Lika Electronic
Lika Electronic is a privately held, family-owned Italian manufacturer founded in 1982 that designs and sells optical and magnetic encoders, linear encoders, draw-wire encoders, rotary actuators, and custom OEM position-measuring systems for robotics, aerospace, industrial automation, medical, and defense customers worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersColumbus, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Lika Electronic does
Lika Electronic Srl is a privately held, second-generation family-owned Italian manufacturer of encoders and position-measuring systems, founded in 1982 by Giampaolo Calabrese and led today by CEO Marco Calabrese. The company designs and produces incremental and absolute rotary encoders, linear encoders, draw-wire encoders, rotary actuators, inclinometers, displays, and encoder interfaces built on optical and magnetic sensing platforms. Differentiated engineering assets include the proprietary Energy Harvesting Technology for battery-free, gearless multiturn counting; the first and currently only CC-Link IE Field Basic certified encoders; and space-qualified heritage through the I38 SPACE optical encoder used on ESA's Rosetta mission. The combined Lika-BOGEN group operates from Carrè, Italy; Berlin, Germany; Ayutthaya, Thailand; and the United States, with approximately 150+ employees.
Lika's revenue model is anchored in direct hardware sales of standard encoder products (56% of yearly turnover) plus a substantial custom OEM/ODM stream (44% of turnover) delivered through its dedicated Lika LAB R&D and prototyping unit, which currently manages 300+ active special products. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, consistent with a B2B industrial OEM sales motion. Go-to-market is hybrid: direct field-sales through the four international offices are used for OEM and custom engagements, while a global distributor network — 84 distributors in Italy alone plus partners across Europe, the Americas, MENA, Africa, and Asia-Pacific — covers long-tail accounts. End customers span robotics and motion control (primary), aerospace and space (primary), industrial automation, electromedical, machine builders, and defense.
Customer concentration is structurally low given the long-tail distributor model and broad vertical mix, though marquee programs such as the ESA Rosetta mission, ALMA telescopes, Panasonic servo integrations, and surgical robot OEMs provide visibility into specific high-prestige accounts. The firm shows no venture capital or private equity backing, is fully family-controlled, and operates under Italian private limited company status.
Lika Electronic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lika Electronic
- Legal name
- Lika Electronic Srl
- Website
- https://lika.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Lika Electronic is a privately held, family-owned Italian manufacturer founded in 1982 that designs and sells optical and magnetic encoders, linear encoders, draw-wire encoders, rotary actuators, and custom OEM position-measuring systems for robotics, aerospace, industrial automation, medical, and defense customers worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lika Electronic industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Encoders and Position Measurement Systems
- NAICS
- Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Motor Encoders, Feedback & Condition Monitoring (Encoders, Vibration, Predictive) (IMAGACAJ)
Keywords
Where Lika Electronic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbus
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Lika Electronic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Standard Encoders and Measurement Systems: Sale of standard rotary encoders, linear encoders, draw-wire encoders, inclinometers, displays, and encoder interfaces. Revenue mix: 56% standard products.
- Custom/OEM Encoders: Custom encoder development and manufacturing through Lika Lab business unit. Includes adaptations on existing products, additional features, OEM/ODM businesses, and completely new designs. 44% of yearly turnover.
- Aftermarket Accessories and Parts: Sale of accessories, couplings, and spare parts for encoder systems.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Lika Electronic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lika Electronic designs, manufactures, and sells precision encoders and position measuring systems, including incremental and absolute rotary and linear encoders, draw-wire encoders, rotary actuators, inclinometers, displays, and encoder interfaces. The portfolio spans standard industrial encoders and a large custom/OEM business through its Lika Lab R&D unit, which generates 44% of yearly turnover.
Product overview
Lika Electronic develops and manufactures a comprehensive portfolio of precision motion control and position measurement products, including incremental and absolute optical and magnetic rotary encoders, linear encoders, draw-wire encoders, rotary actuators, inclinometers, displays, and encoder interfaces. The product range spans from standard industrial encoders (C series, AMM kit encoders, SMA linear encoders) to specialized solutions like Ethernet-enabled encoders (EXO58/EXM58) with Energy Harvesting Technology, and custom/OEM products developed through Lika LAB. The portfolio is unified by shared technologies including SSI, BiSS, and various Ethernet protocols, enabling integration across automation systems. Approximately 44% of company turnover comes from custom products, with over 300 special and custom products in active production.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BOGEN Magnetics: Magnetic measuring and positioning systems manufacturer, acquired by Lika in 2020 and operating as a subsidiary brand.
