Company
Milestones
Xaver Lipp, the founder of the company Lipp GmbH, was asked about the origin of his pioneering inventions and countless patents. To this he replied,
"I grew up in a plumber's workshop and had already occupied myself with sheet metal as a child. I always observed things exactly, tried things out and tried them again. In my entire life I have never quit until I succeeded and until we found the right solution."
Implementing ideas
Xaver Lipp grew up in the 1950s in Stillau in Eastern Württemberg, where his father ran a small plumber's workshop.
In 1958 he took over this business and - with just one employee - began to manufacture blast and ventilation pipes.
Xaver Lipp benefited from his special talent for observing things for the first time while building guttering when he found that the end piece formed a neuralgic point. He felt this was a deplorable state of affairs that had to be rectified.
He invented the Lipp roof gutter base, received the patent for it in 1960 and sold more than 30 million units.
Growing with the task
When the next success story was written in 1962 - with patented tank feet for oil tanks -, a new building was required, which was realised in Tannhausen in 1964.
The oil catch pans, galvanised and therefore twice as durable as conventional pans, were also immediate big sellers. In 1968 10,000 units were sold every month.
How can the best possible impermeability be achieved when connecting two metal sheets? This was a central question for Xaver Lipp, which he impressively solved for the first time in 1969 with the invention of a channel seaming machine for manufacturing longitudinal seams. The patent for this special machine was assumed by Reinhardt in Sindelfingen, Germany, which used it to build air conditioners.
The technology resulting from this invention, the Lipp Dual-Seam System, was applied to the construction of containers and silos, which Lipp has intensively developed since the seventies.
At the same time, the final product was not only optimised. Lipp also worked on designing and building its own production machines in order to ensure every aspect of product quality itself.
Beginning in 1972, the first silos produced with these machines and the Lipp Dual-Seam System were erected.
As a result, the production buildings had to be enlarged, and these were realised in 1976.
By taking part at trade fairs, the tinkerer from Eastern Württemberg also became known to the experts, and as a result many interested visitors from China and other Asian countries came to visit in the 70s.
"I grew up in a plumber's workshop and had already occupied myself with sheet metal as a child. I always observed things exactly, tried things out and tried them again. In my entire life I have never quit until I succeeded and until we found the right solution."
Implementing ideas
Xaver Lipp grew up in the 1950s in Stillau in Eastern Württemberg, where his father ran a small plumber's workshop.
In 1958 he took over this business and - with just one employee - began to manufacture blast and ventilation pipes.
Xaver Lipp benefited from his special talent for observing things for the first time while building guttering when he found that the end piece formed a neuralgic point. He felt this was a deplorable state of affairs that had to be rectified.
He invented the Lipp roof gutter base, received the patent for it in 1960 and sold more than 30 million units.
Growing with the task
When the next success story was written in 1962 - with patented tank feet for oil tanks -, a new building was required, which was realised in Tannhausen in 1964.
The oil catch pans, galvanised and therefore twice as durable as conventional pans, were also immediate big sellers. In 1968 10,000 units were sold every month.
How can the best possible impermeability be achieved when connecting two metal sheets? This was a central question for Xaver Lipp, which he impressively solved for the first time in 1969 with the invention of a channel seaming machine for manufacturing longitudinal seams. The patent for this special machine was assumed by Reinhardt in Sindelfingen, Germany, which used it to build air conditioners.
The technology resulting from this invention, the Lipp Dual-Seam System, was applied to the construction of containers and silos, which Lipp has intensively developed since the seventies.
At the same time, the final product was not only optimised. Lipp also worked on designing and building its own production machines in order to ensure every aspect of product quality itself.
Beginning in 1972, the first silos produced with these machines and the Lipp Dual-Seam System were erected.
As a result, the production buildings had to be enlarged, and these were realised in 1976.
By taking part at trade fairs, the tinkerer from Eastern Württemberg also became known to the experts, and as a result many interested visitors from China and other Asian countries came to visit in the 70s.
From the outset, particular attention was paid to the special requirements of the content to be stored in each case when building containers and silos. And the company also always monitored the success of the overall results when selecting accessories.
It was not long before success was achieved, and this culminated in a joint venture in the form of Lipp Anyang in China in 1990.
Roland Lipp, the son of Xaver Lipp, became CEO in 1992. His sister, Karin Lipp, then assumed management of international sales in 1994.
Recognising chances and forging ahead
This idea guided Lipp when the company sought answers to the pressing problems of energy production during the 70s and conceived biogas systems which set new standards for quality, performance and economy. Today Lipp biogas systems are sold the world over. For example, the company has cooperated with Kyushu Sanpai in Japan since 2006.
Xaver Lipp was honoured with the silver Rudolf Diesel Medal for this entrepreneurial archievement in 1982.
Building on success
With Verinox, Lipp achieved another breakthrough. Xaver Lipp invented a new material for container construction. Stainless steel is joined to galvanised metal sheet using a connecting band. This reduces the share of stainless steel and costs decrease without the slightest lost of quality. As a result, the achievements of the Lipp Dual-Seam System could be optimised once again. Lipp received the Dr Rudolf Eberle Award in 2005 and the Steel Innovation Award for Germany in 2006 for this development.
Today Lipp has a competent team of specialised employees, a large network of worldwide partners and the determination to be and stay the best there is.
It was not long before success was achieved, and this culminated in a joint venture in the form of Lipp Anyang in China in 1990.
Roland Lipp, the son of Xaver Lipp, became CEO in 1992. His sister, Karin Lipp, then assumed management of international sales in 1994.
Recognising chances and forging ahead
This idea guided Lipp when the company sought answers to the pressing problems of energy production during the 70s and conceived biogas systems which set new standards for quality, performance and economy. Today Lipp biogas systems are sold the world over. For example, the company has cooperated with Kyushu Sanpai in Japan since 2006.
Xaver Lipp was honoured with the silver Rudolf Diesel Medal for this entrepreneurial archievement in 1982.
Building on success
With Verinox, Lipp achieved another breakthrough. Xaver Lipp invented a new material for container construction. Stainless steel is joined to galvanised metal sheet using a connecting band. This reduces the share of stainless steel and costs decrease without the slightest lost of quality. As a result, the achievements of the Lipp Dual-Seam System could be optimised once again. Lipp received the Dr Rudolf Eberle Award in 2005 and the Steel Innovation Award for Germany in 2006 for this development.
Today Lipp has a competent team of specialised employees, a large network of worldwide partners and the determination to be and stay the best there is.
