; most directly comparable German peer in terms of project-based service model and end-market exposure.
• SAMSON: German family-owned mid-cap specialist in control valves and process automation; competes in the same water, energy, and process-industry control loop where BNA delivers instrumentation, PLC, and SCADA integration.
• IDS GmbH: German process automation and IT integration specialist serving similar water, energy, and industrial customers with comparable PLC/SCADA, telecontrol, and operational data management capabilities.
• COPA-DATA: Austrian-headquartered SCADA software vendor (zenon) whose platform directly overlaps with BNA's TIBS offering in process data archiving, visualization, and energy reporting across water, energy, and manufacturing customers.
• Endress+Hauser: German family-owned global leader in industrial process measurement instrumentation; competes with BNA in instrumentation and process automation for water, energy, and industrial customers and frequently partners or substitutes on similar project scopes.
• Phoenix Contact: German-headquartered industrial automation, interconnection, and control specialist of comparable mid-cap scale serving process industries including water, energy, and manufacturing — directly overlapping with BNA's PLC, SCADA, and switchgear scope.

Broad incumbents

• Siemens: Global automation incumbent whose SIMATIC PLCs, SCADA systems, and migration paths from legacy platforms (ASX/LSX, SIMATIC S5) BNA explicitly targets for replacement services — a competing OEM/integrator across the same end customers.
• ABB: Global automation and industrial controls giant active in process automation, drives, and switchgear; competes with BNA in energy, water, and industrial plant projects; BNA supervisory board experience includes ABB background.
• Festo: Global German automation and pneumatics incumbent active in factory automation and process control; named in connection with BNA's supervisory board advisory relationships and overlaps with BNA's automation and electrical engineering offerings.
• Schneider Electric: Global automation and energy management incumbent; competes with BNA in PLC/SCADA, energy management (EcoStruxure), and water/utility process automation where BNA provides TIBS-based energy reporting and switchgear integration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BN-Automation-AG-141223772981995
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bn-automation-ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 BN Automation