This section provides an overview for position switches as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 41 position switch manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked position switch companies as of November, 2024: 1.Ruskin Company, 2.Magnetek Drives, 3.Pizzato USA.
Table of Contents
A position switch is a contact-type sensor, also known as a touch switch or high-precision switch. It operates by activating when a movable pin at the end is pushed to a specific point by a sensing object. Known for their extremely high accuracy, position switches enable precise control and detection of an object's position. They are crucial in applications requiring accuracy but must be installed correctly to ensure precise detection.
Position switches are similar to microswitches and limit switches but are distinct in their durability and accuracy, with some models capable of detecting positions in the micron range and enduring up to 3 million cycles.
Position switches detect position through physical contact and consist of an actuator, contacts, and a spring. The actuator changes the switch state when pushed, the contacts open and close the electrical circuit, and the spring returns the switch to its original state.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Wenglor Sensoric LLC is a supplier and manufacturer of smart sensor and image processing technologies and solutions. Established in 1983, the company is headquartered in Tettnang, Germany. The company's main activities encompass the design, manufacturing, and distribution of sensor solutions for automation and industrial applications such as Sensors, Machine Vision, Connection and Network Technology and Accessories. Wenglor Sensoric specializes in sensors for position, distance, color, and image recognition, catering to industries like automotive, packaging, and logistics. The company offers a range of services including technical support and consultation.
DeZurik was founded in 1928 in Minnesota, USA and it is a manufacturer of process industry valves. The company manufactures valves for water treatment, water distribution, pulp and paper, oil and gas downstream, petrochemical products, mining, power, and hydropower dams. Its products include plug valves, butterfly valves, control valves, knife gate valves, actuators, hydraulic power units, and many more. The company's technical resources include software programs and application solutions. The company is ISO 9001-2015 certified.
Ruskin Company, established in 1958 in Grandview, Missouri, USA, is a manufacturer of various products that improve indoor air quality and building performance. The company was acquired by Johnson Controls Inc., in 2014 and is now a part of Air Distribution Technologies, Inc. The products include dampers, louvers, air measuring and control equipment, and energy recovery ventilators to optimize HVAC systems, improve energy efficiency, and maintain healthy indoor environments. It serves commercial sectors, industrial, and institutional construction, healthcare and education sectors. The solutions ensure proper ventilation, temperature control, and energy conservation in buildings, resulting in sustainability and occupant comfort.
Sensata Technologies was originally founded in 1916 as General Plate Company and is now headquartered in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The company is a developer, manufacturer, and seller of sensors and sensor-rich solutions, electrical protection components, and other products used in automotive, industrial, energy, telecom, and construction industries. The company has 20 product categories including force sensors, tire management solutions, inverters & charges, and pressure sensors.The company’s next generation of products are designed to improve the efficiency of industrial pumps, fuel efficiency in ICE cars and energy efficiency in TVs, and facilitate usage of IoT devices.
Thermwood is based in Dale, Indiana, and operates as a multinational diversified CNC machinery manufacturer that markets its products and services globally through offices in 11 countries. The company primarily serves the woodworking, aerospace, plastics, and composites industries but also serves almost every major industry from medicine to entertainment. The company’s products include both hardware and software. Hardware includes 3-axis and 5-axis CNC routers and LSAM machines. Software offerings include Mastercam, Moldplus, and THM Desktop among others.
Swagelok Company was founded in 1947 in Cleveland, Ohio as a tube fitting manufacturer. The company serves numerous industries including the chemical, clean energy, food & beverage, industrial machinery, life sciences, and wastewater treatment industries. The copmany's product categories include hoses and flexible tubing, sample cylinders, welding systems, tubing and accessories, and measurement devices. The company's also offers engineering services including field engineering, onsite services, design and assembly services, training, and construction services.
