Datalogic is an Italian company founded in 1972 and registered at Via Candini 2, Lippo di Calderara di Reno, in the greater Bologna area. According to Wikipedia, Datalogic has been listed on the STAR segment of the Milan stock exchange since 2001 and specializes in the design and production of barcode readers, mobile computers, RFID, sensors for detection, measurement and safety, and vision and laser-marking systems. The company was founded by Romano Volta; since January 2017 his daughter Valentina Volta has served as CEO. A historic industry milestone: according to Wikipedia, the first scan of a barcode in a retail store took place on June 26, 1974, using a Datalogic Magellan Model-A scanner; an original unit is now held by the Smithsonian Institution.
Component and function
For the robotics and automation industry, Datalogic supplies sensors and detection technology: photoelectric sensors, safety sensors and vision systems give lines and robots the ability to detect and measure objects and to safeguard processes. Through its Datasensing subsidiary brand, the company bundles its sensing and safety portfolio for factory automation. Through targeted acquisitions such as PSC Inc. (2005), Accu-Sort Systems (2012) and Czech AI-vision specialist Pekat Vision (2022), Datalogic has continuously broadened its product portfolio.
Role in the value chain
As a provider of automatic data capture and industrial sensing, Datalogic is a supplier whose components provide perception and traceability in manufacturing, logistics and intralogistics — central prerequisites for automated, robot-assisted processes. According to one market report, Datalogic ranks alongside Zebra Technologies, Honeywell, Cognex, SICK and Omron among the established players in the global barcode-scanner market, which is addressed by a growing number of vendors but remains dominated by a handful of established manufacturers.
Key figures
For fiscal year 2024 Wikipedia cites revenue of roughly €493.8 million and more than 2,750 employees. By its own account, Datalogic generated revenue of roughly €500.1 million in 2025 and employed roughly 2,685 people across 30 countries; the company holds about 1,200 patents and operates nine R&D centers as well as nine manufacturing and repair sites worldwide. The shares trade on Borsa Italiana under the ticker DAL (ISIN IT0004053440).
Automatic data capture and sensing
Datalogic combines two closely related fields: automatic data capture — for example with barcode readers, mobile computers and RFID — and industrial sensing including machine vision. In manufacturing, retail and logistics, these products ensure that objects can be detected, captured and tracked, which forms a basis for automated processes. By its own description, Datalogic positions itself as a global technology leader in automatic data capture and factory automation, serving primarily the retail, manufacturing, transportation/logistics and healthcare sectors.
Role in logistics and manufacturing
Datalogic plays a particular role in intralogistics and retail, where high volumes must be read and processed reliably. For robotics and automation, the company supplies sensors and vision systems that give lines the necessary perception. As a listed family company with Italian roots, Datalogic is internationally positioned but dependent on the investment and consumption cycle of its customer industries. Trends such as the growth of online retail and the automation of warehouses support long-term demand for data capture and sensing.
This profile is a neutral description and is not investment advice.