WAGO
German food brand
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
WAGO is a privately owned German manufacturer of electrical connection technology, interface electronics, and decentralized automation systems. Based in Minden, North Rhine-Westphalia, the company serves industrial, building, lighting, energy, transportation, and mechanical-engineering customers through a worldwide network of subsidiaries, production sites, and sales organizations. Its most distinctive technical contribution is the development and commercialization of spring-clamp connection systems, which provide an alternative to traditional screw terminals by maintaining electrical contact through spring force. The company was founded in Minden in 1951 as WAGO Klemmenwerk GmbH by Heinrich Nagel and Friedrich Hohorst. The founders acquired a spring-clamp patent associated with inventors Wagner and Olbricht, whose names contributed to the WAGO name. WAGO presented its first spring terminals at the Hannover Messe during its founding year. Early acceptance was limited because of material and ductility challenges, but the company continued refining the underlying technology. WAGO expanded its product and application base during the 1960s and 1970s. It changed terminal-housing materials to Polyamide 6,6, added connectors and solderable printed-circuit-board terminals, and entered applications including lighting. In 1973 it introduced a box terminal that became the first spring-loaded terminal to receive VDE certification. The 1977 introduction of the Cage Clamp terminal block was a pivotal development: the spring-cage mechanism became the foundation for later terminal blocks, connectors, and automation products and helped establish spring-clamp technology as an industrial standard. International expansion followed the growth of the terminal business. WAGO established or developed operations in Europe, North America, and Asia, including facilities and subsidiaries in France, Switzerland, Austria, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, India, and the former East Germany. The Sondershausen site in Thuringia became a major production and logistics location after German reunification. WAGO also broadened its portfolio from passive electrical connections into electronic interfaces and automation, including I/O systems, controllers, communication products, and software-related capabilities. Ownership and corporate control changed during the company’s development. Bowthorpe Electric acquired a majority interest in 1975; that ownership later passed to Spirent PLC. In 2003, the shares were bought back, restoring WAGO to family ownership. WAGO Holding GmbH serves as the group’s holding company, while WAGO GmbH & Co. KG conducts the operating business with subsidiaries and second-tier companies. The company’s best-known consumer-facing electrical products include the 222 series lever-operated connector and its successor, the 221 series, while its industrial portfolio includes terminal blocks, the I/O System 750, interface modules, controllers, PCB connection products, and the picoMAX connector system. WAGO products are used in machinery and plant engineering, building technology, lighting, energy systems, transportation, and automotive-related applications. The business remains active and internationally oriented. The reference material reports approximately 9,000 employees and revenue of €1.24 billion for 2024; those figures are time-specific and should not be treated as current without updated company reporting.
History
WAGO was established in Minden on 27 April 1951 as WAGO Klemmenwerk GmbH by Heinrich Nagel and Friedrich Hohorst. The founders had acquired a patent for spring-clamp technology associated with Wagner and Olbricht. WAGO exhibited its first spring terminals at the Hannover Messe in the same year, although early products encountered limited market acceptance because of material and ductility problems. During the 1950s, the company continued developing spring-based electrical connection technology. A 1951 patent covered a terminal arrangement in which the contact insert was not self-supporting and clamping force was transmitted through the insulating housing. A later 1957 patent described a self-supporting spring terminal using helical springs for different conductor types. These developments helped establish the technical basis for WAGO’s later portfolio. In 1961, Wolfgang Hohorst, the founder’s son, joined the company. At that time WAGO had approximately 20 employees. In 1966, it adopted Polyamide 6,6 for terminal housings in place of thermoset material and expanded into connectors and solderable printed-circuit-board terminals. These changes broadened the company’s applications and helped it enter the lighting industry. WAGO introduced a box terminal in 1973 for electrical installations. It became the first spring-loaded terminal to receive VDE certification. In 1975, Bowthorpe Electric acquired a majority stake. Two years later, WAGO developed the Cage Clamp spring-cage terminal block. Cage Clamp became the core of subsequent product families and contributed to the wider industrial adoption of spring-clamp connection systems. The company expanded internationally through subsidiaries and production activities. By the mid-1990s, its network included France, Switzerland, Austria, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, India, and operations in the former East Germany. After German reunification, WAGO developed a production site in Sondershausen, Thuringia. Initial operations began in a rented facility, followed by production in a purpose-built factory from 1993. The site was expanded repeatedly and later became an important logistics hub for Central European customers. WAGO also established a foundation in 1998 to promote education and training for young people interested in technology. In 1999, a logistics centre was created at Sondershausen. The company continued developing new connection systems and entered more deeply into electronic interface and automation products. In 2003, shares held through the Bowthorpe and Spirent ownership chain were bought back, making WAGO family-owned again. The 2000s brought further product refinement, including miniaturization of the picoMAX connector system in 2010. Sven Hohorst succeeded his father Wolfgang Hohorst as managing director in the same year. WAGO invested in its Minden headquarters during the 2010s. A development centre was added in 2012, and in 2016 the company completed a communication centre, customer and training centre, and stamping plant. In 2015, WAGO acquired a majority stake in M&M Software, a former development partner, to strengthen the automation division. Sven Hohorst retired from operational management at the beginning of 2021 and moved to the advisory board. WAGO Holding GmbH is the parent holding company of the group, while WAGO GmbH & Co. KG is responsible for the operating business and subsidiaries. German production sites are located in Minden and Sondershausen, with additional production reported in Poland, Switzerland, the United States, India, China, Japan, and France. The company’s present portfolio spans electrical connection components, interface electronics, and decentralized automation systems. The reference material reports around 9,000 employees and revenue of €1.24 billion in 2024.
