Niko Group

Niko Group is a Belgian family-owned company headquartered in Sint-Niklaas, where it was founded in 1919 by brothers Alfons and Werner De Backer. The name Niko derives from Sint-Niklaas (Sint-Niko-Laas). Starting with simple porcelain switches and socket outlets, Niko grew into Belgium's market leader in switching material and sockets, and later expanded internationally. The company designs and manufactures electrical controls, detectors, lighting control, access control and home automation systems for residential and professional buildings. Its flagship smart home ecosystem is Niko Home Control. Niko operates through three business units: Niko, Niko Projects and Fifthplay. It employs over 700 people and offers more than 5,000 products, with 10 European branches (Belgium, Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland) and distributors worldwide. The company is led by the third generation of the De Backer family and invests heavily in research and development. In recent years, Niko consolidated its smart home, sensor and access control activities under a new division called Wygwam, while continuing to sell the full product range under the Niko brand. Niko emphasizes design, quality, safety and sustainability, and its products are known for withstanding decades of daily use.

Niko was founded in 1919 by brothers Alfons and Werner De Backer in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, five months after the end of World War I. The name Niko is derived from Sint-Niklaas (Sint-Niko-Laas). Initially, the brothers produced bicycle chains, but they soon began manufacturing electrical switches, first in porcelain and later in bakelite. In 1920, the first Niko products were simple or double switches and socket outlets made of porcelain. In 1921, the brothers set up their offices and factory in the Lindenstraat in Sint-Niklaas, which remained the company's home for the next 52 years. In 1965, Niko introduced its luxury switch, the Inter 70, to the international market, marking its first major export product. In 1972, the company moved from the center of Sint-Niklaas to the Industrial Park West. In 1992, Niko acquired the transformer factory EREA in Wijnegem, and three years later, in 1995, it bought Intensia, a company specializing in care registration systems. In 2007, Niko established the Fifthplay division, which develops software platforms, and also acquired IRS, a company producing high-end automation projects for apartments. In 2008, it acquired the Danish company Servodan, which produces sensors and light controls. Today, Niko is led by the third generation of the De Backer family. The company has grown into an international player with 10 European branches and distributors worldwide, employing over 700 people and offering more than 5,000 products. In recent years, Niko consolidated its smart home, sensor and access control activities under a new division called Wygwam, while continuing to sell the full product range under the Niko brand. Niko's products from the bakelite era are included in the collection of the Industriemuseum in Ghent.

• 2008

  Acquired Danish company Servodan, producer of sensors and light controls.

• 2007

  Established Fifthplay division for software platforms; acquired IRS for high-end apartment automation.

• 1995

  Acquired Intensia, specializing in care registration systems.

• 1992

  Acquired transformer factory EREA in Wijnegem.

• 1972

  Moved from Sint-Niklaas center to Industrial Park West.

• 1965

  Introduction of the luxury switch Inter 70 to the international market.

• 1921

  Offices and factory set up in Lindenstraat, Sint-Niklaas.

• 1920

  First Niko products: simple or double switches and socket outlets made of porcelain.

• 1919

  Founded by brothers Alfons and Werner De Backer in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium.

Premium, design-oriented and reliable electrical controls and smart building solutions for residential and professional buildings.

• Niko Home Control

  Smart home automation system for residential and professional buildings.

• Niko Inter 70

  Luxury switch introduced in 1965, first international product.

• Niko detectors

  Motion and presence detectors for automatic lighting control.

• Niko switches and sockets

  Range of wall switches and socket outlets known for quality and design.

1. 1Niko - home automation, switches, socket outlets and detectorniko.eu
2. 2About Niko - company informationniko.eu
3. 3Our story - Niko historyniko.eu
4. 4Our solutions| Niko product overviewniko.eu
5. 5Niko Group - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Niko Group - Wikipedia (NL)nl.wikipedia.org