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This section provides an overview for photoelectric sensors as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 76 photoelectric sensor manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked photoelectric sensor companies as of December, 2024: 1.Airtec Global LLC, 2.Light in Motion LLC, 3.Advance Electrical & Automation.
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Categories Related to Photoelectric Sensors
A Photoelectric Sensor is a sensor that detects light.
The sensors use the properties of light to detect the surface shape and condition of the object being measured, as well as its constituent materials.
They are suitable for pre-shipment inspection and nondestructive testing equipment because they can detect surface shape and constituent substances without contact.
They are characterized by their ability to measure long distances, short response time, and high resolution. Detection methods include transmissive, retro-reflective, and diffuse-reflective types.
Photoelectric sensors are used in a wide range of applications from consumer products to industrial equipment. Examples of applications are as follows:
Photoelectric sensors consist of a projector with a built-in light emitting element, a receiver with a built-in light receiving element, an amplifier or other amplifying device, and an output terminal.
They can be classified into transmission, retro-reflection, and diffuse-reflection types according to the measurement method.
In the transmission type, a measurement target is placed between the projector and receiver, and light emitted from the projector is intercepted by the measurement target to detect the target. As long as the object is opaque, measurement is possible regardless of its color or constituent substances.
In the retro-reflection type, a projector and a receiver are combined into a single unit, and the object to be measured is placed between the projector and the receiver and a reflector. The reflector can be installed in a narrow space, allowing measurement in a limited space.
The diffuse reflection type detects light emitted from the transmitter and receiver by reflecting it back at the object to be measured. It is characterized by its ability to distinguish colors.
Photoelectric and Laser Sensors are divided by the type of light source used. Photoelectric sensors generally use LED light sources, while laser sensors use laser light.
Laser light is more directional than LED light, and the diffusion of light emitted from the projector is smaller. Therefore, even small objects can be detected. Also, the light can be projected over long distances without attenuation due to its high energy.
When LED light is emitted from a floodlight, it cannot detect small objects due to diffusion and wrap-around effects. It is also not suitable for detection over long distances because its energy is not high. Also, if neighboring photoelectric sensors are installed nearby, false detection may occur due to diffuse light.
Photoelectric sensors are therefore used when less accuracy is required and are less expensive. Laser sensors are used for applications that require high accuracy, such as long-distance detection and small object detection, and are relatively expensive.
Photoelectric sensors are used in many facilities because they are inexpensive and easy to handle, but if used incorrectly, they can cause problems.
One of the most common problems with photoelectric sensors is mutual interference between adjacent sensors. Mutual interference occurs when light emitted from the light emitter of one sensor enters the light receiver of the other sensor.
The LED light source of a photoelectric sensor diffuses the light after irradiation, and the longer the projection distance, the greater the diffusion width.
To prevent mutual interference, it is effective to separate the installation distance, to install the light emitters and receivers alternately, and to install anti-interference filters or light shields. Generally, the recommended installation distance is 1.5 to 2 times the operating distance. If the installation distance needs to be closer, interference prevention filters should be considered. Anti-interference filters are sold by various manufacturers according to the sensors.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Lion Precision Inc., a company founded in 1958 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a manufacturer and supplier of precision measurement and sensing solutions. The company specializes in providing capacitive displacement sensors and noncontact capacitive sensing systems. Their products are utilized in various industries such as semiconductors, automotive, medical, and aerospace for applications that require accurate measurements. Their sensor products are used for position control, thickness measurement, vibration analysis, and gap sensing. Additionally, the company also provides technical support, calibration services, and customization options to meet specific customer requirements.
Monarch Instrument, founded in Amherst, New Hampshire, in 1977 is a supplier of portable speed measurement products such as tachometers and stroboscopes. The company's product portfolio includes sensors, data loggers sound generators, recorders and vibration meters. The company serves industries such as Oil and Gas, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Construction, and Power Generation. The company also provides services including national distribution, product selection, customized services, technical support and customer service.
OMEGA Engineering Inc., founded in Norwalk, CT, in 1962 is a manufacturer of products used to measure temperature and humidity, flow and level, and pressure. The company's product portfolio includes thermocouple probes and assemblies, pressure gauges and switches, and air velocity measurement systems, wireless systems and portable optic sensors. The company serves markets including Automotive and Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy and Energy Storage and Electronics and IT Infrastructure. The company also offers customer services that include support, custom research projects and customized services.
Banner Engineering Corporation, established in 1966 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a manufacturer and supplier of industrial automation products. They offer an extensive range of sensors, including proximity sensors, photoelectric sensors, and limit switches, for detecting object presence, position, and speed. Additionally, Banner provides a different types of switches, such as pushbuttons, toggle switches, and rotary switches, to control electricity flow and offer system feedback. Their wide array of controls includes PLCs, HMIs, and motion controllers, enabling automation of industrial processes.
