Turck
German family-owned supplier of automation technology for factory, process, and logistics applications.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Turck is a German industrial automation group headquartered in Mülheim and Halver. It develops, manufactures, and markets electronic products, integrated systems, and services used to collect, process, transmit, and visualize production data. Its principal application areas are factory automation, process automation, and logistics automation. The company traces its origins to an engineering office established by Hans Turck in Mülheim in 1960. A key early development came in 1965, when a German chemical plant commissioned an amplifier module. The first 20 units were produced by Hans Turck's brother Werner in his apartment in Halver. The brothers subsequently established Turck Elektronik Feinbau with Hermann Hermes, initially concentrating on inductive and capacitive proximity switches. These products formed the basis for a broader portfolio of industrial sensing and automation technologies. Turck began internationalizing during the 1970s. It opened sales offices in the United States in 1973 and founded Turck Inc. in Minneapolis in 1975, followed by further European sales operations. The group later expanded its manufacturing and sales footprint through additional subsidiaries and representatives. A 1989 acquisition of a measuring-instrument factory in Beierfeld, Saxony, strengthened its manufacturing capabilities and supported expansion into Central and Eastern European markets. In 1994, Turck established a production and sales company in Tianjin, China, marking a substantial step into Asia. Its portfolio spans sensors, fieldbus and industrial communication equipment, control products, cloud and connectivity technologies, interface devices, human-machine interfaces, RFID systems, and cabinet and connection solutions. Turck Vilant Systems adds RFID software and systems, including middleware and links to enterprise-resource-planning systems. The group also provides customer-specific electronic assemblies and specialized automation solutions rather than operating only as a component vendor. Turck Holding GmbH serves as the group holding company. Key German operating entities include TURCK GmbH in Mülheim, which is responsible primarily for sales and marketing; Werner Turck GmbH & Co. KG in Halver, which focuses on development and manufacturing; Turck Beierfeld GmbH, which develops and produces customer-specific electronic assemblies; Turck Electronics GmbH in Detmold; and Turck Mechatec GmbH in Mülheim, which works on control-cabinet and connection solutions. Turck Inc. is part of the wider group, alongside numerous international subsidiaries, holdings, and representatives. The business remains privately owned and family-controlled, although members of the founding families gradually withdrew from operational management. Hans Turck and Hermann Hermes retired in 1998, Werner Turck retired in 2011, and Ulrich Turck, a son of Hans Turck, left management in 2018. A 2023 legal and ownership dispute concerned a proposed sale of shares associated with the Werner Turck family to Triton Partners. The dispute ended with the Werner Turck Family Foundation excluded as a shareholder, leaving descendants of Hans Turck and Hermann Hermes as the sole shareholders. Turck also ended its business activities in Belarus and Russia in March 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
History
Turck's origins lie in an engineering office founded by Hans Turck in Mülheim in 1960. The business initially operated as an engineering venture, but its direction began to change in 1965 when a German chemical plant commissioned the development of an amplifier module. Hans Turck's brother Werner produced the first 20 examples in his apartment in Halver. The two brothers then founded Turck Elektronik Feinbau, joined by Hermann Hermes as a partner. The new company focused at first on inductive and capacitive proximity switches, establishing an early specialization in electronic sensing for industrial applications. The company's international orientation developed during the 1970s. Turck opened sales offices in the United States in 1973 and founded Turck Inc. in Minneapolis in 1975. Sales offices in Belgium and other markets followed. Over time, the business expanded through a network of subsidiaries, production sites, specialized holdings, and representatives, allowing it to combine German engineering and manufacturing with local sales and service. A major manufacturing and geographic step came in 1989, when Turck took over a measuring-instrument factory in Beierfeld, Saxony. The site broadened the group's production capabilities and helped it enter markets in Central and Eastern Europe. In 1994, Turck established a production and sales company in Tianjin, China, providing a base for expansion in Asia. The group subsequently developed a worldwide presence serving industrial customers in factory, process, and logistics automation. Turck's product scope widened well beyond its original proximity-switch business. It came to offer sensors, fieldbus equipment, controls, cloud and connectivity products, connection and interface technology, human-machine interfaces, RFID, and related system solutions. Its activities include both standard products and customer-specific electronic assemblies. Turck Vilant Systems expanded the RFID offering through systems, middleware, and integration with enterprise-resource-planning environments. The group is organized around Turck Holding GmbH. TURCK GmbH in Mülheim is primarily responsible for sales and marketing, while Werner Turck GmbH & Co. KG in Halver focuses on development and manufacturing. Other German entities include Turck Beierfeld GmbH, Turck Electronics GmbH in Detmold, and Turck Mechatec GmbH in Mülheim. Turck Inc. in Minneapolis is part of the group, which also operates through international subsidiaries and representatives. The founding families gradually withdrew from management. Hans Turck and Hermann Hermes retired in 1998, Werner Turck retired in 2011, and Ulrich Turck, Hans Turck's son, retired from management in March 2018. Hans Turck died in July 2015, nearly three months after the death of Werner Turck. Hermann Hermes, the remaining co-founder, died in January 2019. Turck remains a family-owned enterprise. In 2023, a dispute arose over an attempted sale of shares linked to the heirs of Werner Turck to Triton Partners. A majority of shareholders blocked the transaction. After litigation, the Hagen Regional Court concluded the matter at the end of 2023 and excluded the Werner Turck Family Foundation from Turck Holding GmbH's shareholder structure. Descendants of Hans Turck and Hermann Hermes became the sole shareholders. Separately, the group discontinued its business activities in Belarus and Russia in March 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
- 2023
Family ownership dispute concluded
[1]Following a dispute over a proposed share sale to Triton Partners, a court decision excluded the Werner Turck Family Foundation as a shareholder.
