Development and manufacturing of smart home systems and home automation such as Homematic IP
eQ-3 AG
Leer (DE) · Zhuhai (CN) · Hong Kong (HK)New on Amplifa
About eQ-3
eQ-3 AG is a technology company specializing in smart home and home automation, headquartered in Leer (East Frisia). Founded in 2006/2007 as a spin-off from ELV Elektronik AG and 100% family-owned, the company develops and manufactures the smart home systems Homematic IP, Homematic and the stand-alone product line eqiva – radiator thermostats, door lock drives, smoke detectors, switching actuators, sensors as well as central control units and gateways. Manufacturing takes place at the group's own plant in Zhuhai (China) according to German quality and environmental standards; procurement and warehousing are handled by eQ-3 Asia Ltd. in Hong Kong. At the headquarters in Leer with around 350 employees, more than 100 developers work on product development and firmware; the logistics and shipping center picks more than 1,000 parcels per hour using a pick-by-light system. In addition to its own brand, eQ-3 has also been a contract manufacturer (OEM) for innogy, Bosch and QIVICON (Deutsche Telekom) and supplied Homematic IP devices under the Lidl own brand SilverCrest. In 2024, eQ-3 was named the European market leader for whole-home systems by Berg Insight for the tenth year in a row.
- Site
- Leer
- Processes
- On-site assembly and installation, Commissioning and app setup by installation partners, Detailed system planning, Individual programming via the automation editor, Training and online seminars for trade partners, Contract manufacturing (OEM)
- Materials
- 868 MHz radio technology, RS485 bus systems, Bluetooth technology, IPv6-based Homematic IP protocol
- Certificates
- ISO 9001, ISO 14001, VDE certification (IT, protocol and data security Homematic IP), BSCI Corporate Social Responsibility
- Founded
- 2007
- Employees
- over 1,000 (group);
- Industries
- Smart Home, Home Automation, Heating Control, Security Technology
- 01
Product development (Leer, more than 100 developers)
- 02
Procurement and warehousing (eQ-3 Asia Ltd., Hong Kong)
- 03
Manufacturing (Zhuhai plant)
- 04
Quality inspection and certification (VDE, ISO 9001)
- 05
Logistics and shipping (Leer logistics center)
- 06
Distribution via specialist retail, installation partners and OEM
Product Areas and Technologies
868 MHz radio technology
Bidirectional radio transmission in the 868 MHz band with low transmission power and low duty cycle for all Homematic IP and Homematic devices.
RS485 bus systems
Wired actuators (Homematic IP Wired) for installation in electrical distribution boards on DIN rails, combinable with FUNK components via Advanced Routing.
Bluetooth technology
Used in eqiva stand-alone products such as the radiator thermostat and door lock drive, controlled via smartphone app.
IPv6-based Homematic IP protocol
System architecture with optional cloud connection (Access Point) or purely local operation via the Home Control Unit.
Locations
Leer
DEHeadquarters, main administration, development, logistics and shipping center
- Pick-by-light order picking (over 1,000 parcels/hour)
Zhuhai
CNGroup-owned manufacturing plant
Hong Kong
HKeQ-3 Asia Ltd. – procurement and warehousing
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and Certification
Manufacturing in Zhuhai takes place according to German quality and environmental standards; the plant is certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 and has received top ratings from BSCI. The IT, protocol and data security of Homematic IP is tested annually by the VDE and is VDE-certified.
| Evidence | Zhuhai |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | |
| ISO 14001 | |
| VDE certification (IT, protocol and data security Homematic IP) | |
| BSCI Corporate Social Responsibility |
Company History
- 1978
Founding of ELV by Prof. Heinz-G. Redeker in Leer (special-interest publisher and electronics mail-order company)
- 1979
ELV presents the first microprocessor-controlled time switch with four switchable sockets
- 2005
Development of the first generation of the bidirectional home control system Homematic
- 2006
Spin-off of eQ-3 AG from ELV Elektronik AG
- 2007
Launch of HomeMatic
- 2013
Successor version of the CCU2 central control unit
- 2015
Launch of Homematic IP
- 2018
Launch of Homematic IP Wired; presentation of the CCU3 central control unit
- 2023
Discontinuation of Homematic development and manufacturing in favor of Homematic IP; security updates promised at least until 2033
- 2024
Tenth consecutive year as European market leader for whole-home systems (Berg Insight)