Littlefuse was founded in 1927 and headquartered in the United States. Littlefuse is a diversified industrial technology manufacturing company with customers globally. Littlefuse has products segments which are electronic, industrial, and transportation. Electronic segment products include fuses and fuse accessories, positive temperature coefficient resettable fuses, polymer electrostatic discharge suppressors, and varistors. Transportation products include blade, resettable, and high-current and high-voltage fuses, as well as battery cable protectors; fuses, switches, relays, circuit breakers, and power distribution modules. The Industrial segment offerings include contactors, transformers, and temperature sensors for use in renewable energy and energy storage systems, electric vehicle infrastructure, HVAC systems.
Sick AG, founded in 1946 and headquartered in Waldkirch, Germany, is a manufacturer of sensor and sensor solutions that aid in in production, logistics, and processes automation. The company’s expansive product portfolio includes industrial sensors, encoders, and analyzers. It has over 50 subsidiaries and equity investments as well as several agencies worldwide, and in the 2022 fiscal year, it generated around €2.2 billion. The company established the first subsidiary in France in 1972 and opened another subsidiary in USA in 1975. It changed to a joint stock company in 1996 and the first employee shares were issued in 1999.
Airtec Global LLC is a manufacturer and supplier of advanced air purification and disinfection solutions based in the United States, established in 2005. With an aim to create healthier indoor environments, Airtec Global specializes in cutting-edge technology for air purification. Offering a range of solutions including UV-C air purifiers, ozone generators, and filtration systems, the products are designed to cater to diverse sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, and commercial spaces, where maintaining clean and sanitized air quality is crucial.
Advance Electrical & Automation is a supplier and a manufacturer, a company specializing in providing electrical and automation solutions for industrial applications. Established in 2013, offering a wide range of products and services, including oil and gas, power generation, water treatment, and manufacturing. AEA's product includes electrical components such as transformers, circuit breakers, and control panels, as well as automation systems and software for process control and monitoring. One example of their product is the AEA-5000 series PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), it enables seamless integration and precise control in industrial applications, ensuring optimal performance and productivity.
Light in Motion LLC, founded in 2009, is a manufacturer of standard and custom hermetically sealed optoelectronics components, headquartered in Milpitas, California. Some of the optoelectronics components offered, which are used in sensing applications include light-emitting diodes, optical interrupters, switches, emitters, and detectors. They also provide assemblies and photosensors. The company serves the sensor industry and is RoHS-compliant. Light in Motion's Engineering Group, situated in California, collaborates with their factories in Asia, ensuring adherence to ISO 9001 standards throughout the entire product lifecycle.
OMEGA Engineering was originally begun in 1962 as a manufacturer of thermocouples and has grown to over 100,000 products for measurement and control of temperature, humidity, pressure, strain force, flow, level pH, and conductivity as well as customer service including data acquisition, electric heating, and custom-engineered products. Additionally, OMEGA offers tools to serve as reference for engineers around the world. OMEGA Engineering serves the aerospace, automotive, wireless, sanitary, test & measurement, process control, power monitoring, environmental, and laboratory markets.
ifm efector (ifm) is a subsidiary of ifm electronic, founded in Germany in 1969. ifm has developed, manufactured and marketed sensors and controls technology to industries that include assembly and robotics, automotive, material handling, metal forming, mobile equipment, plastics, and food and beverage. Ifm produces sensors, condition monitoring equipment, image processing, safety technology, industrial communication, IO-link, systems for mobile machines, displays, software, connection technology, voltage supplies, as well as other accessories.
Pepperl+Fuchs, Inc. was founded in Mannheim, Germany in 1945 developing the forerunner of the proximity switch. Pepperl+Fuchs continues to develop proximity sensors as well as other industrial sensors including ultrasonic sensors, rotary encoders, positioning systems, display and signal processing, vibration monitoring, industrial communication, and signal processing as well as related accessories and software. Explosive protection products include safety barriers, surge protection, wireless solutions, HMI systems, power supplies, electrical explosion protection equipment, level measurement, and related software.
Red Lion was founded in 1972 and headquartered in York, Pennsylvania as part of Spectris, PLC, headquartered in Egham, England. The company serves manufacturing, oil & gas, alternative energy, transportation, and water industries with products for their industrial automation and industrial networking needs. The company’s industrial automation division creates controllers, secure remote access platforms, panel meters, and process control devices. The industrial networking division offers ethernet devices, IIoT gateways and routers, and communication converters.
Allied Electronics Inc., founded in 1991 with headquarters in the USA, is a distributor and supplier of fuel and vehicle servicing station equipment and accessories. The company's extensive product line of over 57,000 products includes forecourt controller parts, fuel dispenser parts, air compressors, and power conditioners. The company also provides rebuilt parts by brands that include Bennett, Daktronics, FE-Petro, and Gasboy. The company's services include equipment financing, primarily serving the retail petroleum industry, including car wash and price sign manufacturers.
Specialty Product Technologies is based in Elizabethtown, North Carolina, United States, and is a distributor of industrial automation components originally founded in 1901 as Veeder Manufacturing Company before rebranding in 2016. The company primarily stocks products from brands such as Namco Controls, Eagle Signal, and Superior Electric. These include vacuum contactors for extreme industrial environments such as in mining operations, timers for run time monitoring in industrial manufacturing, and limit switches for nuclear power plants. The company mainly markets to clients in the energy production, mining, and industrial manufacturing sectors.
SEALS USA, Inc., a subsidiary of Japan’s Seals Co. Ltd., is based in Illinois, USA, and has been is a distributor of speed, torque, and force inspection instruments since 2009. The company stocks and markets various products from its parent company, including digital stroboscopes for measuring or testing speed, and digital force gauges for analyzing force or torque. It also offers onsite maintenance and repair services to customers requiring additional support. The company mainly markets to clients in the metalworking, industrial manufacturing, and industrial automation sectors.
E-Motion Inc. is a distributor for electric automation based in Eugene, Orgeon. The company is a distributor of many electric automation parts, with additional offerings in pneumatic, modular aluminum framing, and instrumentation products. The company’s two primary segments are electric actuators and pneumatic automation. The electric actuator segment includes rack and pinion linear actuators, rod type electric actuators, rodless actuators, actuator controls, and lift kits. The pneumatic automation segment includes standard air cylinders, rodless cylinders, guided cylinders, and rotary actuators.
The Azbil Corporation (formerly the Yamatak Corporation) aims to realize safety, comfort, and fulfillment in people's lives and contribute to global environmental preservation through "human-centered" automation. They provide their customers with timely solutions via an integrated structure that extends from planning and development to maintenance and service, capable of responding rapidly to customer needs.
Lufft USA, Inc. is a manufacturer established in 1881 that specializes in precision meteorological and environmental monitoring solutions. Based in Fellbach, Germany, the company aims on delivering measurement technology and assistance. Its product offerings encompass a range of sensors and instruments, such as weather stations, air quality monitors, and road weather information systems. These solutions find applications in industries like transportation, agriculture, and environmental research, providing accurate data for informed decision-making. The company works to enhancing monitoring capabilities in diverse sectors.
ADTEK ELECTRONICS CO. LTD. is an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of power meters founded in 1990 and based in New Taipei City, Taiwan. The company's products include various process indicators, power measurement devices, and signal converters. It also offers energy management system software, along with OEM/ODM, engineering, and customization services for clients with unique project requirements. The company's products are mainly used in the power generation and distribution sectors, with additional applications in industrial manufacturing, building automation, and environmental protection.
Hans Turck GmbH & Co. KG, established in 1965 with headquarters in Mülheim, Germany, is a manufacturer of industrial automation equipment and systems. The company's product portfolio includes around 15,000 products from the fields of sensor and connection technology as well as fieldbus and interface technology. In addition to individual components such as sensors, remote I/O stations, and quick connectors, it offers systems for image processing, RFID, and pick-to-light applications. The company serves the process manufacturing, mining, agriculture, automotive, semiconductor, and medical industries, among others.
Meba Electric Co.,Ltd is a Chinese manufacturer of low-voltage electrical equipment that was established in Yueqing City, Zhejiang Province in 2006. The company produces various relays such as electronic and thermal overload relays, circuit breakers, AC contactors, and AC drivers. It also offers human machine interfaces (HMIs) such as MT4000/6000/8000 series touch panels, as well as programmable logic controller (PLC) and expansion modules. The company’s products are used mainly by clients in the construction, aerospace, energy, and petrochemical industries.
CHEEMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED is a manufacturer based in China, specializing in cutting-edge technological solutions. The company's wide range of products includes sensors, transducers, switches, and transmitters. These products are used in various fields such as in vehicles, OEM device manufacturing, measuring apparatus, home appliances, and many more. The company also has a well-established partnership with renowned Universities like Tsinghua University, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing Institute of Technology among other universities and research institutes.
IMO Precision Controls, a company founded in 1972 and headquartered in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, is a manufacturer and supplier of industrial automation and control products. The company offers a wide range of products and solutions, including automation products, circuit protection, control and switch gears, and solar products. Their products find application in diverse industries such as manufacturing, energy, and transportation. The company also offers customer services that include technical support, value-added assembly, training courses, and tailored solutions to meet clients’ requirements.
