ifm
About
About ifm
ifm manufactures sensors, controls and connectivity products for industrial automation and mobile machinery. Its robotics range includes time-of-flight cameras, RFID identification, displays, controllers and the O3R perception platform for autonomous mobile robots and automated guided vehicles.
O3R centralises synchronized data from as many as six 2D/3D camera heads and additional radar, lidar or distance sensors. Its edge computer supports Docker, Python, C++, CUDA and ROS, allowing manufacturers to run their own algorithms alongside packaged obstacle- and pallet-detection functions. Applications include navigation, collision avoidance, load measurement, pallet handling and detecting hazards above or below a conventional safety-lidar plane.
Products
Supply
Supply chain relationships
- Exotec
Outbound - Perception - ifm supplies sensors and controllers for skypod warehouse robots for Exotec Skypod
Source - Jungheinrich
Outbound - Perception - ifm supplies the O3R 3D camera platform and ecomatController used in Jungheinrich EAE 212a autonomous mobile robots
Source - Unchained Robotics
Outbound - Perception - Unchained Robotics selected ifm O3D 3D sensors for its pick-and-place installation
Source - ASTI Mobile Robotics
Outbound - Compute & Control - ifm supplied third-generation ecomatControllers for ASTI Mobile Robotics' automated guided vehicles
Source - Tecnoferrari
Outbound - Perception - ifm O3D vision sensors locate pallets for Tecnoferrari autonomous forklifts
Source - KNAPP
Outbound - Perception - KNAPP Open Shuttles use ifm's O3R 3D camera system for obstacle detection and travel-path monitoring
Source - Kollmorgen
Outbound - Perception - ifm supplies the O3R 3D camera platform and Pallet Detection System software used in Kollmorgen dynamic load docking for AGVs and AMRs
Source
Timeline
Events
- 2025-10-07 - Product Launch - ifm launches O3M camera with human classification
The O3M combines two-dimensional and three-dimensional sensing with an onboard classification algorithm. Its output can support automatic braking or speed reduction to help mobile machines avoid collisions. ifm introduced the system for harsh outdoor conditions at Utility Expo 2025.
Source - 2025-05-26 - Market Signal - ifm announces planned KKR minority investment
The founding families and co-CEOs Martin Buck and Michael Marhofer would retain majority ownership and continue leading the company. The investment was intended to support international growth, industrial automation innovation and digitalisation. ifm served more than 150,000 customers with sensors, connectivity solutions, software and cloud platforms.
Source - 2024-11-06 - Partnership - ifm and Schuler agree press-shop digitalisation partnership
The collaboration combines ifm SmartStamp with Schuler digital solutions for press-shop monitoring. SmartStamp detects ram tilting and eccentricity and runs within ifm's moneo IIoT platform. The agreement provides for joint sales and interoperability so customers can expand either starting system.
Source - 2024-05-29 - Award - ifm Obstacle Detection System wins RBR50 award
The software targets autonomous mobile robot obstacle detection. The product is designed to reduce obstacle-detection programming time for robotics manufacturers. The system addresses false positives and floor segmentation for mobile robot navigation.
Source
Relations
Relationships
- Universal Robots
Ur+ Vision Integration - ifm O3D vision sensors support Universal Robots through a URCap integration.
- Schuler Group
Digitalisation Partner - ifm and Schuler agreed cooperation on press-shop digitalisation.
Context
Comparable profiles
- Sensorik Austria
stack adjacency - Industrial Sensor Supplier
- Navtech Radar
stack adjacency - Industrial Sensor Component Supplier
- Bosch Sensortec
stack adjacency - Industrial Sensor Supplier
- HEIDENHAIN
stack adjacency - Industrial Sensor Supplier
- Bota Systems
stack adjacency - Industrial Sensor Supplier
- Banner Engineering
stack adjacency - Industrial Sensor Supplier
- Pepperl+Fuchs
stack adjacency - Industrial Sensor Supplier
- Baumer
stack adjacency - Industrial Sensor Supplier
Shared workflows
- LS Electric
workflow adjacency - Industrial Sensor Monitoring
Context tags
- Robotics hardware supply chain - Customer Environment
- Industrial sensor supplier - Stack Layer
- Industrial sensor monitoring - Workflow
- Industrial sensor component supplier - Stack Layer