- 2022
Sondershausen logistics expansion announced
[1]WAGO announced a major expansion investment for its Sondershausen logistics centre.
- 2021
Sven Hohorst leaves operational management
[1]Sven Hohorst retired from day-to-day operational management and joined the advisory board.
- 2015
M&M Software majority stake acquired
[1]WAGO acquired a majority stake in M&M Software to support its automation strategy.
- 2010
picoMAX miniaturized and management succession begins
[1]WAGO refined the picoMAX connector system and Sven Hohorst became managing director.
- 2003
Family ownership restored
[1]WAGO bought back shares held through Spirent PLC, returning the company to family ownership.
- 1998
WAGO Foundation established
[1]Wolfgang Hohorst founded the WAGO Foundation to support education and training for young people interested in technology.
- 1993
Purpose-built Sondershausen factory begins production
[1]After initial operations in a rented facility, WAGO began manufacturing at a newly built Sondershausen factory.
- 1977
Cage Clamp developed
[1]The Cage Clamp terminal block established the spring-cage design that became central to WAGO’s later product families.
- 1973
Box terminal introduced
[1]WAGO introduced a spring-loaded box terminal for electrical installations, the first of its type to receive VDE certification.
- 1966
Polyamide terminal housings introduced
[1]The company changed terminal-housing material to Polyamide 6,6 and expanded into connectors and solderable PCB terminals.
Products and positioning
Specialist provider of spring-clamp electrical connection, interface electronics, and industrial automation solutions, differentiated by connection reliability, installation efficiency, modularity, and engineering-focused product development.
Wire connectors
WAGO 221 Series
The 221 Series is WAGO’s best-known lever-operated connector family. It uses spring-clamp technology to connect conductors without conventional screw tightening and is designed for comparatively fast installation, inspection, and reuse. The series is used in electrical installation, building services, lighting, and related applications. It followed the widely recognized 222 Series and became one of the brand’s most visible connection products.
Wire connectors
WAGO 222 Series
The 222 Series is a lever-operated spring connector for electrical installation work. Its clamping mechanism allows conductors to be inserted and released without the tightening procedure required by screw terminals. The product helped make WAGO’s spring-connection approach familiar beyond specialist industrial markets and became an important predecessor to the 221 Series.
Terminal blocks · 1977
Cage Clamp terminal blocks
Cage Clamp terminal blocks use a spring-cage contact structure to maintain conductor pressure and electrical contact. Introduced in 1977, the design became the technical foundation for many WAGO terminal and connection products. It is used in control cabinets, machinery, plant engineering, building technology, and other industrial installations where vibration resistance, consistent contact force, and efficient wiring are important.
Industrial automation
WAGO I/O System 750
The I/O System 750 is a modular platform for decentralized automation. It combines fieldbus or industrial-network interfaces with configurable input and output modules, allowing control-system signals to be collected and distributed close to machines and processes. The platform extends WAGO’s original connection expertise into automation architecture and is used in machinery, process-related equipment, building systems, and plant engineering.
PCB and industrial connectors
picoMAX connector system
picoMAX is a compact connector system developed for space-conscious industrial and electronic applications. WAGO refined and miniaturized the system around 2010, including the use of glass-fiber-reinforced plastics. It reflects the company’s effort to apply spring-clamp principles to smaller connection formats used in control equipment, devices, and industrial electronics.
Brand decisions
2022
Sondershausen logistics-centre expansionStrategyBackground
Sondershausen had become an important production and Central European logistics location after repeated site expansions.
Action taken
WAGO announced an investment of approximately €40 million in the logistics centre.
Aftermath
The announcement continued WAGO’s long-term investment in its German manufacturing and distribution infrastructure.
Announced logistics-centre investment. approximately €40 million (2022 announcement)
2015
Majority stake acquired in M&M SoftwareM&ABackground
WAGO sought to strengthen the software and automation capabilities supporting its industrial portfolio.
Action taken
The company acquired a majority stake in M&M Software, a previous development partner.
Aftermath
The transaction supported the strategic development of WAGO’s automation division.
2003
Shares bought back from Spirent PLCM&ABackground
After the company had been majority-owned through the Bowthorpe and Spirent ownership chain, WAGO pursued a return to family control.
Action taken
WAGO bought back the shares held by Spirent PLC.
Aftermath
WAGO became a family-owned business again under the Hohorst family.
1975
Majority stake sold to Bowthorpe ElectricM&ABackground
WAGO was expanding the international reach of its spring-clamp terminal business and entered an ownership relationship with Bowthorpe Electric.
Action taken
Bowthorpe Electric acquired a majority stake in WAGO.
Aftermath
The ownership chain later passed to Spirent PLC before WAGO’s shares were bought back in 2003.
Recent events
- 2022
WAGO announces logistics-centre investment in Sondershausen[1]
Other
WAGO announced an investment of approximately €40 million in the Sondershausen logistics centre.
- 2021
Sven Hohorst retires from operational management[1]
Leadership change
Sven Hohorst left the operational business and moved to WAGO’s advisory board.
- 2016
WAGO completes major Minden facilities investment[1]
Other
The company completed a communication centre, customer and training centre, and stamping plant after a major investment programme around its headquarters.
- 2015
WAGO acquires a majority stake in M&M Software[1]
M&A
WAGO acquired a majority interest in M&M Software, a previous development partner, to support the strategic direction of its automation division.
- 2012
WAGO expands its Minden headquarters[1]
Other
The company invested in a development centre at its Minden headquarters.
- 2003
WAGO buys back shares and returns to family ownership[1]
M&A
WAGO’s shares were bought back from Spirent PLC, restoring the company to family ownership.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/wago · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled