HEIDENHAIN

Manufacturer information and published contact details

HEIDENHAIN contact details

Head office

Dr.-Johannes-Heidenhain-Str. 5
83301 Traunreut
Germany

Telephone +49 8669 31-0

Email info@heidenhain.de

Website heidenhain.com

HEIDENHAIN GB Limited

200 London Road
Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 9RD
United Kingdom

Telephone +44 1444 247711

Email sales@heidenhain.co.uk

Web heidenhain.co.uk

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Contact details as published by DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH, checked 2026-10-30. Specify Motion is not affiliated with DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH.

HEIDENHAIN product lines

Who HEIDENHAIN is

HEIDENHAIN is a German manufacturer of precision measuring and control technology, based in Traunreut in Upper Bavaria. Engineers know it for optical linear, angle and rotary encoders, the feedback devices that close the position loop on machine tools, semiconductor and electronics equipment, metrology systems and servo motors, and for its TNC controls for machine tools. The company describes itself as a standard-setting pioneer in measurement, control and drive technology for more than 135 years. HEIDENHAIN, EnDat and TNC are trademarks of their owner.

The group also includes the brands AMO, ACU-RITE, ETEL, LEINE LINDE, LTN, NUMERIK JENA, RENCO and RSF.

History and ownership

The company was founded in Berlin in 1889 as the W. HEIDENHAIN metal-etching company. Dr. Johannes Heidenhain joined his father’s business in 1923, and by its 50th anniversary in 1939 it employed about 700 people. After the Second World War, Dr. Johannes Heidenhain relaunched the company in Traunreut in 1948 with three employees.

Measurement followed quickly: HEIDENHAIN developed its first optical linear and angle encoders in 1952, and in 1976 introduced numerical straight-cut controls under the TNC name. International growth came with subsidiaries in the USA (1965), Japan (1980) and China (2001). By its centenary in 1989 the company had 4,200 employees, and by 2020, when it opened a new logistics centre in Traunreut, it had more than 8,100. Construction of a new research and development centre in Traunreut began in 2023.

On ownership, the history records the founding in 1970 of the non-profit DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN-STIFTUNG GmbH, and states that in 2019 HEIDENHAIN was integrated into DIADUR SE, a holding company of the owner. DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH is a private company registered at Traunstein (HRB 275).

Product portfolio

Rotary encoders

The ECN/EQN 400 series is a 56 mm external absolute encoder in single-turn (ECN) and 4,096-turn multi-turn (EQN) versions with a wide choice of serial interfaces. The ECN/EQN 1000 is a miniature 35 mm version with a 6 mm blind hollow shaft. For servo motor builders, the ECN/EQN 1300 mounts on a tapered shaft as built-in motor feedback, with functional safety options. Incremental needs are covered by the ERN family.

Angle encoders

Angle encoders with integral bearing measure rotary tables and swivel heads directly: the RCN 2001 and RCN 5001, the large-bore RCN 6000 with a 180 mm through-shaft, and the RCN 8001, the highest-resolution absolute angle encoder in the range. The bearingless ERM 2000 magnetic modular encoder suits spindles and contaminated environments.

Linear encoders

Sealed encoders for machine-tool axes include the absolute LC 100, LC 200 and LC 400, up to 28 m multi-section, the incremental LS 100 and LS 400 and the LF 185 with a 4 µm signal period. Exposed encoders for clean precision stages include the interferential LIP 200 and LIP 6000 with sub-nanometre measuring steps, the LIF 400 and the absolute LIC series for long axes. Our encoder hub and absolute vs incremental guide explain how to choose.

Technologies and standards

Many HEIDENHAIN absolute encoders use its EnDat serial interface, while the LIC exposed linear encoders are offered with drive-specific serial protocols and the ECN/EQN 400 with a wide choice of serial interfaces, so they can connect to other makers’ drives. Functional-safety versions are available for motor feedback and linear axes, and the LIC range includes vacuum variants. Sealed encoders protect the scale against coolant and swarf, while exposed encoders give the highest accuracy in clean environments.

Industries served

The history and product range point to machine tools as the core market, with TNC controls and sealed linear and angle encoders. Exposed linear encoders, vacuum versions and the highest-resolution angle encoders serve semiconductor and electronics manufacturing and metrology, and motor-feedback encoders serve servo motor manufacturers.

