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This section provides an overview for absolute encoders as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 27 absolute encoder manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked absolute encoder companies as of December, 2024: 1.US Digital, 2.Excitron Corporation, 3.ITALSENSOR SRL.
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Categories Related to Absolute Encoders
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An Absolute Encoder is an encoder that outputs an absolute angle from the origin.
An encoder is a device that converts a change in position into an electrical signal and outputs it. Since a specific signal is sent according to the angle, the current angle can be checked without previous angle information.
It is used when you want to detect the angle immediately after starting the power supply or when you want to ensure the reliability of angle detection. Most absolute encoders use an optical encoder.
The use of absolute encoders is rapidly expanding in the field of robotics due to their high reliability in angle detection. Specific applications include the following
As tele-operated robots are expected to evolve rapidly along with increasingly sophisticated control systems in the future, the need for absolute encoders is likely to increase.
An absolute encoder consists of a disk with a small groove on its rotating shaft, which is read by an optical sensor. The structure is similar to a CD fixed to the shaft. This structure allows the encoder to accurately read the position of the disk and output the current angle even at the moment the power is turned on.
However, because the mechanism for reading the angle is complex, it is more expensive than an encoder for relative angle detection. There are also digital and analog signal transmission methods.
While it is resistant to noise, it requires more signal lines. Using transmission communication such as serial communication can reduce the number of signal lines. However, communication delays may occur and dedicated transmitters/receivers are required for both transmitting and receiving devices.
Two signal lines are used, and no delay occurs, but it is vulnerable to noise during transmission.
Based on the above characteristics, it is necessary to select the transmission method that best suits the purpose.
Absolute encoders are available in magnetic and optical types, with the optical type being the most common. In the optical type, Gray code is often used as an encoding technique for rotating disks.
Gray code is a type of numeric encoding called alternating binary code. Gray codes are used to ensure that adjacent bits change by only one bit. When only one-bit changes, it is possible to prevent misreading of the signal.
To convert a normal binary number to a gray code, the binary value is shifted one character to the right, and an exclusive OR is obtained with the original binary value. For example, the binary representation of 6 in decimal is 0110. Shifting it one bit to the right yields 0011, and the exclusive OR of 0110 and 0011 is 0101. This is the gray code for 6 in decimal.
Battery-less absolute encoders are available for servo motors. The absolute encoder detects absolute position with a small groove and saves the position information with a battery, eliminating the need for homing when resuming operation after the power is turned off. However, because they are battery-powered, maintenance is required due to battery life.
To compensate for this drawback, battery-less absolute encoders are now available from various manufacturers. The principle of battery-less encoders varies from company to company, but one example is the use of nonvolatile memory. When the motor rotates, the magnets attached to the shaft rotate together and generate their power. The generated power is used to write position information to the nonvolatile memory, thereby achieving battery-less operation.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Celera Motion, founded in 1994 in the USA, is a motion control business of Novanta Inc. and a manufacturer of motion control devices and composite solutions for OEMs. The company's products, which include inductive encoders, direct-drive motors, servo drives, transducers, and air-bearing spindles, among others, are also used in the medical, Satcom, UAV, medical, and scientific markets. Celera Motion also offers ISO 9001 and ISO 13485-compliant encoders, motors, sensors, transducers, and servo drives in custom sizes.
Electro-Sensors, Inc. operates as a manufacturer of precision sensors and monitoring systems, established in 1968 and headquartered in Minnesota. The company specializes in providing products and services for industries such as industrial manufacturing, agriculture, and material handling.Its offerings include speed sensors, temperature sensors, and hazard monitoring systems. These products are used for precision monitoring and safety assurance, enhancing operational efficiency and safety measures in the industries it serves through its precision sensor and monitoring solutions.
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.
Broadcom Inc., established in 1961, and headquartered in San Jose, California, is a manufacturer and supplier of semiconductor and connectivity solutions. The company specializes in producing products, such as semiconductors, infrastructure software, networking products, storage products, wireless products in which their products cater to industries such as telecommunications, data centers, and consumer electronics. Their products are used for various applications, including wireless communication, networking equipment, data storage, and multimedia devices, providing components for advanced technologies in numerous industrial and commercial sectors.
