The company 

SICK is one of the world's leading producers of sensors and sensor solutions for industrial applications. Founded in 1946 by Dr.-Ing. h. c. Erwin Sick, the company with headquarters in Waldkirch im Breisgau near Freiburg ranks among the technological market leaders. With more than 50 subsidiaries and equity investments as well as numerous representative offices, SICK maintains a presence all around the globe. In the 2013 fiscal year, SICK had more than 6,500 employees worldwide and achieved Group sales of EUR 1,009.5 million.

The segments 

The perfect basis for your automation: Sensors from SICK 

From factory automation to logistics automation and process automation, SICK is one of the leading producers of sensors. As a technology and market leader, SICK’s sensors and application solutions for industrial use create the perfect basis for reliable and efficient control of processes, for protecting people from accidents, and for preventing environmental damage.

Company history 

1946
The birth of today's SICK AG: Erwin Sick receives a license from the American military government in Munich for his own engineering office.

1952
Presentation of the first marketable accident prevention light curtain at the International Machine Tool Trade Fair in Hanover. The resultant orders led to the initial serial production and was the economic breakthrough.

1956
The company, with 25 employees, moves to Waldkirch.

1972
The first subsidiary is founded in France.

1975
Expansion overseas with the founding of a subsidiary in the USA.

1988
Erwin Sick dies at the age of 79. Gisela Sick runs her husband's company as the chief partner.

1996
Conversion of Erwin Sick GmbH (a kind of private limited company) to an Aktiengesellschaft (joint stock company).

1999
The first issue of employee shares domestically and abroad.

2006
SICK celebrates its 60th anniversary.

2013

SICK has a global presence with almost 50 subsidiaries and participations as well as numerous sales agencies. SICK currently employs about 6,500 employees worldwide, and achieved sales of EUR 1,009.5 m in 2013.

Products

• Photoelectric sensors
  • Miniature photoelectric sensors
  • Small photoelectric sensors
  • Compact photoelectric sensors
  • Fiber-optic photoelectric sensors
  • Cylindrical photoelectric sensors
  • MultiTask photoelectric sensors
  • Special applications
• Encoders
  • Absolute encoder
  • Incremental encoder
  • Linear encoder
  • Wire draw encoder
• Proximity sensors
  • Proximity sensors overview
  • Inductive proximity sensors
  • Capacitive proximity sensors
  • Magnetic proximity sensors
• Opto-electronic protective devices
  • Opto-electronic protective devices overview
  • Safety laser scanners
  • Safety camera systems
  • Safety light curtains
  • Multiple light beam safety devices
  • Single-beam photoelectric safety switches
  • Mirror and device columns
  • Upgrade kits
  • safetyPLUS - competence in safe machinery
• Magnetic cylinder sensors
  • Analog positioning sensors
  • Sensors for T-slot cylinders
  • Sensors for C-slot cylinders
  • Sensor adapters for other cylinder types
• Safety switches
  • Safety switches overview
  • Electro-mechanical safety switches
  • Non-contact safety switches
  • Safety command devices
  • safetyPLUS – competence in safe machinery
• Identification solutions
  • Identification solutions overview
  • Image-based code readers (1D/2D/OCR)
  • Hand-held scanners
  • RFID
  • Connectivity
• sens:Control - safe control solutions
  • sens:Control - safe control solutions overview
  • Safety controllers
  • Safe sensor cascade
  • Safety relays
  • safetyPLUS - competence in safe machinery
• Detection and ranging solutions
  • Indoor laser measurement technology
  • Outdoor laser measurement technology
• Registration sensors
  • Contrast sensors
  • Markless sensors
  • Color sensors
  • Luminescence sensors
  • Fork sensors
  • Array sensors
  • Register sensors
• Fluid sensors
  • Level sensors
  • Flow sensors
  • Pressure sensors
  • Temperature sensors
• Distance sensors
  • Distance sensors overview
  • Short range distance sensors
  • Mid range distance sensors
  • Long range distance sensors
  • Linear measurement sensors
  • Ultrasonic sensors
  • Double sheet detection
  • Optical data transmission
  • Position finders
• System solutions
  • Flexible automation systems
  • Collision awareness systems
  • Customized analyzer systems
  • Object detection systems
  • Profiling systems
  • Quality control systems
  • Security systems
  • Track and trace systems
• Automation light grids
  • Measuring automation light grids
  • Switching automation light grids
• Analyzers
  • Gas analyzers
  • Dust measuring devices
  • Analyzer solutions
  • Traffic sensors
• Vision
  • Vision sensors
  • Smart cameras
  • High-end cameras
• Motor feedback systems
  • Motor feedback system rotary incremental with commutation
  • Motor feedback system rotary HIPERFACE
  • Motor feedback system rotary HIPERFACE DSL
  • Motor feedback system rotary incremental
  • Motor feedback system linear HIPERFACE