- 2022
Russian and Belarusian activities discontinued
[1]Turck ended its business activities in Belarus and Russia following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
- 2019
PS+ pressure sensor wins awards
[1]Turck's PS+ pressure sensor received an iF Product Design Award and the Automation Award from Elektro Automation.
- 2018
Ulrich Turck leaves management
[1]Ulrich Turck, the son of Hans Turck, retired from management in March, ending direct founding-family participation in group management.
- 2011
Werner Turck retires
[1]The third founder, Werner Turck, retired from the company's management.
- 1998
Hans Turck and Hermann Hermes retire
[1]Two of the founding partners withdrew from operational management.
- 1994
Tianjin production and sales company established
[1]Turck founded a production and sales company in Tianjin, China, to develop its Asian market presence.
- 1989
Beierfeld measuring-instrument factory acquired
[1]Turck took over a measuring-instrument factory in Beierfeld, Saxony, supporting manufacturing growth and expansion into Eastern European markets.
- 1975
Turck Inc. is founded in Minneapolis
[1]The group established Turck Inc. in Minneapolis, strengthening its direct presence in the United States.
- 1973
First United States sales offices
[1]Turck opened sales offices in the United States as part of its early international expansion.
Products and positioning
A family-owned, full-range industrial automation supplier combining sensing, connectivity, control, identification, and application-specific system solutions for factory, process, and logistics environments.
Sensing technology
Industrial sensors
Turck's sensing portfolio grew from its early inductive and capacitive proximity-switch products. The broader range supports detection and measurement tasks in factory, process, and logistics automation, supplying production systems with information about position, presence, pressure, and other operating conditions.
Pressure sensing
PS+ pressure sensors
The PS+ line is a pressure-sensing product family for industrial automation applications. In 2019 it received both an iF Product Design Award and the Automation Award from Elektro Automation, giving the range recognition for product design and automation engineering.
Industrial networking
Fieldbus and industrial communication solutions
Turck supplies fieldbus and related industrial communication technologies that connect sensors, control equipment, and higher-level automation systems. These products support the transfer of production data across industrial installations and form part of the group's broader connectivity portfolio.
Identification and tracking
RFID systems
Turck provides RFID hardware and system solutions for identification, tracking, and data capture in industrial and logistics environments. Turck Vilant Systems supplements the hardware with RFID middleware and integration capabilities for enterprise-resource-planning systems.
Connectivity
Connection and interface technology
The group's connection and interface offerings link field devices, control equipment, and automation infrastructure. The portfolio includes connection solutions and specialized control-cabinet products supplied through Turck's dedicated group companies.
Automation systems
HMI, control, cloud, and automation solutions
Turck combines control, human-machine interface, cloud, and connectivity technologies into solutions for recording, processing, and transmitting production data. These offerings extend the brand from individual sensors and components into integrated automation architectures.
Contract and custom electronics
Customer-specific electronic assemblies
Turck Beierfeld develops and manufactures customer-specific electronic assemblies. This activity complements Turck's standard catalog products by addressing specialized electronic requirements for industrial customers.
Brand decisions
2023
Share sale to Triton Partners blockedM&ABackground
Heirs of Werner Turck sought to sell their shares to private-equity firm Triton Partners, but a majority of shareholders opposed the transaction.
Action taken
The proposed sale was prevented. After legal proceedings, the Hagen Regional Court concluded the dispute and excluded the Werner Turck Family Foundation as a shareholder of Turck Holding GmbH.
Aftermath
Descendants of Hans Turck and Hermann Hermes became the sole shareholders, preserving the group's family-owned structure.
2022
Withdrawal from Belarus and RussiaStrategyBackground
Turck had maintained a presence in Belarus and Russia for 17 years. Russia's invasion of Ukraine created a changed geopolitical and operating environment.
Action taken
The group discontinued its business activities in both countries in March 2022.
Aftermath
Turck no longer continued those business activities in Belarus and Russia. No financial effect is stated in the available reference material.
Sources2 sources
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