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Beckhoff Automation GmbH
Type of enterprise	GmbH (limited liability company)
Founded	1980 in Verl, Germany
Headquarters	Verl, Westphalia, Germany
Subsidiaries	in 21 countries
Number of employees	1227 (Jan. 2009)
Turnover	278 Mio. EUR (2008); 232 Mio. EUR (2007); 190 Mio. EUR (2006)
Industry	Automation technology
Products	Industrial PCs; Fieldbus components; Automation software; Drive technology
Other companies of; the Beckhoff Group	Elektro Beckhoff GmbH; Beckhoff Technik und Design GmbH;

Beckhoff Automation GmbH is a medium-sized, internationally acting company located in Verl, Westphalia, Germany. It was established in 1980 as a business unit of the Elektro Beckhoff GmbH, an electrical installation and retail company which was founded in 1953 by Arnold Beckhoff Senior. Until 2005 the business unit “New Automation Technology” operated under the name Beckhoff Industrie Elektronik (Beckhoff Industrial Electronics).

In 2005 the company Elektro Beckhoff GmbH has been restructured into three companies:

Beckhoff Automation GmbH
(PC-based automation technology)
Elektro Beckhoff GmbH
(Building services engineering)
Beckhoff Technik und Design GmbH
(Retail of high-end entertainment electronics, light systems, home appliances)

[edit] PC-based automation technology

The company Beckhoff Automation GmbH produces automation technology in different performance categories, from single components up to system solutions. The company focuses on PC-based control technology with the segments Industrial PC, Embedded PC, fieldbus components (bus terminals), drive technology and automation software. With EtherCAT, launched in 2003, the company initiated a real-time Ethernet for system control.

[edit] Company data

In 2008 the company generated a turnover of 278 Million Euro, with an export share of 44 %. The actual number of employees amounts to 1227. The Headquarters in Verl is the location for all central departments. The domestic sales department is supplemented by subsidiaries all over Germany.

On the international market, the company is represented by subsidiaries in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, India, Italy, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. Through co-operation with partners, Beckhoff is represented in more than 60 countries.

[edit] Company history

1982: P1000 – single-board motion controller
1986: PC Control – first PC-based machine controller
1989: Lightbus – fieldbus utilising optical fiber
1990: All-in-one PC motherboard
1995: Bus terminal technology – fieldbus technology in terminal block format
1996: TwinCAT – real-time software package under Windows with PLC and Motion Control functions
1998: Control Panel – remote IPC Control Panels
2002: CX1000 – modular Embedded PCs for DIN rail mounting
2003: EtherCAT – real-time Ethernet fieldbus system
2005: TwinSAFE – safety solution for the Bus Terminal system
2005: AX5000 – EtherCAT Servo Drive
2007: Industrial Motherboards – Made in Westfalen
2008: XFC – eXtreme Fast Control Technology

[edit] Range of applications

Beckhoff products are used for the automation of machines and plants as well as for building automation. The company creates standard and customized solutions for diverse applications in industries like:

Automatic Assembly Machines
Automotive Industries
Bio-Technology
Energy Industry
General Machine Building
Medical engineering
Packaging Machines
Presses
Process technology
Semiconductor Manufacturing
Test facilities
Transportation and Logistics
Water management
Window Manufacturing Machines
Woodworking Machines
information technology

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Official website

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