Burger & Brown Engineering, Inc., founded in 1978 and based in Grandview, Missouri, is a manufacturer offering a range of engineering services. The company is internationally known for its SMARTFLOW proprietary products for the molding industry. Smartflow products comprise a line of multi-port manifolds for water and non-aggressive liquid applications, flowmeters for monitoring flow, temperature, and pressure, and limit switches for ejector plate, slide retention, and core pull applications. Other services provided by the company include special machines for industrial automation, precision contract machining, custom injection molding, plastic part design, and consulting.
Machine Components Corp. (MCC) is an American manufacturer of standard as well as custom machine components established in Plainview, New York in 1961. The company produces various machine components with different functions and applications in industrial manufacturing or processing facilities. These include mechanical and slip clutches, toggle and joystick switches, friction hinges, and solenoid-operated clutch brakes. MCC products are utilized by clients in the aerospace, telecommunication, security, and military industries, as well as by manufacturers and OEMs in the commercial sector.
CW Industries is based in Southampton, Pennsylvania, and is a manufacturer of electronic switches and connectors that was originally founded as The Wirt Company in 1904 before a company rebrand following its merger with Continental Carbon, Inc. in 1960. The company produces push button switches for keyboards or calculators, rocker switches for power tools or appliances, and slide switches for dimmers or volume sliders. It also offers insulation displacement connectors, along with custom switch and connector manufacturing services for customer projects. The company’s products are used mainly by clients in the consumer electronics, medical device manufacturing, and media industries.
PLC Hardware (PLCH) was founded in 1993 and operates out of Owings Mills, Maryland. PLCH is an independent distributor of used and surplus industrial automation and networking equipment. PLCH offers a 1-year warranty on all products and ships globally. PLCH’s emphasis is on hardware and distributes hardware from such brands as Cisco, HP Networking, Rockwell Automation and Siemens. A few of the many categories of hardware include application networking products, cables, optical networking systems, routers, switches, rack servers, content delivery devices, as well as HVAC controllers, and safety integrated systems.
Nidec Corporation traces its roots all the way back to 1908. The company has established itself as an international conglomerate that handles virtually everything that spins and moves. Through its over 300 subsidiaries across the globe, the company manufactures motors that run the spectrum from tiny precision motors in cell phones to motors powering heavy commercial and industrial equipment. The company and its subsidiary's power devices and machines are used in many industrial and personal sectors including agriculture, exercise equipment, HVAC, and refrigeration. Products and services include many varieties of motors, drives, and generators.
Twittlebit.com is located in Lexington, Kentucky. Twittlebit is a distributor of industrial equipment and components divided into 8 sub-stores including: sensors, HMI & PLC, visual & audio , panel components, and pneumatic & vacuum. The company offers next day delivery to Kentucky and neighboring states, and 2-to-3-day delivery to most other states of in-stock products. The company offers in-stock selection of many top brands such as Autonics, EEControls, Panasonic, and Cembre. The company can also in-source many hard to find products directly from Japan from companies such as IDEC, Canon, Omron, and Fuji Electric in 7-to-10-days.
Ohio Pipe, Valves, & Fittings, Inc. was founded in 1929 as Ohio Pipe Bending & Coiling Company. Also known as the Ohio Pipe companies, they specialize in fully welded, seamless, stainless steel, and PVC pipes of many sizes. Ohio Pipe companies also sell flanges, couplings, ball, butterfly, gate, control, and relief valves, with thousands of unique items in stock. Ohio Pipe companies’ past and current customers include power plants, steel mills, oil and gas companies, chemical plants, water and wastewater facilities, as well as many OEMs.
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.
Dietz Electric was founded in 1974 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dietz Electric is a broad-line stocking distributor offering electric motors, drives, and power transmission products. Dietz Electric also offers customization options to test, manufacture, modify, and repair all product offerings. Product offerings include electric motors, hazardous locations motors, custom electric motors, variable frequency drives, motor controls, power transmission solutions, and specialty items such as purge systems, Uras vibrators, disc brakes, transformers, and AC line reactors.
