PIC
PIC GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer of magnetic sensing components — reed switches, Hall-effect sensors, TMR sensors, level sensors, and matching magnets — serving industrial equipment, appliance, e-mobility, medical-device, and building-technology OEMs worldwide via tri-shore production in Germany, China, and Turkey.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersWendelstein, Germany
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What PIC does
PIC GmbH (legally: PIC Proximity Instrumentation Controls Kontaktbauelemente GmbH) is a privately held German sensor manufacturer headquartered in Wendelstein, near Nuremberg, founded in 1976 and operating as a GmbH under founders/managing directors Georg Greppmair and Katrin Sommer. The company designs, manufactures, and globally distributes magnetic-based sensing components centered on three complementary technology platforms: hermetically sealed reed switches (in micro, standard, power, and special variants), solid-state Hall-effect sensors (HS series), and Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors (TS series), plus a portfolio of permanent magnets (NdFeB, SmCo, AlNiCo, Ferrite), reed-based level sensors, stainless-steel and polymer float sensors, and customized sensor assemblies.
Production is split across three sites — Germany (HQ/engineering and quality), China, and Turkey — with sales offices and wholly-owned subsidiary PIC Sensors Asia Ltd. supporting commercial coverage in Asia (including a Hong Kong contact point). The product catalog spans more than 100 SKUs organized by form factor (through-hole, SMD, flatpack, threaded, snap-fit, press-fit, cylindrical, flange-mount), with custom engineering services adapting standard platforms to customer-specific AT values, housings, and operating-temperature envelopes (standard -20°C to +85°C; specialized variants up to +150°C, +180°C, and +300°C).
PIC generates revenue purely through B2B hardware sales to industrial customers, with quote-based pricing (not publicly disclosed), multi-year contracts inferred from long-lifecycle industrial and medical use cases, and a worldwide distributor network (with live distributor inventory search at dilp.netcomponents.com) plus direct sales. The company serves a diversified end-market mix including industrial equipment manufacturers, white-goods/appliance OEMs (washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, water heaters), e-bike/e-mobility manufacturers, medical device manufacturers (e.g., miniature reed switches in pacemakers), building technology/security integrators, and hydraulics/pneumatics applications. Distribution is supported by multilingual digital presence (DE/EN/TR/CN), regular trade-show participation at Electronica and WIN Eurasia, RoHS/REACH/IP67/GDPR compliance, and an online sensor configurator for custom-spec orders.
PIC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PIC
- Legal name
- PIC Proximity Instrumentation Controls Kontaktbauelemente GmbH
- Website
- https://pic-gmbh.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- PIC GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer of magnetic sensing components — reed switches, Hall-effect sensors, TMR sensors, level sensors, and matching magnets — serving industrial equipment, appliance, e-mobility, medical-device, and building-technology OEMs worldwide via tri-shore production in Germany, China, and Turkey.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PIC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Magnetic Sensor Components
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531)
- SIC
- Electronic Coils, Transformers & Other Inductors (3677), Electronic Components & Accessories (3670), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Magnetic Sensors (Hall/Magnetoresistive/Compass) (HDAHALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Passive Components (Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors, Ferrites) (IMAGAJAA)
Keywords
Where PIC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wendelstein
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
PIC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Sensor Components and Assemblies: Revenue generated from the sale of magnetic and sensor components including reed switches, reed sensors, hall sensors, TMR sensors, level sensors, magnets, and associated assemblies. Products are sold in standard configurations and customized variants. The company serves industrial customers exclusively.
- Customized/Configured Products: Revenue from customer-specific sensor configurations based on standard product platforms. Customers use the online sensor configurator or contact sales directly for bespoke solutions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Standard Products - Quote-based industrial pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
PIC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PIC GmbH designs, manufactures, and supplies magnetic-sensor components based on Reed, Hall-effect, and TMR principles, including Reed switches (micro, standard, power, special, and SMD), Reed sensors in multiple housings, Hall sensors, TMR sensors, level and float sensors, and matching permanent magnets. The company sells standard catalog products as well as customer-specific customized sensor solutions to industrial OEMs across automation, appliance, e-mobility, medical, building technology, and hydraulics/pneumatics markets, distributing through direct sales and an international distributor network with production in Germany, China, and Turkey.