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.
TSM Sensors s.r.l. is a manufacturer of industrial sensor solutions established in 2015 and based in Lombardy, Italy. It specializes in manufacturing inclinometers, cable extension transducers, magnetostrictive sensors, rotary encoders, and electronic control units. The company is part of FASSI Group and has acquired ISO 9001:2015 certification for its quality management system. Its manufactured products are in compliance with IPC requirements for soldered electrical and electronic assemblies. It caters to the agricultural, construction, marine, and electronic industries across several regions, such as Italy, France, Germany, and Spain.
Elap SRL, founded in 1968 and headquartered in Corsico, Italy, is an industrial automation control equipment and component developer, manufacturer, and supplier. The company offers a range of preset counters, visualizers, and positioning sensors, including incremental and absolute rotary encoders, linear and rotary potentiometers, and PLC controllers. It is also the exclusive retailer for automation equipment from a number of international manufacturers, including Althen industrial joysticks, Shinkawa monitoring systems, and Wilcoxon vibration sensors.
ASM was established in 1979 in Moosinning, Germany where they are known as a manufacturer of sensors. The company designs different types of sensors mainly Displacement sensors, Inclination sensors, and Angle sensors that have applications in fields where displacement, position, length, and distance has to be measured, tested, or monitored. They are used in Injection Molding machines, Power Plant construction, Vehicle testing, Powerlifters, and Portal cranes. In the medical industry, they are used for precise positioning for Tomography, mammography, OP tables, and patient couches.
Angst+Pfister Sensors and Power AG, founded in 1987 and headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, is a manufacturer of power supplies, and electronic components. It operates as a subsidiary of the Angst+Pfister Group, serving a global clientele. Its product range encompasses inertial sensors, power supplies, and current sensors, including AC/DC power supplies, DC/DC converters, DC/AC inverters, and LED AC/DC power supplies. These components find applications in overload protection, current metering, and battery charge monitoring. Depending on requirements, the company is also capable of delivering modified standard products or customised solutions, and offers differential probes for the development, maintenance, and repair of solar plants.
Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation, founded in 1980, is a Japanese manufacturer headquartered in Chiyoda City, Tokyo, specializing in sensing devices and integrated circuit (IC) products. The company’s product offerings include magnetic sensors, current and gas sensors, audio devices, and specialty devices. These products have diverse applications, such as in personal electronics, where AKM provides compact and low-consumption features for sound and magnetic sensing. They offer CO2 sensors and transceiver IC for millimeter-wave radar with high spatial recognition for smart homes. Additionally, AKM provides rotation angle sensors in industrial equipment like robots and motors to achieve accuracy and off-axis alignment simultaneously.
MinebeaMitsumi Inc. was incorporated in 1951in Japan and manufactures and supplies machined components, and electronic devices and components globally. It operates through four segments: machined components, electronic devices and components, MITSUMI Business, and the U-Shin business segment. MinebeaMitsumi specializes in bearing products including spherical, roller, rod end, and ball bearings for aerospace. MinebeaMitsumi also produces products including precision mechanical assemblies, fasteners, other special components including clutches and brakes, motors, blowers, sensors and lighting devices. Additionally, MinebeaMitsumi offers its products for use in PCs and peripheral equipment, information and telecommunications equipment, household electrical appliances, automobiles, and aerospace.
Renishaw is a British manufacturer and supplier of engineering technology products and solutions established in 1973 and based in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. The company primarily produces equipment for metrology, spectroscopy, and healthcare, including coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), dental scanners, and Raman spectrometers. They also offer long-term support services, such as calibration, refurbishment, repair, and upgrades. Renishaw has more than 5,000 employees across its network of subsidiaries and sales offices in over 36 countries.
Carlen Controls Inc., based out of Roanoke, VA, United States, is a manufacturer and supplier of powered milling tools and equipment. The company's products include pulse tachometers, multi-turn programmable absolute encoders, and distributed I/O for resolver and encoder applications in the steel mill environment. These products are used for controlling milling power, depending on the application and environmental conditions. Its services include repairs and replacement parts sales, and it also offers warranties on the products it sells. It also consults for custom requirements and provides individual custom products.
