40 years of ASO
2024 marks a significant year in the history of ASO: we will be celebrating our 40th anniversary. Our journey began in 1984 in Salzkotten, Germany. At that time, the company consisted of only four employees, but from the very beginning they pursued a clear vision: to develop and produce sensor technology that meets the high demands of industry and the market. By focusing on quality, safety and innovation, ASO quickly made a name for itself in the door and gate industry.
With continuous growth, the Salzkotten site soon became too small. After several extensions, we decided to take an important step in 2014: moving to Lippstadt, where we were not only able to expand our production capacities, but also tap into new business areas.
Our goal: to manufacture products that are individually tailored to customer requirements. Our test centre in Lippstadt, Germany enables us to develop products that not only meet today’s normative requirements, but also fulfil these customer-specific demands.
In order to respond to the growing demand for safety technologies in a wide range of industries, production in Lippstadt was expanded in 2019.
In addition to the expansion of the company headquarters in Lippstadt, international expansion was also an important milestone in our company’s history. ASO Safety Solutions, Inc. was founded in New Jersey, USA, back in 2004. Our subsidiary was a decisive step towards better serving the North American market while strengthening ASO’s global presence.
This was followed in 2019 by the establishment of a sales company in Nanjing, China, to further expand the Asian market. We now employ a total of over 200 people.
In addition, our Europe-wide network of partners and distributors enables us to provide customers in various countries with tailor-made solutions quickly and reliably.
In keeping with our company anniversary, this year we launched our new product ‘LISENS scan’, a radar sensor that enables even more precise control of security and access systems such as barriers and gates. The product relies on advanced FMCW radar technology, which makes it possible to detect and categorise both vehicles and people from a 13m distance. Depending on the area of application, the system can define different warning zones and a so-called safety zone.
However, ASO sensors are not only used at barriers and gates, but in principle wherever automation poses potential dangers to humans – on machines, in driverless transport systems, in robotics and in public transport. They also play a central role in agricultural automation and on the apron.
In addition to our focus on markets and products, the training of our employees is equally important to us: with 10 different apprenticeships now available, we offer young people the opportunity to complete a qualified apprenticeship in a promising field.
In short: we look back with pride on 40 years of innovation and growth and are ready to make the next four decades just as successful. Let’s go!