Fae is based in Milan, Italy, and is a manufacturer of electronic systems and components for the industrial sector since its establishment in 1968. The company’s products includes actuators, transducers, and sensors for fine control or measurement of physical parameters. It also offers electronic boards and modules for industrial applications, along with software or firmware development systems for embedded systems. The company’s products are commonly used in industrial automation and robotics operations. Some of its clients include Magneti Marelli, Leonardo, and General Electric.
AECO SRL, founded in 1978 and headquartered in Milano, Italy, is a manufacturer of sensor solutions for industrial automation. The company offers a range of products, including inductive sensors, capacitive sensors, and level control sensors. These sensors are used in a wide range of industrial applications, such as process controls, machine tools, and assembly lines, to detect objects and control levels of materials without physical contact. It holds several certifications such as the ISO 9001:2015 from CSQ, and the ATEX - Production Quality Assurance Notification certificate.
Pantron is a developer and manufacturer of optical sensors founded in 1984 and headquartered in Bad Salzdetfurth, Germany. The company offers a wide range of products including light barrier systems, sensor heads for organizing various objects, and amplifiers for color, contrast or distance detection as well as accessories like protective housings, fiber optic cables and power supplies. Pantron products primarily supply the materials processing and packaging needs of their clients, such as Trumpf, Homag, and WashTec.
Intellisense Microelectronics Xiamen Ltd. is a manufacturer of various industrial sensors that was founded in 2010 in Fujian, China. The company produces sensors with a wide range of applications such as in automation, smart home operations, and industrial processes. Its products include liquid level sensors, photoelectric sensors for object detection, and CMOS integrated sensors that can be programmed for various applications. The company also offers product design as well as customization services for clients with unique projects. Its products are primarily used in industrial automation, healthcare, and defense R&D.
Optex Fee Co., Ltd., was established in 2002 and based in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of factory automation sensors and solutions. The company offers an extensive and diversified product portfolio including photoelectric sensors, fiber-optic sensors, displacement sensors, non-contact thermometers, vision sensors, and other industrial automation products. These sensors and solutions play a pivotal role in enhancing manufacturing processes across a spectrum of industries, including automotive, electronics, and packaging.
Panasonic Industry Europe is the European branch of Panasonic, a global manufacturer of electronics and houseware, originally founded in 1918. Panasonic Industry Europe manufactures in 4 categories: components, devices, energy & building, and automation devices & solutions. Components include relays, capacitors, resistors, sensors, switches, connectors, couplers. Devices include wireless connectivity, e-bike systems, motors, compressors, thermal solutions, GPS antennas, as well as electronic materials. Energy & building includes batteries, fuel cells, solar sells, power tools, and home IoT. Automation devices & solutions include sensors for factory automation, industrial motors, laser welding, and more.
Eickmann Elektronik, established in 1947 and headquartered in Iserlohn, Germany, is a global cable manufacturer and supplier. Specializing in cable assemblies, temperature measurement technology, and more, their offerings include temperature sensors for various industries, high-temperature thermocouples, and fiber optic sensors for challenging environments. The company also provides efficient fieldbuses like KNX and OPC UA for building and analog automation solutions. Additionally, the company provides light barriers as part of their offerings.
Azbil Europe NV is based in Germany and was founded in 1906 as a manufacturer and supplier of automation products and solutions. The company designs Industrial Control Communication devices like Digital Controllers, and Flame Safeguard Systems, along with Electromagnetic, Differential Pressure, Vortex Gas, and Thermal Flowmeters. They also deal in sensors and switches and their list of Industrial Automation products includes Field Instruments and Control Valves. Together these components serve the Oil and Gas market, the Pharmaceutical industry, and the Electronics and Electrical equipment industry.
Proxitron GmbH, founded in 1979, and based in Elmshorn, Germany, is a manufacturer of optoelectronic systems for industrial color detection and measurement. Its product line includes inductive sensors, optical sensors, path and distance measurement systems, pyrometers, and flow sensors. These products are used for various applications like metal object detection, distance measurement, temperature measurement, and flow monitoring. The company maintains ISO 9001 certification, ensuring industry standards in its manufacturing processes and product quality.
Datalogic was founded in 1972 along the outskirts of Bologna, Italy. The company is a manufacturer of scanning and optical devices for industries such as retail, manufacturing, transportation & logistics, and healthcare. The company’s product lines include fixed and handheld scanners for retail and industrial purposes, vehicle-mounted computers and handheld computers, laser marking systems, and other industrial scanners and data-sensing machines. The company offers aftercare services including ease of care service.
Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems Co., Ltd., established in 2008, the company is a result of a merger between Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems and the Japanese arm of Schneider Electric S.A., the second largest manufacturer in the same field, is a manufacturer of control instruments, such as electromagnetic switches that use electromagnets to open and close the contact points of electrical circuits. The company have a global presence, offering many power-receiving and distributing devices that can be used in cross-border markets through its wide range of products that conform to major standards in the world.
Turck was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany. The company is a global manufacturer of automation machinery used in the automotive, energy, chemical, food, and packaging industries among others. The company’s products integrate the concept of Industry 4.0 technologies such as RFID, IO-link, and ethernet to assist factory and material handling equipment in communicating with other equipment and providing data for operators to improve efficiency and safety while decreasing waste. These products include sensors, industrial controls, industrial wireless and vision devices, and interface devices.
Pulsotronic GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Niederdorf, Germany, is a manufacturer and supplier of sensors and sensor systems for the automotive, industrial, and medical sectors. Their ISO 9001:2015 certified products include distance sensors for measuring object distance in parking assist systems and robotics, speed sensors for applications like engine control and cruise control systems, pressure sensors for tire pressure monitoring and medical devices, temperature sensors for thermostats and climate control, and Hall sensors for proximity switches and automotive ignition systems.
The Carlo Gavazzi Group is a multinational company that was established in 1931 in Milan, Italy, known for designing, manufacturing, and distributing electronic equipment and automation solutions. The company offers a wide range of products that includes automation components such as monitoring relays, sensors, timers including electronic controls. There are also energy management solutions, and these products are supplied to industrial manufacturers of semiconductors, plastic machinery, agriculture, HVAC, and mobile equipment to name a few. Building automation companies and renewable energy services also benefit as they streamline their operations, reduce energy costs, and increase productivity.
Schneider Electric S.E. is headquartered in Rueil-Malmaison, France, and has been operating since 1836. Schneider Electric provides a number of products and services including electrical car charging, energy management software, surge protection devices, load banks, servers and HMIs, valve and valve actuators, feeder automation, grid automation, and SCADA software products, data center cooling and software, home automation and security, light switches, motion control and robotics, signaling units, solar and energy storage, RFID systems, as well as other hardware, services, and software.
Tri-Tronics, headquartered in Tampa, Florida, USA, is a manufacturer of performance sensors and encoders established in 1954 and acquired by Garmin Ltd. in 2011. The company specializes in photoelectric sensors and encoders used for detecting shape and color, transmitting light in hazardous or inaccessible environments, and measuring distance or thickness. It also offers elevator door protection products, such as its InvisiGuard-brand infrared beam with a universal power supply for detecting doorway obstruction. The company primarily serves clients in the packaging, elevator production, and medical services industries.
Technologies GmbH & Co. KG, established in 1961 and headquartered in Löhne, Germany, is a manufacturer of industrial switchgear and sensors. The company’s products include four key areas: wireless, automation, extreme, and meditec. Its modular system nexy, facilitates flexible integration of components for eKanban systems, AGV applications, and visualization modules. Its software features pre-configured modules for seamless integration into existing IT systems, with the sensor bridge software serving as a central communication interface for wireless networks. The company also provides digital shop floor solutions, including sensor technology, connectivity, and process automation, to streamline manufacturing processes and reduce production costs.
Micro-Epsilon was originally founded in Osaka and Micro-Epsilon America was founded in 1998, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. Micro-Epsilon develops, manufactures, and distributes sensors to aerospace, battery production, glass production, wind power, precision optics, medical technology, transportation, semiconductor, and other industries. Micro-Epsilon’s sensor product categories include inductive, capacitive, laser, confocal, laser distance, magneto-inductive, draw-wire, rotation speed, color, paint thickness measurement, and fiber optic sensors in addition to interferometers and other sensor equipment.
Capella Microsystems, located in New Taipei, Taiwan, is a manufacturer of optical electronic products, founded in 2002. Their product line includes smart sensors used for light, color, proximity, and gesture sensing. They also provide IrDA devices for wireless communication, optical encoders for precise position and velocity measurement, and PDICs specifically designed for photodiode array applications. Capella Microsystems' products have wide-ranging applications, serving industries such as consumer electronics, industrial automation, robotics, and medical devices.
Schmersal GmbH & Co. KG, founded in 1945, by Heinz and Philip Schmersal, is a name in safety technology, is a manufacturer of safety technology solutions, specializing in switchgear and control devices for various industries. With a diverse range of mechanical and electro-sensitive switching devices, they offer an extensive collection of safety switching systems and devices for safeguarding both humans and machinery. The company looks after three key domains: lift technology, automation technology, and safety technology. Their substantial approach position them as a global supplier of safety switching devices, catering to the safety and automation needs of various industries.