Bailey Motor Equipment Co. was established in 1933 and located in Orlando, Florida. Bailey Motor Equipment Co. serves the agriculture, industrial, oil and gas, automotive, and marine trades to customers globally. Bailey Motor Equipment Co.’s offerings include PIC liquid filled gauges, pressure and vacuum gauges, switches, float switches, relays, temperature gauges, fluid level switch gauges, electric gauges, battery chargers, as well as additional products including remote communication components, remote communication packages, voltmeters, and fuel tank lines.
Baco Controls is the marketing arm of BACO, originally founded in 1919. Baco Controls was founded in 1980 and is currently located in Central New York. The company is a middle distributor of industrial control and signaling devices, generally selling to consumers and industries through other distributors. The company’s featured product categories include 22 mm and 30 mm Control and Signaling devices, Disconnect Switches, and Cam Switches. The company offers assistance in custom control stations tailored to customers’ specific needs.
Siemens began in 1847 and is headquartered in Munich, Germany. Siemens focuses in automation and digitalization technology and operates globally. Siemens’s 5 operating segments are digital industries, smart infrastructure, mobility, Siemens Healthineers, and Siemens Financial Services. Siemens Financial Services provides debt and equity investment as well as financing solutions. Siemens Healthineers is a medical devices company that provides products and consulting. Mobility includes passenger and freight transportation. Smart infrastructure includes full solutions for electrification. Digital industries offer both software and hardware for industries and production efficiency.
steute Technologies GmbH & Co. KG founded in Löhne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, in 1961, is a manufacturer of electrical sensors and control units. The company manufactures foot switches, optical sensors, magnetic sensors, command devices, and wireless receivers. It has subsidiaries in 11 countries around the world, and sales and service partners in a further 30. At the end of 2012, the company opened a production plant in Shanghai, China and it also employs 450 people worldwide.
Normelemente KG, established in 1958 and based in Markgroningen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, is a German manufacturer and supplier that specializes in standard parts and machine components. Norelem offers an extensive catalog of more than 70,000 products, catering to the needs of engineers and designers in various projects. Their product range includes clamping technology, measuring and testing components, electromechanics, systems and components for machine and plant construction, and material handling and transport solutions. These products find applications in diverse engineering fields, such as automotive, aerospace, machinery, and robotics sectors.
Vitzro EM Co is based in Seoul, South Korea, and is a manufacturer of electric power systems and equipment that was established in 1989 as a subsidiary of the Vitzro Group. The company offers vacuum circuit breakers (VCBs) that utilize vacuum pressure to interrupt electric currents, and gas-insulated switchgears (GIS) that utilize pressurized gas to interrupt or insulate electric currents. It also offers power transformers for transmission, generation, or distribution applications. The company chiefly serves client operators of industrial plants, electric utilities, and renewable energy arrays.
GIOVENZANA INTERNATIONAL B.V., established in 1952 and based in Italy, is a manufacturer of safety components for industrial technology. The company operates in the areas of automation, handling systems, lift-elevator, and atex and iecex. The company's components adhere to the ISO 9001:2015 Quality System and ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Standard by constantly monitoring the environment. The company’s European and international standards-certified products are sold in 75 countries. The buildings like the contemporary Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which has more than 160 floors, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris both utilised the company's materials.
Schmersal UK, founded in Malvern, UK, in 1945 is a manufacturer of switchgear for the protection of machines and plants in the industrial automation and lift industry. The company's product portfolio includes low voltage switchgear solutions for efficient power distribution, high voltage switchgear solutions for critical power applications, including renewable energy installations and substations, Control Panels and Switchgear Accessories. The company serves industries such as Oil and Gas, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Construction, and Power Generation.
