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This section provides an overview for io links as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 24 io link manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked io link companies as of December, 2024: 1.Banner Engineering Corporation, 2.Leuze electronic GmbH + Co. KG, 3.Turck, Inc..
Table of Contents
An IO link is a communication system designed for controlling multiple devices within an industrial setup. Unlike traditional methods where sensors were individually wired to the control panel, an IO link simplifies this process by connecting devices to an IO link master. This master is then linked to the company network, enabling centralized control and parameter adjustment.
IO links enhance the capacity for information exchange with devices, extending beyond basic ON/OFF signals to include process conditions, product details, and device status. Parameters saved in the IO link master facilitate quick device replacement and immediate operation resumption.
An IO link master serves as the central hub, connecting sensors, actuators, and analyzers to an internal network, which is then controlled by a PLC. It features multiple ports for device connections and can communicate with PLCs via Ethernet or similar technologies.
It can also store device parameters, ensuring quick operational restarts when devices are replaced. For optimal functioning, both the devices and the IO link master need to be IO link-compatible.
IO links reduce the risks associated with complex wiring, offering a straightforward connection process and minimizing errors. They also allow for more detailed data exchange compared to traditional sensors, including process data, device information, and alerts on abnormalities.
With the digitalization of factories, IO links are increasingly adopted for their ability to streamline equipment management and facilitate frequent modifications. They also play a crucial role in predictive maintenance, enabling continuous data acquisition to detect early signs of potential issues.
IO links connect devices to the IO link master, which is then linked to the company network or PLC. In some cases, wireless connections are employed to avoid cable clutter, especially in dynamic or movement-intensive environments. Wireless IO links are evolving to reduce communication errors and incorporate machine learning for enhanced performance.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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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.
Turck, Inc., established in 1965 and located in Mülheim, Germany, serves as a manufacturer of industrial automation solutions designed to enhance productivity and accuracy in the logistics field. The company's product portfolio includes sensors, power supplies, industrial controls, field logic controllers, and interface technology. Its products are utilized in the automotive, pharmaceutical, packaging, energy, and chemical industries. These products offer consistent automation, safety, and efficiency in oil and gas plants. Also, the company provides technical expertise and customized customer services.
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.
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.
Incorporated in 1965, Analog Devices, Inc. designs, manufactures, tests, and markets integrated circuits (ICs), software, and subsystems that leverage analog, mixed-signal, and digital signal processing technologies. The company provides data converter products, power management and reference products for power conversion, driver monitoring, sequencing, and energy management applications in the automotive, communications, industrial, and high-end consumer markets. In addition, the company provides digital signal processing and system products for high-speed numeric calculations. It serves clients in the industrial, automotive, consumer, instrumentation, aerospace, and communications markets.
Omron Automation was originally established in 1933. Omron Automation is a producer and manufacturer for industrial automation solutions including robotics, sensing, motion, logic, and safety. Industries include automotive automation, electric vehicle manufacturing, food and beverage packaging, semiconductor and manufacturing electronics, life sciences automation, logistics & warehouse automation, machine tool, oil and gas, water and wastewater, entertainment, security and detention, and other industries. Some of Omron Automation’s product categories include machine automated controllers, RFID solutions, safety laser scanners, safety outputs, smart cameras, vision sensors, machine vision software, servo systems, articulated robots, parallel robots, SCARA robots, photoelectric sensors, and rotary encoders along with many software-based solutions.
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.
Leuze was founded in Owen/Teck in Southern Germany in 1963 as a manufacturer of sensors. The company's product range encompasses switching and measuring sensors, identification systems, data transmission, and image processing solutions which are further classified as optical sensors, inductive switches, area scanners, IP cameras, and various cables and connectors. They serve a broad spectrum of industries including machine tools, packaging, automotive, intralogistics, and laboratory automation where they provide sensor solutions for various processes
CONTEC is a manufacturer and developer of industrial computers founded in 1975 in Osaka, Japan as a subsidiary of Daifuku Co., Ltd. The company produces IoT devices, solutions, and components used in infrastructure, energy, medical care, and factory automation. Some of the company's products include M2M gateways and controllers for data collection, I/O modules for direct or remote control, industrial motherboards for performance reliability, and networking solutions like switching hubs for data communication. These supply clients companies like Hitachi, Mouser Electronics, and Acal BFi.
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.
SMC corporation was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. SMC Corporation manufactures and sells automatic control equipment and filtration equipment. SMC has production facilities in 30 countries, technical development centers in Japan, the United States, Europe, and China, and sales offices, globally. SMC product lines divided by them include filter replacements, condensation prevention, heat resistance, thermos-chilling, and others. SMC provides a video library as well as product selection guide to assist customers in finding solutions and optimizing product efficiency.