- Lika LAB
Products and services
- Rotary Encoders
Quantifiable outcome
- 12+ years operational lifetime in space
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Lika Electronic
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Lika Electronic technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature6 records
Lika Electronic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- BOGEN Magnetics GmbH (formerly BOGEN Electronic GmbH)coreAcquired in October 2020, BOGEN Magnetics is a leading manufacturer of magnetic measuring and positioning systems for industrial applications. Both companies offer excellent process solutions for complex magnetic position, rotation and speed measurements. The product portfolios complement each other perfectly for optical and magnetic measurement systems. The Berlin site employs approximately 140 people.
- AIR - Aerospace Innovation & ResearchstrategicLika Electronic is partner of AIR - a network of Veneto companies that aims to achieve greater impact on international markets concerning space applications. The network focuses on transfer of innovative technologies between aerospace sector and industrial supply chain.
- CISAS - University of PaduastrategicCooperation between Lika and CISAS (Centro Interdipartimentale di Studi e Attività Spaziali) resulted in development of ultra-reliable encoder for controlling movement of shutter motors in WAC and NAC telescopes for ESA Rosetta mission.
- NBK (Nihon Ball Screws)minorLika Electronic offers NBK screws including special screws, security screws, functional screws, and customized screws for various industrial applications through their accessories range.
- ESA - European Space AgencystrategicLika Electronic participated in ESA's Rosetta mission - a scientific project involving a consortium of more than 50 contractors (private companies, institutes and universities) in Europe and the United States. Lika's I38 SPACE encoder operated for over 12 years.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Lika Electronic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Heidenhain: German-based global leader in linear and angle measurement encoders for machine tools, automation, and semiconductor equipment. Most direct comparable to Lika in product category (rotary/linear encoders) but materially larger scale and broader portfolio across CNC and semiconductor markets.
- SICK AG: German sensor manufacturer offering encoders among a wide industrial sensor portfolio (photoelectric, LiDAR, safety). Comparable as a competing encoder supplier but with far broader product breadth and global scale than Lika.
- Renishaw: UK-based measurement and motion control company offering encoders, encoders for linear motors, and position feedback. Comparable technology base but larger scale, with a broader metrology and additive manufacturing portfolio.
- Pepperl+Fuchs: German industrial sensor specialist including rotary encoders, inclination sensors, and position feedback for process automation. Comparable product overlap with Lika's encoders, inclinometers, and industrial automation solutions.
Direct peers
- Fagor Automation: Spanish manufacturer of encoders and motion control products. Comparable to Lika in rotary/linear encoders and feedback systems for machine tools and automation, with similar European mid-market positioning.
- TR-Electronic: German manufacturer of rotary encoders, linear encoders, and laser measurement systems. Direct competitor to Lika with overlapping product range and similar mid-market European customer base.
- Hengstler: German incremental and absolute encoder manufacturer (now part of Fortive). Closely comparable to Lika in encoder technology, customer base (industrial automation, elevators, medical), and mid-market positioning.
- Wachendorff Automation: German mid-market encoder manufacturer specializing in incremental, absolute, and draw-wire encoders. Closely comparable to Lika in scale, technology breadth (optical and magnetic), and industrial automation customer focus.
- Kübler (Fritz Kübler): German mid-market encoder and slip ring manufacturer. Closely comparable to Lika in incremental/absolute encoders, draw-wire systems, and inclinometers targeting industrial automation and elevator markets.
- Baumer Group: Swiss-headquartered mid-sized industrial sensor and encoder manufacturer. Highly comparable to Lika in scale, optical/magnetic encoder technology, and customer base across automation and robotics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lika Electronic social profiles
Digital presenceLika Electronic compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Lika Electronic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lika Electronic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Lika Electronic subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Lika Electronic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lika 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 Lika Electronic
What does Lika Electronic do?
Lika Electronic designs, manufactures, and sells precision encoders and position measuring systems, including incremental and absolute rotary and linear encoders, draw-wire encoders, rotary actuators, inclinometers, displays, and encoder interfaces. The portfolio spans standard industrial encoders and a large custom/OEM business through its Lika Lab R&D unit, which generates 44% of yearly turnover.
Is Lika Electronic a public or private company?
Lika Electronic is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Lika Electronic founded?
Lika Electronic was founded in 1982. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Lika Electronic based?
Lika Electronic is headquartered in Columbus, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lika Electronic make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Standard Encoders and Measurement Systems are the primary driver. The others are custom/OEM Encoders and aftermarket Accessories and Parts.
Who are Lika Electronic's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Heidenhain, SICK AG, Renishaw and Pepperl+Fuchs. Direct peers are Fagor Automation, TR-Electronic, Hengstler, Wachendorff Automation, Kübler (Fritz Kübler) and Baumer Group.
Does Lika Electronic have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lika Electronic.
What industry is Lika Electronic in?
Lika Electronic's product category is Industrial Encoders and Position Measurement Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGACAJ, Motor Encoders, Feedback & Condition Monitoring (Encoders, Vibration, Predictive). Its NAICS code is 334513 and its SIC code is 3823.