Telco Sensors, established in 1975 and headquartered in Brovst, Jammerbugt, is a designer, developer, and manufacturer of industrial automation and sensing products. Some of its products include photoelectric sensors, photoelectric amplifiers, light curtains, and optical fork sensors. These products find application in various industrial processes and machinery for object detection, safety, and automation. The company is ISO 9001:2015 certified, and all of its products carry a 3-year warranty. The company's network spans six continents and provides around-the-clock service.
Festo Corporation, established in 1925 and headquartered in Esslingen, Germany, is a supplier of automation technology and technical education and is ISO 9001, ISO 13485, and ISO14001 certified. It has around 33,000 catalog products, customized components, and ready-to-install solutions, including grippers, motors, and sensors used in industrial and process automation. The company won the German Future Award in 2010 and serves 300,000 customers worldwide, while its education division provides training solutions for 56,000 industrial companies and educational institutions. It registered €3.81 billion in the 2022 financial year and is available in around 60 countries, with 2,600 patents worldwide.
Vaisala, established in 1936 in Finland, is a technology company that is a manufacturer of electronic measurement systems and equipment for meteorology, environmental sciences, traffic safety, and industry worldwide. The Company's products include radiosondes, barometric pressure measurements, weather stations, lighting detection systems, and moisture measurement solutions. Vaisala also sells a large selection of its products directly to consumers via the company's online store. The company also provides commercial clients with the XWeather subscription service, which offers numerous options for industrial-grade environmental measurement.
Takex Europe Ltd. is based in Basingstoke, England, UK, and is a manufacturer of anti-intruder sensors and photo sensors that was established in 1999 as the European subsidiary of Japan’s Takenaka Sensor Group. The company’s product lineup includes passive infrared (IR) sensors for motion detection applications, IR beams for detecting gasses that absorb IR light, and beam towers for disguising the position and number of beams in a space. The company mainly serves clients in the security, transportation, and automation industries.
SENSATEC Co. Ltd., established in 1988 and based in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of OEM sensors. The company specializes in crafting electronic detection and control devices, medical tools, and beauty equipment, including various sensors, A/D/D/A converters, and optical fiber data systems. Its diverse product range also includes cable and coil winding processing, and it provides support for metal mask manufacturing. The company also offers tailored designs emphasizing miniaturization and handles everything from standard strips to soldering and assembly.
Omron Automation, situated in Hoffman Estate, IL established in 1933 is a manufacturer and supplier of fully integrated automation solutions to various industries. The complete portfolio of the company provides safety services, training, and automation services to keep people safe, protect their capital investment and increase their overall equipment effectiveness. The company has 80+ years of industry experience to benefit its clients. Whether a client is looking to protect their people, understand their functional safety risks, train their team, or refurbish a robot, the company can provide customized services to meet their client's needs.
Focke Meler Gluing Solutions S.A., established in 1970 and headquartered in Navarre, Spain, is a manufacturer of equipment and systems for applying adhesives and sealants. The company's products include heated electrical hoses for hot melt adhesives, melting units for hot melt adhesives and sealants, and the Micron+ control system. It also makes customized machinery and equipment and has created coating rollers, winding-unwinding machines, and stamp applicators for previous clients. It serves sectors that include automotive, packaging, and textile manufacturing.
Autonics Corporation, established in 1977 and based in Busan, South Korea, is a developer and manufacturer of automation products, which are marketed worldwide. Some of its products include sensors, peripheral connection equipment, motion devices, control devices, and process automation instruments. The automation products are used in various industries, including automotive, packaging, machine tools, metal, and marine. The company has 12 international offices spanning over 100 countries, a fully automated warehouse system, and various international quality certifications, including RoHS, CE, UL, and EAC. Its safety products meet the functional safety standards IEC 61508 and mechanical safety standards ISO 13849.
Omron Corporation, started in 1933 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of automation components, equipment, and systems, and it developed the first contactless proximity switch in 1960. It has four domains, including industrial automation, electronic components, healthcare, and social systems, and it provides products and services in around 120 countries and regions. Some of its products include microsensing devices, access control systems, industrial robots, surveillance cameras, and blood pressure monitors. In 1971, it developed the first online cash machine, and in 1972, it established Japan’s first welfare factory.
SensoPart, Inc. was founded in 1994 and headquartered in Germany with US operations based out of Bingham Farms, Michigan. The ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing company serves the automotive, robotics, plastics, solar, and other industries with photoelectric sensors and image processing products. The company’s products include optical sensors, vision sensors, ultrasonic sensors, inductive sensors, and accessories. Together they are used in manufacturing detection & inspection, product identification, a diverse array of measuring tasks, product positioning, and color detection.