Netzer Precision Position Sensors A.C.S. Ltd., headquartered in Israel and established in 1998, is a manufacturer and designer of position and electric encoders. Their product portfolio includes a range of rotary encoders suited for applications ranging from harsh environments, specialized applications such as space and avionics, through military and defense, to industrial automation, collaborative and medical robotics and, intelligent digital technology. The company also assists customers with shipment, application and customer service.
Dynapar Corporation is an American manufacturer of motion feedback control products that was established in Gurnee, Illinois, in 1955 before its acquisition by the Fortive Corporation in 2016. The company primarily produces specialized resolver and rotary encoder models. These specialized models include incremental encoders, frameless resolvers, and resolver transducers. It also offers related accessories such as encoder testers, mounting brackets, and encoder cables. The company chiefly serves its clients in North America’s oil and gas, power generation, and metalworking industries.
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.
Koyo Electronics Co., Ltd. was founded in 1955 and began manufacturing and selling portable radios, and in 2022 the company name changed to JTEKT ELECTRONICS CORPORATION. Based on human respect, KOYO uses wisdom and imagination to provide good value and contribute to developing a safe and fulfilling society.
ORLIN Technologies Ltd., based in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, was created in 2006 and is a manufacturer and supplier of precise motion control, complete systems, and components in micro and nano-positioning solutions. The company manufactures moving coil actuators, motors, encoders, piezoelectric devices, and motor controllers. It also develops opto mechanics, manual and motorized stages used in the manufacturing, industrial, scientific, automotive, and vibration control. The company provides services such as system integration, programming, training, and technical support.
ATEK Electronics Sensor Technologies Inc was founded in 2002 and is a manufacturer and supplier of industrial sensors products and systems based in Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey. The company offers various products, including optical linear encoders, draw wire potentiometers, and magnetostrictive linear position sensors. These products are used in various industries such as rail system, mobile vehicle, and energy. The company has passed the certification tests of ISO 9001, ISO 45001, and ISO 22301 standards.
UBITO is an enterprise within the FRABA group, specializing in the development and marketing of Wiegand technologies for commercial and industrial use. The company serves as a concept incubator and markets Wiegand sensor products, such as fluid meters and multiturn rotary encoders. FRABA has a history dating back to 1918 and has played a significant role in the development of sensor products like rotary encoders and inclinometers. With subsidiaries in Europe, North America, and Asia, FRABA has a global reach and works with sales and distribution partners worldwide.
ITALSENSOR SRL, a continuation of TEKEL INSTRUMENTS, was founded in 2009 and specializes in manufacturing transducers and encoders. Based in Pinerolo, Italy, the company offers products such as incremental encoders, transducers, absolute encoders, special encoders, sensors as well as accessories. The encoders are used in various industries, including textiles, packaging, printing, and woodworking, while the transducers find applications in industrial process control, robotics, instrumentation, and machinery sectors. The company supplies to the domestic market and also exports its products to more than 50 countries globally.
Renishaw plc., established in 1973 and based in Wotton-under-Edge, United Kingdom, is a manufacturer of analytical instruments, medical devices, and manufacturing technologies. Some of the products it stocks include additive manufacturing systems, open optical encoders, and neurological products, and it operates in the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions, with 67 locations in 36 countries. Throughout its history, the company has spent 13% to 18% of its annual sales in R&D and engineering. In 1981, it set up its first international manufacturing facility in Ireland, and in 1984, it was listed in the London Stock Exchange unlisted securities market.
