News


Company profile: Phoenix Contact

29 April 2020 News

Phoenix Contact was founded in 1923 in Essen, Germany, by Hugo Knümann. It entered the South African market in 1969 through a local distributor, and was later established as a wholly owned subsidiary in 2001.

The company’s South African headquarters have been in the current location in Strijdom Park, Randburg for more than 25 years. Four years ago the building was completely revamped to be more in line with its corporate identity – the new facility now includes a state-of-the-art auditorium and product showroom. The company also has offices in Port Elizabeth, Durban and Cape Town, which have also recently been upgraded.

Phoenix Contact’s primary course to market is almost exclusively through EPCs, consultants, panel builders, distributors and system integrators. However, the company appreciates the value of staying close to the end users, which is a combination of hands-on, face-to face-interaction, online and media, as well as offering regular training and seminars.

With over 60 000 products, Phoenix Contact has a very diverse portfolio. Its products are the result of decades of intensive development and consistent customer focus. Together with customers and partners, it designs solutions for the future using trend-setting connection and automation technology, wherever they are needed – for example, in transportation infrastructure, e-Mobility, for clean water, regenerative energies and intelligent supply networks, or energy-efficient machine building, mining and systems manufacturing. The diverse product portfolio includes products and components for industrial connection technology, automation technology, electronic interface systems and surge protection.

The company is in a very fortunate position to have specialist product managers that are dedicated to various product groups, offering technical backup and support to the entire product portfolio, as well as application engineers assisting with complete solutions and communications between different products and technologies. It also hosts a ‘Value Added Centre’ in its Randburg offices, where it is able to assist with the design, assembly and marking of rails.

The company that was started in 1923 manufacturing terminal blocks, has grown the product portfolio and changed their corporate identity over the years to become an international player. Today it has 52 sales subsidiaries worldwide with production facilities in seven different countries around the world, and employs 17 600 people globally.

Phoenix Contact has a unique culture, and family orientated staff complement which sets it apart from other companies in the market – its valued customers have also become its friends over the years and are also an integral part of the Phoenix Contact culture.

The company’s high-end technology products are aligned to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world and market with IoT and Industry 4.0, ideally positioning it to offer complete solutions in these new markets and enabling customers on their way into a smart world.

Who would have thought?

Josef Eisert, one of the founding members of Phoenix Contact and father of Klaus Eisert, who had only been to the USA once in the late 1960s, said: “We will never sell anything there” – today it is the number one subsidiary in terms of turnover.


Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

From the editor's desk: AI – a double-edged sword
Technews Publishing News
As with any powerful tool, AI presents challenges, some of which, if not carefully managed, threaten to undo the potential that it can offer.

Read more...
Global semiconductor sales increase
News
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has announced global semiconductor sales were $57,0 billion during the month of April 2025, an increase of 2,5% compared to the March 2025.

Read more...
Avnet Abacus announced new president
Avnet Abacus News
Avnet Abacus has announced that Mario Merino will succeed Rudy Van Parijs as president of Avnet Abacus, effective 1 July 2025.

Read more...
Avnet Abacus wins multiple prestigious awards
Avnet Abacus News
The awards from Molex recognise outstanding performance, collaboration, and significant growth in the challenging market conditions of 2024.

Read more...
Components distribution slowdown Q1 2025
News
European components distribution (DMASS) experienced a continued slowdown in the first quarter 2025.

Read more...
Semiconductor sales increase 17% YoY
News
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) recently announced global semiconductor sales were $54,9 billion during the month of February 2025, an increase of 17,1% compared to the February 2024 total.

Read more...
Silicon Labs – Q1 results
News
Silicon Labs, a leading innovator in low-power wireless, recently reported financial results for the first quarter, which ended April 5, 2025.

Read more...
Strengthening industry through strategic partnerships at KITE 2025
Specialised Exhibitions News
The KwaZulu-Natal Industrial Technology Exhibition is not just an exhibition, it is a powerhouse of industry collaboration where visitors and exhibitors gain access to authoritative insights, technical expertise, and high-impact networking opportunities.

Read more...
Solar Youth Project calls on industry to step up
News
With the second cohort completed training and the first cohort returning for their final module, host companies are urgently needed to turn the training into a long-term opportunity.

Read more...
Conlog powers SA’s future with national smart meter rollout
News
Conlog recently secured the RT29-2024 contract from National Treasury, which is seen to be a major milestone towards modernising SA’s utility infrastructure.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved