Beckhoff Automation with sales of 1.17 billion euros

However, the sharp decline in sales had been expected, as an exaggerated 'boom' development had been observed in previous years. Cumulative growth of over 80% was achieved in the three years from 2021 to 2023. This exaggerated development was followed by a significant market correction in 2024. The previously developed economic bubble burst as predicted. "This is my sixth crisis in 45 years of entrepreneurship and almost all crises have followed a very similar pattern," explains managing owner Hans Beckhoff. "We can certainly expect a recovery, but we have to see the crisis as an opportunity for innovation and optimization and tackle it!" The company believes that it has already bottomed out. As a basis for future growth, the family-run technology company from Verl continues to focus on continuous innovation and high-tech engineering.

Research and development

Beckhoff employs around 5,300 people worldwide, including around 2,000 engineers who bring technological expertise to the company and thus form the basis of its innovative strength.

Numerous new product launches are planned in all areas of software and PC-based control technology. "We are determined to further expand our position as a global automation technology company. We remain true to our motto of presenting good, evolutionary developments every year, but also of introducing a revolutionary new technology every five to seven years," says Hans Beckhoff. To this end, the company consistently invests 80 million euros annually in research and development.

Strengthening our global presence

Beckhoff is represented in over 75 countries by subsidiaries, representative offices and distributors. This global sales network opens up numerous synergies and advantages, particularly in the application of new technologies. Through close cooperation with users and a deep understanding of their needs, cutting-edge technologies can be jointly advanced. The company makes targeted investments in its local market presence and strengthens its global position in growth markets and sustainable future markets, such as the area of electrical systems for energy supply. Beckhoff supplies intelligent automation and measurement technology for energy distribution, energy transmission and energy storage, both for the acquisition of all energy flows and for the control of energy systems.

Positive market signals

The uncertain global political situation also presents the company with challenges for the coming year. However, incoming orders are currently showing signs of recovery. "Our customers' warehouses are slowly emptying, and we expect the overstocking effect among our customers to be worked off by the first quarter of 2025 at the latest," predicts Hans Beckhoff.

Outlook for long-term development

Beckhoff has been a driving force in the global automation industry for 45 years. "Automation is an important basic technology for many areas of social life, from which we benefit, but to which we also make a significant contribution," explains Hans Beckhoff. The technological milestones with which Beckhoff has shaped the market include the idea of PC-based control technology itself, the Bus Terminal as an indispensable basic component of automation solutions today, the ultra-fast EtherCAT communication system, which has been published as an international standard, the innovative XTS and XPlanar product transport systems and the MX system as a pluggable system solution for automation without control cabinets. Overall, Hans Beckhoff is positive about the future and emphasizes: "We enjoy automation a lot and we always have good ideas to push its performance limits forward or to make it simpler and cheaper. This puts us in a good position in global competition!"

Product highlights at the Hannover Messe

Beckhoff is presenting exciting innovations in all its product areas at the Hannover Messe. Highlights include the new multi-touch panels and next-generation industrial PCs. The new generation of operating panels offers improved user-friendliness for intuitive and safe operation. The modern, cost-optimized series further expand the wide variety of Beckhoff's portfolio and represent a future-proof panel platform by integrating the latest standards. Another focus is on the new solutions for energy measurement technology for the precise measurement and analysis of energy consumption. In the software area, new machine learning solutions and TwinCAT PLC++, a new PLC generation in the TwinCAT system, are available.