Ferrocontrol Steuerungssysteme

What Ferrocontrol Steuerungssysteme does

Ferrocontrol Steuerungssysteme, now operating as Eckelmann FCS GmbH, is a German industrial automation and drive technology specialist headquartered in Herford with a production facility at Bodelschwinghstraße 20. Founded in 1970 and acquired by Eckelmann AG (Wiesbaden) in 2006, the company designs and manufactures proprietary control systems, drive controllers, functional safety systems, industrial PCs, panel HMIs, electric motors, and UL-certified control cabinets for machine builders and plant engineers. Its software stack includes the E°MILL HMI/SPS, E°CUT CAD/CAM for CNC machining, the Eckelmann FactoryWare platform with integrated Vision Products FactoryWare image processing, and Vision Based Control modules, while the E°Darc DCB energy storage system addresses industrial energy recovery and peak shaving in machines with frequent braking cycles.

The company sells customized automation solutions combining custom programming, hardware, and software from a single source, supplemented by lifelong service contracts, original spare-parts manufacturing for legacy Ferrocontrol equipment, remote and on-site support, smart-service digital twin visualization, and training through the Eckelmann Academy. Its commercial motion is enterprise field sales targeting machine builders, special machine builders, and industrial manufacturers across verticals including sheet metal processing, 3D printing, CNC machining, biotechnology, semiconductor, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, intralogistics, data centers, and energy management, with primary geographic concentration in Germany and Europe and worldwide commissioning capability.

Revenue is generated through hardware sales of bespoke automation systems, professional services for lifecycle support, and licensing of proprietary application software. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific, with no publicly disclosed figures. The entity holds a Geschäftsführer-led management structure under Leo Schacke and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the privately-held Eckelmann AG, retaining the Ferrocontrol brand name for legacy installed-base service and replacement parts.

Name

Ferrocontrol Steuerungssysteme

Legal name

Eckelmann FCS GmbH

Website

https://ferrocontrol.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ferrocontrol Steuerungssysteme (operating as Eckelmann FCS GmbH) is a German industrial automation and drive technology specialist serving machine builders and plant engineers with proprietary control systems, drive controllers, software platforms, and UL-certified control cabinets across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation & Drive Technology

NAICS

Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Motors & Generators (3621)

akta.pro primary industry

Refrigeration Components & Controls (Compressors, Valves, Sensors) (IMAHAKAH)

Keywords

• Industrial automation systems
• Drive and control technology
• Machine automation hardware
• Control cabinet manufacturing
• Functional safety solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Herford

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Automation Solutions: Development and manufacturing of complete automation solutions including drive technology, control technology, functional safety, industrial PCs, PLC & HMI software, energy storage, and control cabinet construction. Solutions are tailored to specific customer requirements across industries.
2. Service & Lifecycle Support: Lifelong service support including spare parts, repairs, remote maintenance, on-site service, smart service with digital twin visualization, training, and service contracts. Original Ferrocontrol service is maintained.
3. Software Solutions: Proprietary software products including E°CUT, E°MILL HMI/SPS, and application software for CNC and machine control applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ferrocontrol Steuerungssysteme (operating as Eckelmann FCS GmbH) designs, manufactures, and services industrial automation solutions for machine and plant builders. Its portfolio combines proprietary drive controllers, control systems, functional safety technology, industrial PCs, HMI/SPS and CAD/CAM software, vision-based control, energy storage systems, and UL-certified control cabinets, delivered as tailored turnkey automation projects with lifelong service support.

