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German industrial electronics manufacturer known for developing the first inductive proximity switch and the first German-origin programmable logic controller.

Last updated September 28, 2026

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Overview

Klaschka is a German manufacturer of industrial electronics components headquartered in Neuhausen, Baden-Württemberg. The company was founded in 1964 by Walter Klaschka, an engineering graduate of the University of Stuttgart. Its origins trace to 1959, when Klaschka, then an assistant at the university, developed an inductive proximity switch; this product was brought to market in 1964 and sold to the automotive industry, making Klaschka a pioneer in non-contact sensing technology. The company later introduced the SECON, the first programmable logic controller (PLC) of German origin, which reached the market in 1976 and received the iF product design award in 1977. Klaschka develops, manufactures, and distributes electronic sensors, safety switches, and control devices for the automation of machines and plants in industry and environmental technology. Its products are predominantly custom-engineered and are used for positioning, monitoring, controlling, regulating, supervising, fault detection, operating, and observing. The company serves industrial automation markets, with a strong heritage in automotive and machinery applications. Over its history, the company underwent several name and legal-form changes. In 1989 it became Industrieautomation Dr.-Ing. Walter Klaschka GmbH + Co. KG, and in 1993 it was renamed Klaschka GmbH & Co. KG, Elektronik + Automation (KEA). In the same year, Dr. Klaschka GmbH (DKU) was founded in Donetsk. The company faced economic difficulties in 2009 and filed for insolvency at the end of 2010 with the Pforzheim local court. After the death of founder Walter Klaschka on 10 May 2010, Gert Fünfzig initially took over management. In 2012, the activities of Klaschka GmbH & Co. KG were taken over by the newly founded Klaschka Industrieelektronik GmbH, which had briefly been registered as KaMiGaSt Industrie-Elektronik GmbH between 27 March and 25 May 2012. Today, Klaschka Industrieelektronik GmbH continues to operate as a private company, building on its legacy of innovation in industrial sensing and control.

History

Klaschka was founded in 1964 by Walter Klaschka after he completed his studies at the University of Stuttgart, where he graduated with a thesis titled 'Ueber den Zusammenhang zwischen Rauschersatzbild und Uebertragungsersatzbild'. The company's founding product was an inductive proximity switch that Klaschka had originally developed in October 1959 while working as an assistant at the University of Stuttgart. This switch was brought to market in 1964 and sold to the automotive industry, establishing Klaschka as an early innovator in non-contact sensing. In 1976, Klaschka introduced the SECON, the first programmable logic controller (PLC) of German origin. The SECON was honored with the iF product design award in 1977, underscoring the company's commitment to both technical and design excellence. Over the following decades, the company continued to develop and manufacture electronic sensors, safety switches, and control devices for industrial automation. The company underwent several structural changes. In 1989, it was renamed Industrieautomation Dr.-Ing. Walter Klaschka GmbH + Co. KG, having previously been known as Industrieelektronik Dr.-Ing. Walter Klaschka. In 1993, the company adopted the name Klaschka GmbH & Co. KG, Elektronik + Automation (KEA), reporting a revenue of approximately 1,070,000 euros at that time. Also in 1993, Dr. Klaschka GmbH (DKU) was established in Donetsk. The late 2000s brought economic challenges. In 2009, the company encountered financial difficulties, and at the end of 2010 it filed for insolvency with the Amtsgericht Pforzheim. Following the death of founder Walter Klaschka on 10 May 2010, Gert Fünfzig initially assumed the role of managing director. In 2012, the business activities of Klaschka GmbH & Co. KG were transferred to the newly founded Klaschka Industrieelektronik GmbH. Prior to this, from 27 March to 25 May 2012, the entity was registered under the name KaMiGaSt Industrie-Elektronik GmbH. Under the new legal entity, Klaschka Industrieelektronik GmbH continues to operate, focusing on custom-engineered electronic sensors, safety switches, and control devices for machine and plant automation in industry and environmental technology.

  • 2012

    Activities are taken over by the newly founded Klaschka Industrieelektronik GmbH; the entity was briefly registered as KaMiGaSt Industrie-Elektronik GmbH from 27 March to 25 May.

  • 2010

    Founder Walter Klaschka dies on 10 May; Gert Fünfzig takes over management; the company files for insolvency at the end of the year.

  • 2009

    The company encounters economic difficulties.

  • 1993

    The company becomes Klaschka GmbH & Co. KG, Elektronik + Automation (KEA); Dr. Klaschka GmbH (DKU) is founded in Donetsk.

  • 1989

    The company is renamed Industrieautomation Dr.-Ing. Walter Klaschka GmbH + Co. KG.

  • 1977

    The SECON receives the iF product design award.

  • 1976

    The SECON, the first programmable logic controller of German origin, is introduced.

  • 1964

    Klaschka is founded by Walter Klaschka; the inductive proximity switch is brought to market and sold to the automotive industry.

  • 1959

    Walter Klaschka develops the first inductive proximity switch as an assistant at the University of Stuttgart.

Products and positioning

Specialist in custom-engineered industrial automation components with a pioneering heritage in sensing and control technology.

  • Inductive proximity switch

    First developed in 1959 and marketed from 1964; sold to the automotive industry.

  • SECON

    First programmable logic controller of German origin, introduced in 1976 and awarded the iF product design award in 1977.

  • Electronic sensors

    Custom-engineered sensors for industrial automation.

  • Safety switches

    Safety switches for machine and plant automation.

  • Control devices

    Control devices for positioning, monitoring, controlling, regulating, and fault detection.

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