Product overview
PIC GmbH is a German sensor technology company specializing in magnetic-based sensing solutions. The product portfolio centers on reed switch technology (electromagnetic switches in hermetically sealed glass tubes), offered in multiple form factors: standard through-hole reed switches, SMD (surface-mount device) reed switches for automated PCB assembly, and specialized power/high-voltage variants. Reed sensors package reed switches in various housings (flatpack, cylindrical/tubular, threaded) for different mounting requirements. Adjacent technologies include Hall-effect sensors (HS series) and TMR (Tunneling Magneto-Resistance) sensors (TS series) for solid-state magnetic field detection. Level sensing solutions combine reed switches with floating elements (PLS series level sensors, PP/PA/stainless steel float sensors). The portfolio includes matching permanent magnets (MSM series in NdFeB, SmCo, AlNiCo, Ferrite materials) optimized to actuate the company's sensors. Custom engineering services adapt standard products to specific application requirements. The company also serves the e-bike electric mobility market with dedicated sensor products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Reed Switches (Micro) Ultra-miniature Reed switches (HSR-0025, HSR-0035, HSR-502, PMC-0701) for compact applications requiring minimal switching dimensions, including medical device and implant use cases.
- Reed Switches (Standard) Standard Reed switches (PMC-0822, PMC-1001, PMC-1401, PMC-2003, PMC-1515, PMC-1496B, PMC-1496S, TRH-200B, TRH-200S) for general-purpose contact switching in industrial and appliance applications.
- Reed Switches (Power) Power Reed switches (PMC-2021, PMC-3617, PMC-5001, PMC-5002, PMC-5025, HSR-834WT) for high-power switching applications.
- Reed Switches (Special) Special Reed switches (HSR-910WT-V8K/V11K/V15K, HSR-916WT-V8K/V11K/V15K, PMC-1401X, PMC-5002X, PMC-5025X) for high-voltage and custom applications.
- SMD Reed Switches Surface-mount device (SMD) Reed switches in FH, Z, S, F, T, and TH series plus LP-series reed chains for automated PCB assembly.
- Reed Sensors (Flatpack) Reed sensors in flatpack housings (MS-313, MS-324, MS-328, MS-332 series) with Form A (normally open) and Form B (normally closed) contact configurations.
- Reed Sensors (Through Hole) Through-hole Reed sensors (MS-104, MS-105, MS-106, MS-107, MS-108, MS-110X) for PCB mounting.
- Reed Sensors (Snap-fit, Press-fit, Tubular) Reed sensors with snap-fit mounting (MS-320, MS-390), press-fit mounting (MS-2431), and cylindrical tubular housings (MS-208 to MS-217 series).
- Reed Sensors (Threaded) Threaded tubular Reed sensors (MS-225, MS-226M, MS-228, MS-228M, MS-2210M, MS-2212M) with various thread sizes for industrial mounting.
- Hall Sensors Hall-effect sensors (HS series) in flange mount (HS-3511), flatpack (HS-324), and threaded (HS-2210M, HS-2212M) configurations for non-contact magnetic field detection.
- TMR Sensors Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors (TS series) in flange mount (TS-3511), flatpack (TS-324), and threaded (TS-2210M, TS-2212M) configurations for high-sensitivity magnetic field sensing.
- Level Sensors (PLS Series) Reed-based PLS level sensors in PP (PLS-PP), PPH (PLS-PPH), PA (PLS-PA), and stainless steel (PLS-VA) housings for liquid level detection, operating without external power supply.
- Float Sensors Float sensors for level measurement including PP floats (PFC-1806, PFC-2320, PFC-2416, PFM-PP), PA floats (PFC-2416), and stainless steel floats (PFB-4240, PFB-5252, PFC-2828, PFC-5562).
- Permanent Magnets (MSM Series) Permanent magnets of the MSM series (MSM-332, MSM-328, and others) in NdFeB, SmCo, AlNiCo, and Ferrite materials, designed to actuate PIC Reed switches and Reed sensors.
- Customized Sensor Products Custom-designed sensor solutions based on Reed and Hall technology platforms, tailored to specific customer requirements and applications, supported by the online sensor configurator and direct engineering engagement.
- E-Bike Sensors Dedicated sensor product line for electric mobility / e-bike applications, addressing speed sensing and position control requirements in e-bike drivetrains.
Quantifiable outcome
- Billions of operating cycles possible for signal loads over product lifetime
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use PIC
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
PIC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
PIC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- International Distributor NetworkcoreWorldwide network of distribution partners enabling local sales and support in various regions. Distributor inventory search available online for quick product availability checking and ordering.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PIC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Coto Technology: Coto Technology is a US-based specialist in reed switches and reed relays, overlapping directly with PIC's core reed switch and reed sensor lines across test/measurement, medical, and industrial applications.
- Standex-Meder Electronics: Standex-Meder is a direct competitor specializing in reed switches, reed sensors, and Hall-effect sensors with global manufacturing and a similar industrial/medical/appliance customer base, making it the closest like-for-like peer to PIC.
- HSI Sensing (Hermetic Switch Inc.): HSI Sensing is a niche reed switch and sensor manufacturer with deep customization capabilities, directly comparable to PIC in product type, customization model, and industrial/automotive customer mix.
Broad incumbents
- Honeywell Sensing & Productivity Solutions: Honeywell offers a broad portfolio of magnetic position, Hall-effect, and industrial sensors, overlapping with PIC's industrial and building-automation segments but from a much wider catalog.
- TE Connectivity: TE Connectivity supplies a wide range of sensors including magnetic and position sensors to automotive and industrial OEMs, competing with PIC at the platform level for large global accounts.
- Omron Corporation: Omron manufactures a broad range of industrial sensors including magnetic proximity sensors, competing with PIC in factory automation and building-technology applications.
- Littelfuse: Littelfuse is a large incumbent that acquired Hamlin to enter reed switches and magnetic sensors, competing with PIC in automotive and industrial position-sensing applications from a much larger platform.
- TDK Corporation (TDK-Micronas): TDK, through TDK-Micronas, is a major manufacturer of Hall-effect and TMR-based magnetic sensors for automotive and industrial customers, competing with PIC's Hall and TMR portfolios at the high-volume end.
- Sensata Technologies: Sensata is an industrial and sensor specialist with a strong position/pressure sensor portfolio, partially overlapping PIC in industrial and e-mobility applications and competing for similar OEM design-ins.
- Murata Manufacturing: Murata is a large Japanese electronic components manufacturer with magnetic sensors (Hall/TMR) that compete with PIC in automotive, consumer, and industrial applications from a much larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
PIC compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
PIC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PIC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
PIC subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
PIC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PIC 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 PIC
What does PIC do?
PIC GmbH designs, manufactures, and supplies magnetic-sensor components based on Reed, Hall-effect, and TMR principles, including Reed switches (micro, standard, power, special, and SMD), Reed sensors in multiple housings, Hall sensors, TMR sensors, level and float sensors, and matching permanent magnets. The company sells standard catalog products as well as customer-specific customized sensor solutions to industrial OEMs across automation, appliance, e-mobility, medical, building technology, and hydraulics/pneumatics markets, distributing through direct sales and an international distributor network with production in Germany, China, and Turkey.
Is PIC a public or private company?
PIC is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was PIC founded?
PIC was founded in 1983. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is PIC based?
PIC is headquartered in Wendelstein, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does PIC make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Sensor Components and Assemblies are the primary driver. The others are customized/Configured Products.
Who are PIC's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Coto Technology, Standex-Meder Electronics and HSI Sensing (Hermetic Switch Inc.). Broad incumbents are Honeywell Sensing & Productivity Solutions, TE Connectivity, Omron Corporation, Littelfuse, TDK Corporation (TDK-Micronas), Sensata Technologies and Murata Manufacturing.
Does PIC have an API?
No public API is recorded for PIC.
What industry is PIC in?
PIC's product category is Magnetic Sensor Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHALAC, Magnetic Sensors (Hall/Magnetoresistive/Compass), with a secondary code of IMAGAJAA, Passive Components (Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors, Ferrites). Its NAICS code is 33451 and its SIC code is 3677.