Product overview

Eckelmann FCS (formerly Ferrocontrol Steuerungssysteme) offers a comprehensive industrial automation portfolio built around its software platforms (E°MILL, E°CUT, FactoryWare) and hardware components (control systems, drive controllers, energy storage, industrial PCs, motors). The product architecture combines proprietary software solutions for HMI/SPS, CAD/CAM, and vision-based control with specialized hardware including energy storage systems (E°Darc DCB), UL-certified control cabinets, and drive technology. Solutions span the entire automation chain from individual components to complete turnkey systems for machine and plant construction, with integrated services for Schaltschrankbau (control cabinet construction) and lifecycle management including original Ferrocontrol support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• E°MILL – HMI/SPS Combined HMI (human-machine interface) and PLC (programmable logic controller) software application for machine automation, providing operator interface and control logic capabilities for industrial machine builders and plant engineers.
• E°CUT Application software for CNC cutting and machining operations, enabling precision machining workflows for machine builders and manufacturing customers.
• E°Darc DCB Energy Storage System Industrial energy storage system that recovers braking energy and performs peak shaving through pre-charging of modules, reducing energy consumption and load peaks in applications with frequent braking operations such as machine tools and production equipment.
• Vision Based Control Vision-based control system for machine automation that enables image processing and visual inspection capabilities for industrial production lines and special machinery.
• Eckelmann FactoryWare Software platform providing machine automation capabilities including control and monitoring functions, with an integrated Vision Products FactoryWare line for image processing applications in industrial automation.
• Leitsysteme (SCADA) Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems for monitoring and controlling industrial processes and machines, used by plant operators and machine builders.
• Steuerungssysteme & sichere Steuerungstechnik Control systems and safety control technology for machine automation, including Functional-Safety solutions meeting applicable industrial safety standards for machine and plant builders.
• Antriebsregler & sichere Antriebstechnik Drive controllers and safety drive technology for controlling motors and drive systems in industrial applications, including specialized drives for complex 5-axis CNC machining centers and 3D printers.
• Schaltschrankbau (UL-certified Control Cabinet Construction) Custom and series control cabinet construction service with UL certification for international compliance, delivering UL-certified control cabinets for industrial automation systems in regulated markets.
• Kälte- & Gebäudeleittechnik Refrigeration and building control technology product line for HVAC and refrigeration applications, including system centers, operator terminals, networked controllers, building management systems, and dedicated Virtus Tectum Grid, LDSWin, and Virtus Caelum Cloud software for refrigeration and building automation.
• CAD/CAM-Systeme CAD/CAM systems for CNC machining operations that enable design and manufacturing of precision components for industrial production.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced energy consumption through energy storage and braking energy recovery in applications with frequent braking operations
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lenze: German specialist in drive and automation technology for machine builders, offering controllers, inverters, and motors — a closely comparable mid-sized peer in Ferrocontrol's core market.
• WAGO Kontakttechnik: Manufacturer of automation and interconnection technology including controllers, I/O systems, and power supplies — competing in similar German/European machine-builder accounts.
• Bosch Rexroth: Major German manufacturer of drive and control technology for factory automation, mobile applications, and machinery — a highly comparable peer in drives, controllers, and motion control.
• B&R Industrial Automation (ABB): Now part of ABB, B&R provides machine automation controllers, drives, and HMI software competing head-to-head with Ferrocontrol's E°MILL and FactoryWare platforms in special machine building.
• SEW-Eurodrive: German specialist in drive technology, gear motors, and automation systems for machine and plant engineering — closely comparable peer in drive controllers and motor offerings.
• Beckhoff Automation: German PC-based control specialist offering controllers, drives, I/O, and automation software — a direct competitor in the European machine-builder segment that Ferrocontrol also serves.
• Pilz: German specialist in safe automation, control systems, and functional safety solutions — directly comparable to Ferrocontrol's functional safety controller and safe drive technology offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Schneider Electric: Global industrial automation and energy management company offering controllers, drives, and software — competes with Ferrocontrol's broader automation and energy management portfolio at a much larger scale.
• Phoenix Contact: Major German provider of industrial automation, connection technology, and control solutions with a broader portfolio that overlaps Ferrocontrol's controller and cabinet offerings.
• Siemens Digital Industries: Global automation leader offering SIMATIC controllers, SINAMICS drives, and a broad software portfolio. Competes with Ferrocontrol across machine automation but at vastly greater scale and breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/EckelmannAG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eckelmann-ag

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Ferrocontrol Steuerungssysteme