POSITAL is a leading supplier of advanced industrial position sensors used in motion control and safety systems. The company is known for innovation in product design and manufacturing, as well as being a pioneer of Industry 4.0/IIoT. As a member of the FRABA group, POSITAL has a history dating back to 1918 and has played a significant role in the development of rotary encoders and other sensor products. POSITAL has a global presence with subsidiaries in Europe, North America, and Asia and works with sales and distribution partners worldwide.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | US Digital |
6.9%
|
| 2 | ITALSENSOR SRL |
6.3%
|
| 3 | ORLIN Technologies Ltd. |
5.7%
|
| 4 | Excitron Corporation |
5.0%
|
| 5 | Broadcom |
5.0%
|
| 6 | Baumer |
5.0%
|
| 7 | MinebeaMitsumi Inc. |
5.0%
|
| 8 | Dynapar Corporation |
4.4%
|
| 9 | Renishaw plc |
4.4%
|
| 10 | SICK AG |
4.4%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the absolute encoder 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
|
5 | 26.3% |
|
Japan
|
5 | 26.3% |
|
Italy
|
3 | 15.8% |
|
Germany
|
2 | 10.5% |
|
United Kingdom
|
2 | 10.5% |
|
Switzerland
|
1 | 5.3% |
Spain
|
1 | 5.3% |
268 products found
268 products
Fourty ICG Japan Co., Ltd.
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Very Fast Response
■ Features ・ CC-LINK converter integrated type ・ Up to 42 axes can be directly connected to the bath line ・ Mechanical batteryless multi -turn ...
8 models listed
Hayashi Refick Co., Ltd.
20+ people viewing
Last viewed: 4 hours ago
Standard Response
As an official Japanese agent for Baumer of Switzerland, we sell light industrial encoders made by Baumer.
CUI Japan
230+ people viewing
Last viewed: 19 hours ago
The Cui DeviceS Abtolute Encoder outputs an absolute location information of 12-bit or 14-bit by Serial Peliferial Interface (SPI), RS-485, or sync...
4 models listed
Nemicon Co., Ltd.
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Absolute type N33MA model battery-less 42-bit multiturn ■Features ・Module type ・Magnetic type *Other model numbers are available.
10 models listed
Nemicon Co., Ltd.
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Absolute type N35MA model battery-less multi-turn ■Features ・Module type ・Compact size (Φ35) *Other model numbers are available.
10 models listed
Nemicon Co., Ltd.
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Absolute type 38HA-MS model battery-less 39-bit multi-turn ■Features ・Housing encoder ・Hollow shaft
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Absolute type N35ST model 23 bit single turn ■Features ・Module type ・Compact size (Φ35) *Other model numbers are available.
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Nemicon Co., Ltd.
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Absolute type AEW2 model 38 series shaft absolute type. Φ38 with cover 8bit (256) *Other model numbers are available.
10 models listed
Nemicon Co., Ltd.
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Absolute type AHS2 model 38 series hollow shaft absolute type. Φ38 with cover 8bit (256) *Other model numbers are available.
10 models listed
Nemicon Co., Ltd.
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Absolute type ASC-SP model 50 series environmental resistant model ■Features ・Uses large bearings to strengthen shaft load resistance ・Radial lo...
10 models listed
Nemicon Co., Ltd.
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Absolute type ASC-HP model 50 series environmental resistant model ■Features ・Protection structure is IP-65 ・Uses large bearings to strengthen s...
10 models listed
Coretech Co., Ltd.
170+ people viewing
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■We provide the world's longest absolute scale at a low price. Magnetic scale resistant to oil, water, and dust - No need for an origin, you can st...
6 models listed
POSITAL -Fraba
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◾️Absolute Multi -Turn Kit Encoder/Inclumental Kit Encoder The Posital Kit Encoder offers smart, maintenance -free and costly solutions for the mo...
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◾️A abundant assortment of Absolute rotary encoder Absolute rotary encoder can provide a unique position value from the moment you turn on the pow...
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POSITAL -Fraba
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◾️A abundant assortment of Absolute rotary encoder Absolute rotary encoder can provide a unique position value from the moment you turn on the pow...
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◾️A abundant assortment of Absolute rotary encoder Absolute rotary encoder can provide a unique position value from the moment you turn on the pow...
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POSITAL -Fraba
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POSITAL -Fraba
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POSITAL -Fraba
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POSITAL -Fraba
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POSITAL -Fraba
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POSITAL -Fraba
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POSITAL -Fraba
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