Heidenhain manufactures numerical controls for machine tools, as well as mechatronic measuring devices for length and angle.
After World War II, in 1948, Dr. Johannes Heidenhain, a pupil of Otto Hahn, founded the present company in Traunreut.
The Diadur process was the basis in 1952 for adding optical position measuring devices for machine tools to the product program.
According to Heidenhain, in 2006 the company had regional sales locations in 43 countries and employed about 7,000 people, 2,600 of whom worked in the main facility in Traunreut, Germany.
After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Chief Executive Leadership Institute of the US Yale University criticized that Heidenhain was still operating in Russia through a third party, which was not disclosed publicly.