What Thermik Gerätebau does

Thermik Gerätebau GmbH is a privately-held German industrial manufacturer founded in 1970 and headquartered in Sonderhausen, Thuringia. The company specializes in bimetal-based protective temperature limiters, PTC thermistors, and custom PTC heating elements, operating four production facilities across three continents with a workforce of over 900 and 20,000 m² of production space. Thermik self-describes as the world market leader in temperature limiters, with over 3 billion units deployed globally and the broadest patent portfolio in the segment, anchored by proprietary Spring Disc Technology that materially improves the switching behavior of bimetallic limiters. The product range spans three series (S01, S05, S06) covering standard (60–200 °C) and high-temperature (205–250 °C) ranges, power classes from 1.6 A to 75 A, automatic and self-holding reset modes, multiple insulation and connection options, and both Öffner (normally closed) and Schließer (normally open) switch types.

The business operates as a development supplier and innovation partner to "renowned brand manufacturers" across industrial electronics, automotive (motors, compressors, control units), and white goods (refrigerators, washing machines, ovens). Its go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales for co-developed, customer-exclusive thermal security solutions with a distribution network of more than 30 contractual warehouse dealers spanning more than 30 countries. Revenue is generated through hardware sales of these components under quote-based, non-publicly-disclosed pricing terms. Products carry the full international safety-approval stack — VDE, UL, ENEC, IEC, CSA, CQC, CMJ — and the company is TÜV-certified to ISO 9001, creating meaningful regulatory barriers to entry. The business is led by Managing Director Marcel P. Hofsaess, shows no parent company, external investor, or public listing, and is treated as founder/family-controlled based on available information.

Name

Thermik Gerätebau

Legal name

Thermik Gerätebau GmbH

Website

https://thermik.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Thermik Gerätebau GmbH is a privately-held German manufacturer and self-declared world market leader in bimetal-based protective temperature limiters, PTC thermistors, and custom PTC heating elements, serving industrial electronics, automotive, and white goods OEMs across more than 30 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Thermal Protection Components

NAICS

Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)

akta.pro primary industry

Thermistors & Temperature Sensors (NTC/PTC/RTD Elements) (HDAHANAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Thermal Management Components (Heat sinks, TIMs, fans/blowers, thermal pads) (IMAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Bimetal temperature limiters
• PTC thermistors
• Thermal protection switches
• Industrial temperature sensors
• Custom PTC heating elements

Headquarters

HQ city

Sondershausen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Temperature Limiters and Thermistors: Sale of bimetallic protective temperature limiters, PTC thermistors, and custom PTC heating elements. Production and logistics operate in coordination across four production sites.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Core offering

Thermik Gerätebau manufactures and sells bimetal-based protective temperature limiters (Schutz-Temperatur-Begrenzer) in the S01, S05, and S06 series, PTC thermistors for temperature sensing and protection, and custom PTC heating elements. Its products provide thermal protection and safety for electrical and electronic systems used by industrial electronics manufacturers, automotive suppliers, and white goods manufacturers worldwide.

Product overview

Thermik Gerätebau offers a comprehensive portfolio of temperature security solutions, comprising bimetal-based protective temperature limiters (Schutz-Temperatur-Begrenzer) in multiple series (S01, S05, S06), PTC-Thermistoren for temperature sensing, and custom PTC heating elements. The company specializes in Bimetallschalter (bimetal switches) with proprietary spring disc technology that enhances switching behavior. Products span switch types including Öffner (normally closed) and Schließer (normally open), operating across standard temperature ranges (60–200 °C) and high-temperature ranges (205–250 °C), with power classes from 1.6 A to 75 A, available in automatic reset and self-holding (non-resetting) configurations, with or without insulation, and various connection options (Litze wire, Pin, Draht wire).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Schutz-Temperatur-Begrenzer S01 (Protective Temperature Limiter S01) Bimetal-based protective temperature limiter switch in the S01 series for thermal protection in electrical and electronic systems.
• Schutz-Temperatur-Begrenzer S05 (Protective Temperature Limiter S05) Bimetal-based protective temperature limiter switch in the S05 series for thermal protection in electrical and electronic systems.
• Schutz-Temperatur-Begrenzer S06 (Protective Temperature Limiter S06) Bimetal-based protective temperature limiter switch in the S06 series for thermal protection in electrical and electronic systems.
• PTC-Thermistoren (PTC Thermistors) Positive Temperature Coefficient thermistors used for temperature sensing and protection applications in electrical systems.
• Kundenspezifische PTC-Heizelemente (Custom PTC Heating Elements) Custom-designed PTC heating elements tailored to specific customer requirements for thermal management applications.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Brand Manufacturers (Unnamed)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment supplier and reliable innovation partner to renowned brand manufacturers. Constructive engagement with products, processes, and desired applications drives new developments in temperature security.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Murata Manufacturing: Murata is a global incumbent in passive electronic components with a leading thermistor (NTC/PTC) product line used in temperature sensing and protection, directly comparable to Thermik's PTC thermistor business at scale.
• Honeywell International: Honeywell offers thermal switches, sensors, and limit controls across industrial, aerospace, and appliance markets through its sensing and productivity solutions portfolio, providing broad-based competition to Thermik in temperature protection.
• TE Connectivity: TE Connectivity supplies thermal protection components, sensors, and circuit protection devices across automotive, industrial, and appliance markets, overlapping with Thermik's portfolio as part of a much broader connectivity and sensor offering.
• TDK Corporation: TDK is a major broad incumbent in electronic components including a deep PTC and NTC thermistor portfolio, overlapping with Thermik's PTC thermistor line while serving a far broader electronics customer base.
• Sensata Technologies: Sensata is a broad incumbent in sensors and circuit protection, offering thermal sensors, switches, and protectors across automotive, industrial, and appliance markets — overlapping with Thermik's product portfolio while serving a much wider customer base.

Direct peers

• Cantherm: Cantherm specializes in thermal fuses, thermal protectors, and temperature sensors for motors, transformers, and appliances. It competes with Thermik in the same thermal-limit-switch category and serves overlapping customer segments.
• Littelfuse: Littelfuse is a leading global manufacturer of circuit protection devices including thermal fuses and PTC resettable devices. Its thermal protection product line directly competes with Thermik's bimetal limiters across appliance, automotive, and industrial OEM customers.
• Bourns: Bourns is a direct competitor in thermal cutoff switches and circuit protection, producing thermal protectors and PTC thermistors that overlap head-to-head with Thermik's temperature limiters in appliance, motor, and industrial electronics applications.
• SEFUSE (NEC / Schott): SEFUSE thermal fuses, originally developed by NEC and now associated with Schott, are a direct alternative to Thermik's protective temperature limiters for appliance, HVAC, and electronics safety applications.

Emerging players

• STMicroelectronics: STMicroelectronics produces integrated digital temperature sensors and thermal management ICs that represent an emerging solid-state alternative to Thermik's bimetal limiters and discrete PTC thermistors, particularly in smart appliance and automotive electronics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thermik

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Thermik Gerätebau