HARTING Technology Group, established in 1945 is a manufacturer and supplier of PCB connectors, solenoid systems, field wearable connectors, industrial ethernet switches, and checkout & vending machines based in Espelkamp, Germany. The company has 22 sales & distribution companies, 14 production plants & six R&D locations. The HARTING connectivity products and solutions are used for data, power, and signal transmission in automation, transportation, renewable energy generation, e-mobility, and mechanical & plant engineering applications.
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.
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.
ST Micro Electronics is a global semiconductor company serving customers with innovations to have a positive impact on people's lives. Their product line is micro electronic systems, such as switches, controllers, sensors and drivers. The main selling point of ST Micro Electronics is its provision of sustainable products, and introducing their electronics to create a more sustainable world. The company, as well as providing the electronic devices, also provides software and support, ensuring that all fields are covered to provide a fully provide a supported and strong relationship with their customer base. ST Micro Electronics believe that technology plays a key role in helping to solve environmental and social challenges, which is why their semiconductor technologies start with their employees, their customers and partners.
Murrelektronik, a manufacturer of industrial automation solutions, founded in 1974, and located in Murrhardt, Germany. The company specializes in manufacturing power supplies, interfaces, cables and connectors, and IO systems, utilized across diverse industries, including machine building, automation, packaging, and food processing. Their interfaces enable seamless device and system connections in industrial automation, featuring fieldbus, Ethernet, and serial interfaces. Providing secure and dependable connections, their cables and connectors encompass shielded, fiber optic, and various connector options. Murrelektronik is ISO 9001:2015 certified for its quality management system.
Phoenix Contact is headquartered in Blomberg, Germany, originally founded in 1923. Phoenix Contact’s Israeli subsidiary was founded in 2006 and located in Quadima Tzoran. Phoenix Contact provides tools and components for e-mobility, power, infrastructure, process industry, production manufacturing, system manufacturing, and others. Phoenix Contact’s product lines include automate including cloud computing, connect including PCB terminal blocks, “mark, assemble, and install” including hand tools, “supply, charge, and protect” including power distributors, and “switch, measure, and monitor” including relays and optocouplers.
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.
Beckhoff Automation LLC is the American branch of Beckhoff Automation GmbH & Co. founded in Verl, Germany. The United States headquarters is based in Savage, Minnesota. The company serves industries such as automotive, marine, semiconductors, and alternative energy with hardware and software-based solutions. The company’s five hardware product segments are industrial PCs, fieldbus components for I/O, motion drive systems, MX systems, and system-integrated machine vision products. The company also produces software for automation-related tasks.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Banner Engineering Corporation |
14.4%
|
| 2 | Leuze electronic GmbH + Co. KG |
9.3%
|
| 3 | Turck, Inc. |
6.2%
|
| 4 | Omron Microscan |
6.2%
|
| 5 | PROFIBUS Nutzerorganisation e.V. |
5.2%
|
| 6 | OPC Foundation |
5.2%
|
| 7 | TMG Technologie und Engineering GmbH |
5.2%
|
| 8 | Analog Devices, Inc. |
5.2%
|
| 9 | CONTEC Co., Ltd. |
4.1%
|
| 10 | ifm efector, inc. |
4.1%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the io link 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
|
8 | 44.4% |
|
Germany
|
7 | 38.9% |
|
Japan
|
2 | 11.1% |
Israel
|
1 | 5.6% |
62 products found
62 products
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
220+ people viewing
Last viewed: 12 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
Reproduction is important for flow surveillance. Flow sensor detects important changes in liquid and gas flow. A typical application, for example, ...
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
200+ people viewing
Last viewed: 12 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
Reproduction is important for flow surveillance. Flow sensor detects important changes in liquid and gas flow. A typical application, for example, ...
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
590+ people viewing
Last viewed: 18 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
The temperature sensor of the new series TS+guarantees the reliability and reproducible measurement of process temperature in industrial applicatio...
4 models listed
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
190+ people viewing
Last viewed: 12 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
Reproduction is important for flow surveillance. Flow sensor detects important changes in liquid and gas flow. A typical application, for example, ...
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
310+ people viewing
Last viewed: 10 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
The temperature sensor of the new series TS+guarantees the reliability and reproducible measurement of process temperature in industrial applicatio...
4 models listed
Nippon Dick Co., Ltd.
380+ people viewing
Last viewed: 23 hours ago
Standard Response
5.0 Company Review
■Air consumption: Up to 62%* reduction *Our conditions: Maximum reduction rate within product specifications (at operating pressure 0.7MPa, low pre...