Baumer Electric AG was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in the city of Frauenfeld, Switzerland. The ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified company provides sensor solutions for digitalization, packaging, railway, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. A sample of the company’s sensor product listings includes object detection, distance measurement, force sensors, accessories, and connectivity devices. The company offers product support for setup and installation, product functionality, and optimized product usage.
Balluff was founded in 1921 and is headquartered in Neuhausen, near Stuttgart, Germany. Balluff is a manufacturer of sensor and automation solutions for customers globally. Balluff serves many industries including life sciences, semiconductors, metalworking, fluid power, and mobile equipment. Balluff’s product line consists of sensors and connectivity components, accessories, complete systems, and software. Balluff offers services to assist customers across the range of finding solutions, deploying solutions, training, as well as support.
Panasonic Fire & Security Europe AB, established in 1918 and based in Sweden, is a manufacturer and supplier of fire alarm systems. The company's range of products includes security components for IoT solutions for home and small business use, control and indicating equipment, detectors, manual call points, and alarm devices and tools. All of its products are produced in compliance with the EN-54 international standard and are available to customers in over 30 countries. The company has installed fire alarms in more than 15,000 buildings worldwide.
Fargo Controls Inc., an American company founded in 1983 and headquartered in Eatontown, New Jersey, is a manufacturer and supplier of industrial controls. The company's product portfolio includes proximity sensors, counters, rate meters, timers, and controls. These products are utilized by various industries, including material handling, packaging, agriculture, manufacturing and industrial automation, and construction and heavy equipment. The company provides services, including product customization, technical support, product catalogs, and product updates.
Locon Sensor Systems Inc., founded in 1986 with headquarters in Maumee, Ohio, USA, is a manufacturer and distributor of sensors and related accessories. The company's product line includes photoelectric sensors, inductive proximity sensors, connecting cables, fiber optic cables, and capacitive switches. These products are used in applications that include color detection, small part detection, mobile equipment, and printing machine vision. The company serves various markets, including automotive, construction, dental, medical, and commercial industries.
Gimatic S.r.l., founded in 1985 and based in Brescia, Italy, is a UNI EN ISO 9001 certified manufacturer and supplier of automation machinery, particularly End of Arm Tools (EOAT). The company's product range includes Rotary Units, Quick Changer, Profiles and Brackets, Grippers, and Linear Actuators. These tools are essential in various automation processes. Industries such as plastics, packaging, automotive, and general machinery frequently utilize them. In addition to its extensive product line, the company offers services such as consultation, product customization, power-saving solutions, and maintenance support.
Telemecanique Sensors, established in 1924 and headquartered in Rueil-Malmaison, France, is a manufacturer and supplier of sensors and sensor-related technology. With a global reach encompassing over 100 subsidiaries and distributors across 50 countries, its offerings which include inductive proximity sensors for object detection, photoelectric sensors, ultrasonic sensors for measurements like level and thickness, capacitive proximity sensors for liquid level detection, and limit switches for object position sensing find applications in diverse industries such as manufacturing, food and beverage, transportation, medical, and utilities. Its facilities are also all compliant with ISO 14 001 global standard.
Rockwell Automation, Inc. was founded in 1903 and is headquartered in Milwakee, WI. Rockwell Automation provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions around the world. Rockwell Automation operates through their intelligent devices, software & control, and lifecycle services segments with both hardware and software products and services. The Intelligent Devices segment offers drives, motion, safety, sensing, industrial components, and configured-to-order products. The Software & Control segment provides control and visualization software and hardware, information software, and network and security infrastructure solutions. The Lifecycle Services segment provides consulting, professional services and solutions, and connected and maintenance services through independent distributors.
ROHM Semiconductor was incorporated in 1940 and is headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. ROHM manufactures and sells electronic components worldwide. ROHM operates through the segments ICs, discrete semiconductor devices, and modules. ROHM provides ICs comprising memory, amplifiers and linear, power management, clocks and timers, switches and multiplexers, logic, data converters, sensors and MEMS, display drivers, motor/actuator drivers, interfaces, communication and speech synthesis LSI, audio and video, and microcontrollers. ROHM also offers discrete semiconductor products include MOSFETs, bipolar transistors, and diodes; power devices, including power transistors and diodes, SiC power devices, IGBT, and IPM; passive devices, such as resistors, and conductive polymer and tantalum capacitors; and various modules among others.
