Gebhard Balluff founds his mechanical repair shop for bicycles, motorcycles and sewing machines in Neuhausen, which develops into a company for precision turned and milled parts.
History
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1921
1940
Gebhard Balluff hands over the management of the company to his son-in-law Eduard Hermle.
1947
Balluff becomes a factory for precision mechanical products and produces, among other items. DIN L 85 turnbuckles as well as spring winders.
1952
Balluff brings the Spaetzle press into its production line.
1954/55
Balluff produces rocker arms, stub axles, shift levers and engine parts for the automotive industry.
1956
The Gebrüder Heller Maschinenfabrik GmbH company in Nürtingen is looking for a partner to manufacture small components. The resulting cam switch is the company's first own sensor on its way to becoming a solution provider in industrial automation.
1968
From mechanical to electronic: development of the non-contact, electronic proximity sensor.
1971
Creation of the first international subsidiary, Balluff Austria in Vienna – the first step towards expansion of the international distribution network.
1976
New factory built in Neuhausen on the Filder: Modern, spacious buildings created for development, production and management.
1978
Beginning of production for BOS optoelectronic sensors: Balluff sensors can now detect objects even at greater distances and made of materials other than metal.
1978
Brothers Klaus and Rolf Hermle assumed leadership as the third generation of the family-owned company. Until the death of Klaus in 1987, the brothers worked together to grow the company internationally and expand the product portfolio.
1980
Creation of the subsidiary Nihon Balluff Japan as the first branch in Asia for local production and sales.
1981/83
Creation of presences in North America and Brazil for better on-site customer support and strategic marketing.
1983
Beginning of production for BIS industrial RFID systems: The identification systems are a combination of data carrier, read/write head and processor unit.
1984
Non-contact, wear-free and robust position measurement. Position determination is based on the innovative principle of sound propagation time measurement of a waveguide.
1987
Beginning of production for Trans-sonar displacement sensors: A further development of the BTL Micropulse displacement sensor.
1987
BAW inductive analog sensor
1989
Creation of Balluff Electronika KFT in Hungary. The global production network grows.
1990
Safe and wear-free position detection on all pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders. Production start of BMF magnetic field sensors: competence expansion in the field of magnetic field sensors.
1995
Incremental rotary encoder BDG series
1996
75 years of Balluff. The company grows internationally - with subsidiaries in Switzerland, Italy and the Czech Republic as well as sales offices in Singapore and China.
2000
Balluff opens a new logistics center and a modernized manufacturing facility in Neuhausen. Beginning of production for BES Super Shorties: Expansion of expertise in the field of mini-sensor systems.
2001
Balluff develops its first own vision sensor together with a partner company.
2004
Linear and rotary displacement measurement - absolute and incremental - with resolutions down to 1 μm and measuring ranges up to 48 m.
2005
BMS universal mounting system for mounting and precise positioning of Balluff sensors and devices.
2006
Introduction of IO-Link as the first standardized digital interface at the sensor/actuator level and as an enabler for the Industrial Internet of Things.
2007
With the new production site in China, Balluff further expands its market position in Asia with a focus on China, Korea, Taiwan and Japan.
2007
Introduction of the first IO-Link hubs as a link between the existing discrete sensor technology and the advantages of the new IO-Link technology.
2007
Balluff expands its own portfolio in the area of capacitive sensors by integrating SIE Sensorik Industrie Elektronik in Viernheim.
2008
First RFID read/write heads with IO-Link interface on the market
2008
Market revolution of the first IP67 unmanaged Ethernet switches with Profinet and Ethernet/IP
2008
Market revolution with the first integrated display unit in an Ethernet networking module for setting and diagnosis of the device.
2009
Inductive coupler for contactless power and data transmission
2010
Generation change: Rolf Hermle hands over the management of the company to his children Katrin Stegmaier-Hermle and Florian Hermle as well as the technical managing director Michael Unger.
2010
Introduction of the first IO-Link converters with the aim of adapting existing analog or discrete systems to IO-Link.
2012
1 Controller for 4 RFID Technologies
2013
Market launch of the first signal lights fully configurable via IO-Link for machine condition monitoring and for visualization of sensor signals including additional functions such as running light or signal horn
2013
Development partnership with image processing specialist Matrix Vision
2014
Strengthening of miniaturization competence for very small optical sensors
2015
Own distribution in Australia and New Zealand. With its overall portfolio, Balluff has become a pacesetter for Industry 4.0.
2016
Establishment of the new subsidiaries in Turkey, Korea and Thailand.
2016
Further development of the brand identity. The company slogan "sensors worldwide" becomes "innovating automation".
2016
Balluff enters the market as a new player with the Safety Hub. The approach is based on software instead of hardware.
2016
UHF Antenna for BIS V Family
2016
Magnetic Encoded Absolute Displacement Encoder with IO-Link Interface BML SL1
2016
Entry into Machine Vision Solutions with BVS Cockpit and SmartCamera - Combination
2017
Portfolio expansion through the integration of Matrix Vision
2017
Balluff bundles its own software expertise in the Balluff Softwarehouse.
2017
Balluff integrates the software company iss innovative software services into the Group, thus strengthening its own software expertise.
2018
Vision Controller with BVS Cockpit: vision system with customer-friendly operability and multiple, high-resolution cameras
2018
Introduction of Easy Tool-ID with RFID
2019
The multifunctional sensor provides condition data on vibration, temperature, humidity and ambient pressure
2019
Compact and accurate displacement measurement system for cylinder applications BMP01
2019
Subsidiary India established
2020
Managing director Michael Unger moves to the advisory board. His successor will be Frank Nonnenmann. With his many years of experience in the supply chain management of global industrial companies, he will from now on be responsible for the Supply Chain and Machine & Plant Engineering divisions. Katrin Stegmaier-Hermle becomes Spokeswoman of the Management Board.
2020
Small project teams develop new business models according to the Lean Startup method with a focus on value-added combinations of software and hardware.
2020
Balluff offers the most comprehensive networking portfolio on the market with its total of eight different fieldbus variants (PNT/EIP/ECT/CCL/CIE/CIB/PBS/DNT).
2020
Foundation of the subsidiary Malaysia
2021
After many years of specification and development work, Balluff presents the first standardized IO-Link wireless system on the market.
2021
The first pure software product from Balluff is launched. The Balluff Engineering Tool supports the manufacturer-independent commissioning and configuration of IO-Link devices.
2021
Software function expansion through license sale
2021
Next generation digital position display: Intuitive. Washdown-capable. With extended IO-Link functionality.
2021
Introduction of embedded vision platform under the Matrix Vision brand.
2021
Balluff celebrates 100th anniversary
2021
Introduction of condition monitoring solution CMTK
2021
First UHF read/write head with IO-Link interface on the market
2022
Introduction of 3D stereo camera - innovative, powerful and smart
2022
Foundation of the production site in Aguascalientes, Mexico
2022
Introduction of BVS Ident Sensor
2023
BNI Next Generation Hub and Master
2023
Brand Change Matrix Vision: Transfer of Matrix Vision brand to Balluff brand