4 models listed
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
300+ people viewing
Last viewed: 2 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
The temperature sensor of the new series TS+guarantees the reliability and reproducible measurement of process temperature in industrial applicatio...
2 models listed
Nippon Dick Co., Ltd.
260+ people viewing
Last viewed: 20 hours ago
Standard Response
5.0 Company Review
4 models listed
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
400+ people viewing
Last viewed: 9 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
The temperature sensor of the new series TS+guarantees the reliability and reproducible measurement of process temperature in industrial applicatio...
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
460+ people viewing
Last viewed: 3 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
The temperature sensor of the new series TS+guarantees the reliability and reproducible measurement of process temperature in industrial applicatio...
3 models listed
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
310+ people viewing
Last viewed: 12 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
The temperature sensor of the new series TS+guarantees the reliability and reproducible measurement of process temperature in industrial applicatio...
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
350+ people viewing
Last viewed: 12 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
The temperature sensor of the new series TS+guarantees the reliability and reproducible measurement of process temperature in industrial applicatio...
Nippon Dick Co., Ltd.
460+ people viewing
Last viewed: 2 hours ago
Standard Response
5.0 Company Review
■Air consumption: Up to 62%* reduction *Our conditions: Maximum reduction rate within product specifications (at operating pressure 0.7MPa, low pre...
4 models listed
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
290+ people viewing
Last viewed: 8 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
Reproduction is important for flow surveillance. Flow sensor detects important changes in liquid and gas flow. A typical application, for example, ...
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
270+ people viewing
Last viewed: 8 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
Reproduction is important for flow surveillance. Flow sensor detects important changes in liquid and gas flow. A typical application, for example, ...
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
260+ people viewing
Last viewed: 18 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
Reproduction is important for flow surveillance. Flow sensor detects important changes in liquid and gas flow. A typical application, for example, ...
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
300+ people viewing
Last viewed: 8 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
Reproduction is important for flow surveillance. Flow sensor detects important changes in liquid and gas flow. A typical application, for example, ...
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
230+ people viewing
Last viewed: 3 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
Reproduction is important for flow surveillance. Flow sensor detects important changes in liquid and gas flow. A typical application, for example, ...
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
310+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 day ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
Reproduction is important for flow surveillance. Flow sensor detects important changes in liquid and gas flow. A typical application, for example, ...
Hans Turck GmbH & Co.
170+ people viewing
Last viewed: 12 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
Reproduction is important for flow surveillance. Flow sensor detects important changes in liquid and gas flow. A typical application, for example, ...
CONTEC Co., Ltd.
20+ people viewing
Standard Response
This product is an IO-Link master with 8 channels of IO-Link ports (Class A). This product supports multiple industrial Ethernet protocols and can ...
Endress+Hauser Group Services AG
60+ people viewing
Last viewed: 15 hours ago
■Application iTEMP TMT36 is a reliable, long-life, 1-channel IO-Link compatible head-embedded temperature transmitter with form B connection head. ...
ifm efector, inc.
250+ people viewing
Last viewed: 17 hours ago
It is a magnetic sensor that is resistant to welding spatta with adhesion prevention coatings. Heavy duty metal inspection surface ･ Space -saving...
ifm efector, inc.
190+ people viewing
Last viewed: 21 hours ago
IO-Link ultrasonic sensor that is not affected by the color, transparency and material of the object due to non-contact detection. Easy -to -view ...
ifm efector, inc.
400+ people viewing
Last viewed: 22 hours ago
It is a photodeline sensor that can be used for thin objects and reflected materials by measurement of distance that does not depend on the color. ...
ifm efector, inc.
190+ people viewing
Last viewed: 41 minutes ago
It is a compact laser sensor that does not depend on the standard M18 screw cut and IO-Link. Io -Link -Metal exterior type M18 CUBE Distance senso...
ifm efector, inc.
220+ people viewing
Last viewed: 3 hours ago
It can be easily set from the teach button and IO-Link, and always feeds the position. IO -Link -Valve actuator position sensor ･ Know the state a...
ifm efector, inc.
240+ people viewing
Last viewed: 11 hours ago
It is a melee -capacity proximity sensor for location detection or level monitoring. Adjust the empty/full state of the press with a press button ...
Nippon Dick Co., Ltd.
360+ people viewing
Last viewed: 10 hours ago
Standard Response
5.0 Company Review
*Other product numbers are available.
10 models listed
Nippon Dick Co., Ltd.
150+ people viewing
Last viewed: 16 hours ago
Standard Response
5.0 Company Review
5 models listed
