About Leuze
More than 60 years of experience have made us a real expert in innovative and efficient sensor and safety solutions for automation technology. We, the Sensor People, prompt technological progress and change through passion and determination. This is how we create tomorrow’s innovations and set new standards on the market together with you.
Short profile
Leuze was founded in Owen/Teck in Southern Germany – its headquarters. Today there are more than 1300 Sensor People around the world who are working with determination and passion for progress and transformation to make our customers successful in a constantly changing industry. Regardless of whether in the technological competence centers or in one of the 22 sales companies, supported by more than 40 international distributors.
Product range
Our high-tech product range includes a number of different sensors for the field of automation technology. For example, switching and measuring sensors, identification systems, solutions for data transmission and image processing. As a Safety Expert, we are also focused on components, services and solutions for safety at work.
We are the Sensor People.
As a medium-sized family business headquartered in Owen/Teck (in the greater Stuttgart area), we actively work to create the future of Industry 4.0 with our products. In this regard, our employees are our most important potential and our greatest pillars.
Find out what makes Leuze as an employer so unique.
We create transformation.
Sharing experience
With a pioneering spirit, we have been setting new standards in technological development time and again for over 60 years, thus reinforcing the high level of trust our customers place in us.
Showing determination
We are focused on the success of our customers in our target markets – we diligently work towards this end in order to meet these expectations.
Using passion
The best results are achieved through extensive communication with our customers and partners.
Driving transformation
Our work is future-oriented, we continuously spark new ideas and thus actively contribute to progressing the industry.
The story behind the brand
Our path to success
The start of Leuze electronic
With the goal of manufacturing electronic optical sensors, Helmut, Christof and Adolf Leuze established Leuze electronic in part of the old weaving mill in Owen (Germany) on January 1, 1963. They initially focused on the textile industry, in which Leuze had its roots, as well as in the printing and paper sector. Four years later, the company had earned its first million in sales.
First subsidiary
1977 saw the founding of Leuze Opto Electronic in Unterstadion in Southern Germany. In 2007, the company’s first subsidiary began operating under the name Leuze electronic assembly GmbH. Electronic modules, printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) and integrated systems based on these boards were developed, manufactured and sold there.
Expansion to other European countries
Leuze established its first subsidiaries in other European countries as early as the 1980s. The Leuze sales companies in Switzerland and France are its oldest international subsidiaries. The photo shows the then manager of the French subsidiary Adrian van Dravik together with Christof Leuze and Günther Stiefelmeyer.
Internationalization and acquisition of Lumiflex
The first big steps to take the company international were made in North and South America and were followed by efforts in Asia starting in the 1990s. 1993 saw the acquisition of Lumiflex GmbH. Today’s development site has been located in Germering near Munich since 2016.
Global presence
Today, the Sensor People are present around the world with three technological competence centers and more than 22 of their own Leuze sales companies. In addition, Leuze is present in another 27 countries and is supported by some 30 partners.
Company headquarters in Owen
The entire Leuze group is controlled centrally and worldwide from Owen. The main Leuze location serves not only as headquarters but is also the largest production location with a manufacturing area of 3,200 square meters.
The Sensor People produce their sensors on four continents. 2019 saw the opening of the technological competence and distribution center in Singapore.
International distribution center and plant in Malaysia
The international distribution center in Unterlenningen opened in 2020. Two years later, the new Leuze plant in Melakka, Malaysia, followed suit.
The world's smallest reflex head led to a breakthrough
Leuze has always worked with its customers to find the best solution for their sensor applications. This resulted in one of the first products: the world’s smallest reflex head at the time.
Contactless data transmission with the DDLS 78
Did you know that the world's first industrial optical data transceiver came from Leuze?
In the mid-1970s, Leuze succeeded in replacing trailing cables in warehouse logistics with contactless data transmission for the first time with the DDLS 78.
First industrial bar code reader: the BCL 10
In the mid-1980s, Leuze set a new standard on the market with its BCL 10, the first industrial bar code reader.
Entry into the field of automation technology for safety at work
With the development of its first protective sensor for access guarding, the SLS 89, Leuze successfully took its first steps in the world of automation technology for safety at work.
World's first bar code positioning system
Sensors increasingly perform positioning applications. In the 1990s, this led to the world's first bar code positioning system, then still called the BCL 21 bar code reader.
Safety laser scanner with triangulation principle
One in-house “Safety at Leuze” development that Leuze is especially proud of is its first safety laser scanner with triangulation principle, the RS 2. Back in the 1990s, when automated guided vehicles (AGVs) were still in their infancy, Leuze recognized that sooner or later they would become established in goods transport.
Label fork with innovative detection principle
The Sensor People’s expertise led to the development of a completely new innovation in the 2000s: The GSU 14 was the fastest and most accurate label fork in the world. And it achieved this using a completely new detection principle: ultrasound.
Safety light curtains Steady expansion
Leuze developed the first safety light curtains already in the 1990s. In the 2000s, the product range was significantly expanded with the Compact Plus and Solid models.
The functionality has also continuously undergone further development, e.g. with the Leuze-patented Smart Process Gating on the basis of the current MLC 530 safety light curtain.
Laser positioning system for intralogistics
Intralogistics is one of Leuze’s focus industries. The AMS laser positioning system from Leuze is an ideal solution for applications in intralogistics.
RSL 400 Maximum operating range guaranteed
A real product highlight is the RSL 400 with Profisafe: This is a safety laser scanner with maximum operating range and two independent protection functions.
World first: GSX 14E
The combined fork sensor GSX 14E is a true world first: This sensor combines both detection principles – light and ultrasound – in one compact sensor.
Cost-optimized design thanks to ELC 100
The ELC 100 safety light curtains are used for guarding points of operation and enable a cost-efficient machine design.
Current news
Locations
We aim to be personally, quickly, and easily accessible to you at all times. We produce on three continents, allowing us to offer you reliable product availability and fast deliverability.
Technological competence centers
Production locations
Subsidiary
Distributors
Distribution through neighboring country
Quality standards
Satisfied customers are the basis of our success.
Our core competencies are first-class sensor solutions, the high quality of which is ensured through tested and validated processes.
We guarantee the adherence to legal and customer specifications and expectations through our company values and compliance with laws, policies and standards. This also includes the commitment to the sustainable protection of our environment through the use of future-oriented technologies and the sparing use of resources.
Our own demand for and our understanding of quality is continuously updated and is confirmed to have a high level of maturity by accredited certification bodies.
Collaborations and partners
Leuze has been developing innovative sensor and safety solutions for automation technology with strong partners for more than 60 years.
Collaborations
ASI Consortium
AS-International Association
Leuze has been a permanent member of the relevant working committees since AS-Interface was founded in 1991, and offers a wide variety of standard and safety sensor solutions with integrated AS-i interface, including the AS-i Safety Controller developed by Leuze, the AS-i Safety Monitor.
IO-Link Consortium
IO-Link Organization
As one of the founding members of the IO-Link Consortium, Leuze is shaping the new interface standard for the lowest field level.
HALCON
MVtec Software GmbH
Together with MVtec Software GmbH as a Vision Acquisition Partner, an interface for the LPS 3D profile sensors was defined for simple integration into the HALCON image processing software.
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation
Leuze and Microsoft are jointly developing an I4.0-compatible sensor solution based on the BCL 300i bar code reader, which transmits data directly to the Azure Cloud and back to the sensor.
Memberships
