Erwin Sick, born in Heilbronn in 1909, set up his own engineering office in Vaterstetten on September 26, 1946. The trained optician had the vision to combine precise optics and intelligent electronics for industrial applications. What began as a "start-up" in a barracks near Munich has developed into one of the leading companies for automation technology thanks to the pioneering work and passion of Erwin Sick.

The protection of people has had top priority since the company was founded: whether in the development of the world's first accident protection light curtain to improve the working conditions of factory workers - or the principle that is still valid today that SICK sensors should not be used for military purposes. Erwin Sick's inventive spirit spurred the young company, which moved to its current headquarters in Waldkirch near Freiburg in 1956: The world's first smoke gas density measuring device was developed at Sick in the 1950s and was a milestone in environmental measurement technology. Numerous innovations followed and were continued by the sensor experts at Sick even after Erwin Sick's death in 1988. Gisela Sick, widow of the company founder and honorary chairman of the supervisory board of Sick AG, has always accompanied this success story. The second and third generation of the Sick founding family are also closely connected to the company and ensure the stability and long-term orientation of the Sick family company on the supervisory board and through their personal commitment.