Pepperl+Fuchs Company Profile: History, Figures, Products and Leadership
Updated: 7 days ago
Pepperl+Fuchs is a German maker of industrial sensors and explosion protection equipment that developed the first inductive proximity switch in 1958. Walter Pepperl and Ludwig Fuchs founded it in Mannheim in 1945; it has about 6,850 employees. This profile sets out its history, figures, products and leadership.
Pepperl+Fuchs at a Glance
Fact | Detail |
Company | Pepperl+Fuchs SE |
Founded | 1945 |
Founders | Walter Pepperl and Ludwig Fuchs |
Headquarters | Mannheim, Germany |
Employees | About 6,850, as of April 2024 |
Revenue | Above EUR 1 billion for the first time in 2022 |
Chairman | Dr. Wilhelm Nehring |
Company History
The company began in 1945 in Sandhofen, a district of Mannheim. In 1958 it developed the first inductive proximity switch, a sensor that detects metal without contact and is now one of the most common components in automation. The headquarters moved to the Schoenau district of Mannheim in 1971, and the founders retired from management in 1987.
Key milestones
1945: Founded.
1958: First inductive proximity switch.
1971: Headquarters moves to Schoenau.
2010: Acquires the proximity sensor business of Siemens.
2019: Acquires Comtrol Corporation; becomes a stock corporation.
2020: Becomes a European company, SE.
2021: Acquires Aava Mobile.
2022: Revenue passes EUR 1 billion.
2025: New North American headquarters opened.
Products
Area | Products |
Factory automation | Industrial sensors, rotary encoders, RFID and barcode systems |
Process automation | Explosion protection and intrinsic safety products |
Leadership
Name | Role |
Dr. Wilhelm Nehring | Chairman |
Tobias Bloecher, Reiner Mueller, Florian Ochs and Martin Walter | Listed as key people |
Can You Invest in Pepperl+Fuchs?
No stock exchange listing is stated in the source used. The legal form is a European company, SE.
Strengths and Challenges
Strengths
Two businesses, in factory and process automation, that balance each other.
A long record of innovation in sensors.
Growth through acquisitions.
Challenges
Many competitors in standard sensors.
Exposure to investment cycles in machinery and process industries.
Current Catalogue Coverage
Catalogue checked on 15 October 2026: 8 associated product records. The links below are representative entries, rather than a claim that every historical model is currently available.
Pepperl+Fuchs FAQ
What does Pepperl+Fuchs make?
Industrial sensors, encoders, identification systems and explosion protection products.
Where is Pepperl+Fuchs based?
In Mannheim, Germany.
Who founded Pepperl+Fuchs?
Walter Pepperl and Ludwig Fuchs, in 1945.
What did Pepperl+Fuchs invent?
It developed the first inductive proximity switch, in 1958.
How many people work at Pepperl+Fuchs?
About 6,850, as of April 2024.
Sources
Wikipedia: Pepperl+Fuchs