LKH Precicon is recognised with over 35 years of industrial automation expertise in Singapore, providing on-site and off-site engineering solutions to manufacturing, building and construction, infrastructure, transportation, educational institutions, and more. Despite establishing a strong foothold in the market, LKH Precicon is still committed to supporting companies that contribute to the national effort of building a Smart Nation and achieving Advanced Manufacturing. We aim to help these companies stand out in their industries and meet all Industry 4.0 transformation requirements.
Delta Electronics was founded in 1971 in Taipei, Taiwan. Delta Electronics is a global provider of power and thermal management solutions, serving power electronics, automation, and infrastructure. Delta’s power electronics division sells components such as inductors, power and system components such as industrial power supplies and external adapters, fans and thermal management such as DC brushless fans and motors, and automotive electronics. Automation includes industrial automation and building automation subdivisions. Infrastructure includes ICT infrastructure, energy infrastructure & industrial solutions, and display & visualization. Delta Electronics also provides solutions for data center, telecom energy, and EV charging.
OMRON Industrial Automation is the UK branch of OMRON, originally founded in Japan in 1933. OMRON Industrial Automation serves food and beverage industry, panel board design, automotive manufacturing industries among others. OMRON Industrial Automation products categories include automation systems such as industrial PCs and human machine interfaces (HMI), safety such as safety switches and safety logic control systems, switching components such as solid state relays, motion & drives such as motion controllers, sensing such as photoelectric sensors, software, robotics, quality control & inspection systems, as well as control components including power supplies and digital panel indicators.
Autosen, located in Essen, Germany, is a supplier of a large selection of sensors, automation technology, and Internet of Things solutions. The company provides position sensors, process sensors, motion control products, and control and signaling devices. It also offers mounting accessories, Internet of Things gateways, and sensor cables. The variants of its process sensors, inductive sensors, have noise immunity and can withstand extremely harsh environments. It has 250,000 devices in stock and over 20,000 customers are satisfied with its products.
FactoryMation, LLC is a distributor of control products for the industrial sector that was established in 2006 in Canton, Georgia, USA. The company offers digital panel meters for tracking parameters such as voltage or frequency, AC drives for controlling the torque or speed of electric motors, and emergency disconnects for isolating electrical equipment or circuits from a power source. It also offers programmable controllers, pushbuttons, and relays for semi- or fully automated facility layouts. The company’s products are commonly used in the industrial manufacturing sector, including by clients in the automotive and food and beverage markets.
Ramco Innovations, founded in the United States in 1972, is an automation supplier. It offers a wide range of products, including motion control, safety products, a complete line of precision displacement laser measurement sensors, background (BGS) and foreground (FGS) LED and laser sensors, and Panasonic fiber optic cables. The company also offers a range of value-added services, including application engineering, kitting and assembly, connectorizing and cabling, panel building, and shipping and receiving services.
Fargo Controls, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Eatontown, New Jersey. The company is a distributor of proximity sensors and other industrial controls for both consumer and industrial customers. The company categorizes proximity sensors by four principles: inductive for detecting metallic objects, capacitive for detecting both metallic and non-metallic objects, photoelectric for detecting light, and magnetic for detecting the presence of permanent magnets. Other product offerings include counters, rate meters, timers, and controls.
AutomationDirect.com was founded in 1994 to provide solutions for the industrial automation market and has been growing its list of offerings ever since. AutomationDirects’ extensive catalog includes individual components such as cables, various controls, I/O devices, relays, gauges, fittings, and sensors to complete systems. Many parts and devices, especially PLC units are customizable. AutomationDirect.com also provides support via video instructions, online manuals, a learning library, an active community forum to further assist customers.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airtec Global LLC |
4.8%
|
| 2 | Light in Motion LLC |
4.4%
|
| 3 | Advance Electrical & Automation |
3.8%
|
| 4 | Banner Engineering Corporation |
3.1%
|
| 5 | Eickmann Elektronik |
2.9%
|
| 6 | Red Lion |
2.7%
|
| 7 | SICK AG |
2.7%
|
| 8 | E-Motion, Inc. |
2.4%
|
| 9 | Monarch Instrument |
2.2%
|
| 10 | SensoPart Inc. |
2.2%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the photoelectric sensor page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
17 | 36.2% |
|
Germany
|
9 | 19.1% |
|
Japan
|
5 | 10.6% |
|
Italy
|
5 | 10.6% |
|
China
|
4 | 8.5% |
|
Taiwan
|
2 | 4.3% |
|
United Kingdom
|
1 | 2.1% |
|
Belgium
|
1 | 2.1% |
|
France
|
1 | 2.1% |
|
Sweden
|
1 | 2.1% |
|
Singapore
|
1 | 2.1% |
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430+ people viewing
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