ifm electronic Company Profile: History, Ownership, Products and Leadership
Updated: Oct 15
ifm electronic is a German maker of sensors, controllers and software for industrial automation, with more than 7,400 employees in over 70 countries. It was founded in Essen in 1969 and is led by the sons of two of its founders. This profile sets out its history, ownership, products and leadership.
ifm at a Glance
Fact | Detail |
Group | ifm Group; parent ifm stiftung & co. kg |
Founded | 1969 |
Founders | Robert Buck, Gerd Marhofer and Bernd Ruesing |
Headquarters | Essen, Germany |
Main development site | Tettnang |
Employees | More than 7,400, as of 2021 |
Co-Chief Executive Officers | Michael Marhofer and Martin Buck |
Company History
An engineering office set up in 1967 was incorporated on October 29, 1969, in Essen. Bernd Ruesing left the management in 1971, and the company was built by Robert Buck and Gerd Marhofer. By 1972 it had 36 employees. It invented the first electronic speed monitor in 1973 and opened its first foreign sales companies, in France and Japan, in 1976.
In 2001 the founders handed leadership to their sons, Martin Buck and Michael Marhofer, who still run the group together.
Key milestones
1969: Incorporated in Essen.
1973: First electronic speed monitor.
1980: Production of optical sensors begins.
1985: Acquires the Swedish manufacturer SSE.
1993: Takes part in developing the AS-Interface fieldbus.
1996: Production in Exton, Pennsylvania.
2001: Second generation takes over.
2006: Co-founds IO-Link with thirteen other companies.
2013: Acquires the 3D technology developer pmdtechnologies.
2019: Software and technology center in Siegen completed.
Ownership
The ifm stiftung & co. kg stands at the top of the group and has been the parent since 2014. The company is led by members of the founding families.
Products
Position sensors and process sensors.
Sensors for motion control and safety.
Industrial image processing, including 3D.
Communication and identification systems.
Systems for mobile machinery.
Machine condition monitoring and software.
Leadership
Name | Role |
Michael Marhofer | Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Martin Buck | Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Benno Kathan | Chief Technology Officer |
Christoph von Rosenberg | Chief Financial Officer |
Dirk Kristes | Chief Operating Officer |
Can You Invest in ifm?
No. It is privately held through its own holding structure.
Strengths and Challenges
Strengths
Family leadership across two generations.
A role in creating two industry communication standards.
A broad range from sensors to software.
Challenges
Many competitors in standard sensors.
No current revenue figure in the source used.
Current Catalogue Coverage
Catalogue checked on 15 October 2026: 1 associated product records. The links below are representative entries, rather than a claim that every historical model is currently available.
ifm FAQ
Who owns ifm electronic?
The group is held through ifm stiftung & co. kg and led by the founding families.
Where is ifm based?
In Essen, Germany.
When was ifm founded?
In 1969.
Who runs ifm?
Michael Marhofer and Martin Buck, as co-chief executives.
What is ifm's link to IO-Link?
It co-founded the IO-Link communication system in 2006 with thirteen other companies.
Sources
Wikipedia (German): ifm electronic
