Beckhoff Automation Company Profile: History, Ownership, Figures and Technology
Updated: 7 days ago
Beckhoff Automation is a German family company that built its business on using ordinary PC technology to control machines, and invented the EtherCAT fieldbus. Hans Beckhoff founded it in 1980 in Verl; it has about 5,300 employees and revenue of EUR 1.17 billion. This profile sets out its history, ownership, figures and technology.
Beckhoff at a Glance
Fact | Detail |
Company | Beckhoff Automation GmbH & Co. KG |
Founded | 1980 |
Founder | Hans Beckhoff |
Headquarters | Verl, Germany |
Employees | About 5,300 worldwide, as of March 2025 |
Revenue | EUR 1.17 billion, fiscal 2024 |
Ownership | Family owned |
Key technologies | PC-based control, TwinCAT and EtherCAT |
Company History
Hans Beckhoff, a physics graduate, began building control cabinets and microprocessor electronics in his parents' garage, and founded the company in 1980. In 1986 it adopted the PC as its control hardware, running logic control, motion control and visualization on one computer. The first bus terminal followed in 1995, developed with WAGO, and the TwinCAT software in 1996 moved the system to Windows.
In 2003 Beckhoff invented EtherCAT, a real-time industrial Ethernet fieldbus, and founded the EtherCAT Technology Group to open it to other manufacturers. EtherCAT became an international IEC standard in 2007.
Key milestones
1980: Founded.
1986: PC adopted as the control platform.
1995: First bus terminal.
1996: TwinCAT introduced.
2003: EtherCAT invented.
2005: The family business is split into three companies, forming today's Beckhoff Group.
2007: EtherCAT becomes an IEC standard.
Ownership
The company is a limited partnership in family hands. After the death of Arnold Beckhoff in 1981, his widow transferred the family business to their four children: Hans, Arnold, Marlies and Michael. In 2005 it was divided into three companies, of which Beckhoff Automation is one.
Financial Performance
Item | Figure |
Revenue, fiscal 2024 | EUR 1.17 billion |
Employees, March 2025 | About 5,300 |
Technology
Technology | Role |
PC-based control | Machine control on industrial PCs |
TwinCAT | Automation software, since 1996 |
EtherCAT | Real-time industrial Ethernet, since 2003 |
Bus terminals | Modular input and output hardware, since 1995 |
EtherCAT is widely used in robot controllers and servo drives from many manufacturers, which makes Beckhoff relevant to robotics well beyond its own products.
Can You Invest in Beckhoff?
No. It is a private family company.
Strengths and Challenges
Strengths
Its own widely adopted communication standard.
Family ownership and long-term direction under its founder.
An open, PC-based approach.
Challenges
Much larger competitors in industrial control.
Exposure to machine-building cycles.
Current Catalogue Coverage
Catalogue checked on 15 October 2026: 9 associated product records. The links below are representative entries, rather than a claim that every historical model is currently available.
Beckhoff FAQ
Who owns Beckhoff Automation?
The Beckhoff family.
Where is Beckhoff based?
In Verl, Germany.
Who founded Beckhoff Automation?
Hans Beckhoff, in 1980.
What is EtherCAT?
A real-time industrial Ethernet fieldbus that Beckhoff invented in 2003; it became an IEC standard in 2007.
How big is Beckhoff?
Revenue of EUR 1.17 billion in fiscal 2024 and about 5,300 employees.
Sources
Wikipedia: Beckhoff Automation
