- ifm at a glance
- Management - Milestones - Development - Location
Management – Milestones – Development – Locations
Chairmen of the Board and co-CEOs: Martin Buck and Michael Marhofer
Since the founding years, ifm has grown considerably – we have retained our virtues, our quality standards and our sincere and respectful cooperation. Today, the second-generation family-run ifm group is one of the worldwide market leaders. Our customers are still the focus of our work.
Milestones in the history of the ifm group
On 29 October 1969 the time had come: Today's ifm group of companies was founded as ifm electronic geräte gmbh+co kg. The motivation was to do it in a different way than all the others – and better.
In ifm's foundation year, success started with the invention of inductive sensors for 220 V.
Sales and staff development since the foundation in 1969
(As of: 01/ 2024)
Our corporate profits are the capital required to create and secure training and jobs and to invest in innovation. A value-based approach plays an important role within the ifm group of companies. The founder generation has already defined principles in a philosophy which is today translated into 16 languages and given to every employee. In it we encourage our ethic corporate culture and responsible and sustainable action – also in a global context. Business success and moral behaviour do not contradict each other for us. The continuous growth since the company was founded is proof of this.
Our locations
ifm is closely connected to Germany as a location for industry with its corporate headquarters in Essen and a development and production site in Tettnang on Lake Constance where more than two thirds of the portfolio are developed and manufactured.
ifm’s high-tech centre The SUMMIT in Siegen provides a common office base for the five companies belonging to the ifm group: pmdtechnologies ag, ifm services gmbh, ifm software gmbh, ifm solutions gmbh and ifm business solutions gmbh. About 420 specialists from all areas of Industry 4.0 work together on visionary ideas and successful solutions in the fields of camera technology, IIoT and SAP-based supply chain management. With an eye to the future, The SUMMIT stands for development and delivery of standardised 3D sensors and software solutions.
Other production sites in large sales markets such as Asia or the USA allow fast reaction to regional market requirements. To ensure ifm's high quality standards, the employees in the international plants are also trained in Germany.