Euchner was established in 1953 as a manufacturer of industrial safety products and is based in Germany. The products designed and manufactured by the company are used by industries that want to minimize risks and hazards. One example of their equipment is a Transponder with Coded Key Systems EKS and CKS which is used for controlling machine functions, storing process parameters, maintaining different access rights, and much more and it helps with procedures like automatic logging on and off for safe and controlled access. There are also safety switches, relays, identification systems, emergency stop devices, and similar items.
Steute Industrial Controls, Inc. is a manufacturer of switchgear and intelligent sensors as well as wireless systems and networks that is headquartered in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany and was established in 1961. The company’s products are divided into three product areas, namely; Meditec, Controltec and Leantec. Its Meditec-certified user interfaces are mainly for medical devices while its Controltec-safe industrial automation products such as controllers, switches and sensors protect, monitor, operate and automate machines and plants. Steute’s Leantec digital shop floor solutions such as the intelligent IIoT Wave.net can be customized and digitally integrated for production anywhere in the world.
R. STAHL AG, established in 1876 and based in Waldenburg, Germany, is a manufacturer and supplier of electrical components, equipment, and systems used in hazardous areas. Some of its products include luminaires, control boxes, CCTV systems, distribution boards, and signaling devices. The products have several applications, including explosion protection for LNG and machine building. The company has subsidiaries in 21 countries and has applied an integrated management system for all its production sites, which brings together three ISO standards for quality management (9001), safety and health (45001), and environmental protection (14001).
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.
Pizzato Elettrica S.r.l., founded in 1984 and headquartered in Marostica, Italy, is a manufacturer specializing in safety and control devices. The company produces various products, including safety switches, position switches, control devices, and machine safety systems. The products are designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of industrial machinery and automation processes. The components offer benefits such as stability, durability, and compliance with international safety standards, making them indispensable in industries like manufacturing, automotive, robotics, and packaging. It offers advanced solutions for machine safety and control, resulting in the protection of both personnel and equipment in various industrial applications.
Trombetta, Inc. is an American ISO 9001-certified manufacturer of DC power switching and related power management products that was established in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1932. The company offers controller area network (CAN) devices for automotive or industrial systems, DC contactors for high current switching up to 48VDC, and power splitters for power distribution applications. It also offers digital switching systems, voltage regulators, and industrial work solenoids. The company’s products are commonly used in heavy machinery, power sports such as motocross racing, and the electric vehicles industry.
EAO was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Olten, Switzerland, with manufacturing, sales, and distribution companies around the globe. The company serves core markets of transportation, automotive, heavy-duty & special vehicles, and machinery as a manufacturer of switches, keyboards, control elements, and human-machine interface systems. The company has three product divisions: HMI Components, HMI Systems, and EAO Automotive. Together, they include emergency stop switches, passenger convenience devices in transportation, and other switches for human-machine interfaces across industries.
FIESSLER Elektronik, founded in 1956 in Bretten, Germany, is a manufacturer and supplier of safety and control systems. The company offers a range of safety switches, sensors, and control devices used in industrial automation, ensuring operational safety and efficiency. FIESSLER's products find applications in various industries including automotive, packaging, and material handling, where they enhance the safe and seamless operation of machines and equipment. Courtesy of its user-friendly and optoelectronic safety solutions of great quality, the company is always at customers’ disposal for word and deed. The company is also ISO 9001 Certified, an assurance of the customer's constant quality of products.
IPD Group Limited, established in 2005 and headquartered in Wetherill Park, Australia, is a manufacturer and distributor of electrical & electronic products and accessories. The company's core products are categorised into power distribution and protection like various circuit breakers and switches, energy meters for energy management, automation and motor control systems, industrial cyber security & communications and electric vehicle charging solutions such as EV & PV solutions. The company offers custom designed solutions with installation services and a library of resources like CAD blocks, white papers and case studies for technical information & tools.