Global and UK presence

HEIDENHAIN’s subsidiary directory lists HEIDENHAIN GB Limited at 200 London Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 9RD, with telephone numbers +44 1444 247711 and +44 1444 870024, email sales@heidenhain.co.uk and its own website, heidenhain.co.uk. UK engineers can buy encoders and controls directly from this subsidiary, and the same directory lists HEIDENHAIN companies in many other countries.

What to have ready for a HEIDENHAIN enquiry

HEIDENHAIN encoders carry a model designation and an ID number on the label; the ID number pins down the exact variant, including interface, resolution, line count, cable and connector. Quote both, together with the drive or control the encoder connects to and its firmware, since the interface must match. For linear encoders, add the measuring length and mounting arrangement; for angle encoders, the shaft or bore size and the accuracy grade required.

Sourcing HEIDENHAIN parts through Specify Motion

Specify Motion is independent of HEIDENHAIN and is not affiliated with it. We can help source HEIDENHAIN encoders for an installed machine, or propose encoders from our supply network that meet the same published figures and interface. See our HEIDENHAIN alternatives page for what to check, or send the ID number through find a replacement.

HEIDENHAIN history: key dates

1. 1889Founded in Berlin as the W. HEIDENHAIN metal-etching company
2. 1923Dr. Johannes Heidenhain joins his father's company
3. 1948Dr. Johannes Heidenhain relaunches the company in Traunreut with three employees
4. 1952First optical linear and angle encoders developed
5. 1965US subsidiary opens
6. 1970Non-profit DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN-STIFTUNG GmbH founded
7. 1976TNC numerical straight-cut controls introduced
8. 1989100th anniversary, with 4,200 employees
9. 2019HEIDENHAIN integrated into DIADUR SE, a holding company of the owner
10. 2020Logistics centre opens in Traunreut; more than 8,100 employees

HEIDENHAIN encoders

Optical absolute encoder

ECN / EQN 400

56 mm external absolute rotary encoders with single-turn (ECN) or 4096-turn multi-turn (EQN) output and a wide choice of serial interfaces.

Optical absolute encoder

ECN / EQN 1000

Miniature 35 mm absolute rotary encoders with a 6 mm blind hollow shaft and EnDat interface.

Optical absolute encoder

ECN / EQN 1300 (motor feedback)

Built-in absolute motor-feedback encoders on a tapered shaft for servo motors, available with functional safety.

Optical incremental encoder

ERN incremental rotary encoders (ERN 100 / 400 / 1000 / 1300)

Incremental rotary encoders with hollow shafts, in external and motor-integrated formats, with analog or square-wave outputs.

Optical absolute encoder

RCN 2001 / RCN 5001 angle encoders

Absolute angle encoders with integral bearing and hollow through-shaft for rotary tables and swivel heads.

Optical absolute encoder

RCN 6000 angle encoder

Large-bore absolute angle encoder with integral bearing whose 180 mm through-shaft lets cables and hydraulics pass through the axis.

Optical absolute encoder

RCN 8001 angle encoder

Highest-resolution Heidenhain absolute angle encoder with integral bearing for very precise rotary axes.

Enclosed linear encoder

LC 100 / LC 200 / LC 400 sealed absolute linear

Sealed absolute linear encoders in full-size and slimline housings, from compact axes up to 28 m multi-section scales.

Enclosed linear encoder

LS 100 / LS 400 sealed incremental linear

Sealed incremental linear encoders in full-size (LS 100) and slimline (LS 400) housings with analog or TTL output.

Enclosed linear encoder

LF 185 sealed incremental linear

Sealed incremental linear encoder with a fine 4 µm signal period for high-accuracy axes.

Optical incremental encoder

LIP 200 / LIP 6000 exposed linear

Exposed interferential linear encoders with sub-nanometre measuring steps for ultra-precision stages.

Optical incremental encoder

LIF 400 exposed linear

Exposed incremental linear encoder with an adhesively fixed scale, limit switches and homing track for compact precision axes.

Optical absolute encoder

LIC 2100 / 3100 / 4100 exposed absolute linear

Exposed absolute linear encoders for long axes, with drive-specific serial protocols and functional-safety and vacuum variants.

Magnetic rotary encoder

ERM 2000 modular magnetic

Bearingless magnetic modular encoders using a scale drum and scanning head, tolerant of contamination on spindles and rotary axes.