After facing challenging market conditions in 2024, the FRABA Group, a leading manufacturer of sensors for industrial motion control applications, is positioning itself for future growth with investments in innovative technologies and new business ventures.
The company experienced a modest reduction in sales in 2024, with revenues slipping from €46 million in 2023 to €43 million in 2024. Christian Leeser, CEO and majority shareholder explains: “We saw a significant sales increase in 2023 as customers re-filled inventories after pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions. However, once warehouses were filled, order volumes decreased. This situation, which was shared by many in the industry, was particularly evident in the early months of 2024. However, orders have rebounded since then across product lines and the company anticipates healthy growth in 2025.”
The sales slowdown experienced in Europe and North America was less evident in Asian markets and FRABA increased production of their popular POSITAL kit encoders at their Malaysian manufacturing facility. This operation now employs approximately 70 people. In addition, a trading company was established in Shanghai to enable better service for POSITAL and UBITO customers.
In response to increasing barriers to international trade, FRABA is considering opportunities to leverage the strength of its digitally enabled production system by establishing new factories in the U.S.A. and China. These facilities would enable the company to reduce delivery times and enhance customer support in these markets.
In 2024, the FRABA group made significant investments in R&D and product development. The UBITO business unit created excitement with its redesigned Wiegand sensors, a new automated production facility for Wiegand wire, and a new ASIC module for event sensing and counting applications. (This ultra-efficient chip can operate with the energy generated by a Wiegand sensor, creating a self-powered system that does away with the need for backup batteries.) Meanwhile POSITAL saw increased sales volumes for its kit encoder products. FRABA remains confident that its combination of leading-edge products, innovative production technologies and engagement with global markets will provide a solid basis for future growth.