Klinger & Born GmbH, established in 1982 and headquartered in Brensbach, Germany, is a manufacturer of electronic components, PV (photovoltaic) accessories, power distributors, electronic brakes, and control components. The diverse product range serves multiple industries, providing optimal-quality electronic solutions for improved efficiency and safety. These components offer benefits such as enhanced performance, stability, and precise control, making them essential in applications spanning the automotive, renewable energy, machinery, and automation sectors. The electronic brakes and control components result in precise motion control, while the PV accessories support the growing solar energy sector.
MOD-TRONIC Instruments Limited was established in 1972 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. MTis a distributor of industrial sensors, transducers, heaters, controls, and instrumentation, primarily made in the USA as well as Japan, Switzerland, and Germany. MT’s customers are primarily in the aerospace, building automation, manufacturing, medical, military, oil and gas, and water treatment industries but also serves individuals. MT offers an above industry standard 5-year warranty and technical support on every product sold.
BERNSTEIN AG is a manufacturer and distributor of electromechanical components that was established in 1947 in Germany. The company manufactures switches and sensors that range from insulated and metal enclosed to foot switches and safety switchgear. They also provide enclosure technology that deals with the implementation of support systems for various applications such as using housing to accommodate electrical, electronic, or pneumatic components and load-bearing systems made of aluminum and stainless steel. They also offer safety solutions related to the operation of lifts and escalators that are placed in malls and airports
Magnetek Drives is a manufacturer and developer of digital power & motion control systems for material handling, people-moving, and mining applications in aerospace, automotive, construction, and metals production industries. The company is headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. The company’s chief distributor for sales in the United States is Sievert Crane & Hoist. In cooperation, the two offer complete crane and hoist packages with custom manufacturing, installation, inspection, training, and service & repair.
Jamieson Equipment Company (JEC) was founded in 1982 and located in the state of Georgia. JEC serves infrastructure-related industries including pavement with concrete, aggregate, and asphalt, chemicals, sewage and waste management, and agriculture and food. JEC sells, installs, retrofits, repairs, and offers training and troubleshooting for a range of components and tools from simple fittings to motion sensors to electronics to valves to actuators, cranes, mixers, silos, hoppers, and plants.
AMF Industries Inc., a manufacturer and supplier based in Labrador City, Canada, was established in 1999 and is recognized for delivering top-notch technical and non-technical goods and services. The company offers various products, including Control Valves, Automated On/Off and manual valves, Field instrumentation for temperature, flow, pressure and level measurement, and Analytical Products like CEMS and analyzers for liquids, gases and humidity. The company offers Complete Integrated Solutions through a dedicated team of Technical Personnel, catering to shutdowns, interim replacements, and the repair of precision instrumentation and automation products.
Hello BOM is an online electronic component storefront designed to bridge customers and suppliers. Customers supply Hello BOM with their bill of materials (BOM) and Hello BOM uses smart analysis via AI data matching to quickly find precise matches that customers need. This is accomplished via Hello BOM’s growing component stock and product information database to grow increasingly accurate and fast, while also simplifying the process of R&D and purchasing for customers. Products include semiconductors, resistors, capacitors, diodes, inductors, connectors, transistors, and sensors.
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 November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Ruskin Company |
6.7%
|
2 | Magnetek Drives |
6.7%
|
3 | Pizzato USA |
6.7%
|
4 | IPD Group Limited |
3.3%
|
5 | Pizzato Elettrica S.r.l. |
3.3%
|
6 | Klinger & Born GmbH |
3.3%
|
7 | Steute Industrial Controls, Inc. |
3.3%
|
8 | Bailey Motor Equipment Co. |
3.3%
|
9 | Jamieson Equipment Co., Inc. |
3.3%
|
10 | Thermwood Corp. |
3.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the position switch page as of November 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 | 58.6% |
Germany | 7 | 24.1% |
Republic of Korea | 1 | 3.4% |
Netherlands | 1 | 3.4% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 3.4% |
Australia | 1 | 3.4% |
Canada | 1 | 3.4% |