TRIPS GmbH, headquartered in Grafenrheinfeld, is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. Since its foundation in 1980, the company has developed from a local electrical company into an internationally active system house for automation, digitalization and industrial IT security – now with over 350 employees at five locations in Europe.

From medium-sized company to established technology partner

Founded by Waltraud and Karlheinz Trips, the second generation – Caroline and Christian Trips – took over the management in 1989. Under their leadership, the company has been consistently developed further: Today, as an EPC system house, TRIPS supports companies from sectors such as energy, industry, food & beverage, cement and chemicals along the entire value chain – from planning and hardware and software development to the commissioning and digitalization of systems.

TRIPS GmbH is particularly valued for its technical expertise in the areas of process and factory automation, protection technology and modern switchgear construction.

Five locations, one vision

The company headquarters in Grafenrheinfeld is the heart of development, production and logistics. Further sites are located in Wülfrath (NRW) and Augsburg (Bavaria). There are also two sites in Wrykoty and Krapkowice (Poland). TRIPS thus ensures both regional proximity and international clout.

Speaking of clout: since spring 2025, a new hall complex with around 4,000 m² of additional space has been under construction at the headquarters – in response to continued growth and increasing project requirements. “We are very pleased that we are growing in this way,” says Christian Trips. “It means we can continue to work on our many years of success.”

Innovation

Long-term success requires technological expertise and innovative strength: With PCS 7 virtualization, TRIPS replaces physical computers with central servers and virtual machines: This reduces hardware costs, increases flexibility and system availability. As a Siemens Expert Partner, TRIPS implements automation solutions with SIMATIC PCS 7 and PCS neo, TIA Portal and EPLAN – scalable, future-proof and with seamless integration.

In the area of process automation, TRIPS relies on COMOS and creates VGB 170C-compliant logic and function plans for safe control systems and on COMOS as a Service as a central, cloud-based “single source of truth” – digital transparency from P&ID to commissioning.

Security is particularly important to TRIPS: the company offers both IT security and OT security solutions to ensure that the relevant company environments are optimally secured.

In addition, OT and IT are connected through IoT Edge Computing, Power BI and AI-based dashboards via HUBSTER.S – for data-based decisions in real time.

In collaboration with XRify (part of the TRIPS group), we create digital twins – virtual images of systems for simulation, optimization and employee training before commissioning.

Technology

Long-term success also requires long-term technology partnerships: TRIPS works with Siemens, B&R, Rittal and EPLAN to offer further innovations. Innovation involves taking responsibility. “We are an active part of the energy transition,” explains Christian Trips proudly. Projects in the field of grid integration, offshore connection and grid stabilization are part of the future-oriented portfolio.

At the same time, the company consistently focuses on sustainability: the ecological footprint has been continuously reduced since 2008. This includes photovoltaic systems for all buildings, heat pumps, the optimization of energy consumption in all office buildings including load management, the promotion of energy-efficient working methods – and the company’s own combined heat and power plant.

TRIPS has been climate-neutral since May 2023 and is ISO 14001 certified.

Young talent and succession: #NextGen

“Our motto is ‘The best way to predict the future is to shape it’,” the Trips siblings agree. That’s why they have already made provisions with the #NextGen project.

With the third generation, the future of the company is already in place: Linus Trips (eldest son of Christian Trips) has been active in the company since 2019. Since 2021, he has been Managing Director of HUBSTER.S, a specialist in business analytics – and part of the TRIPS group.

The handover to the NextGen with Paulina and Jonas Trips (daughter and son of Christian Trips) and Ferdinand Winter (son of Caroline Trips) will take place gradually.

This means that the company will remain in family hands – with a clear focus on long-term development, a culture of innovation and value-oriented management.

TRIPS 100

With around 350 employees, the workforce has more than tripled in the last 15 years. The establishment and expansion of in-house training programs, dual study courses and the company’s own training academy make a significant contribution to securing skilled workers. The international team unites over 20 nationalities – a culture based on respect, team spirit and responsibility.

All of this has contributed to the constant increase in turnover in recent years – to currently over € 50 million. This is why the major goal of the company’s own TRIPS 100 program is € 100 million turnover in 2030.