What Lipp does

Lipp operates a project-based, engineering-to-order business model. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time contracts for custom tank and turnkey plant construction, sold via a direct enterprise field sales motion (Beratung & Vertrieb) and executed by on-site construction crews (Entwicklung & Konstruktion). Pricing is custom and quote-based, reflecting the size, material, and complexity of each tank. A secondary recurring revenue stream comes from maintenance, inspection, and refurbishment services (Wartung & Inspektion) on the installed base. The company pursues customers through direct sales, a multilingual website, technical publications, and active participation at industry trade shows such as IFAT München, IFAT Saudi Arabia, BIOGAS Convention & Trade Fair, and Dresdner Abwassertagung. The company is privately held under family ownership with no disclosed external investors beyond a 2016 EISMEA grant of approximately $1.74 million.

Name

Lipp

Legal name

LIPP GmbH

Website

https://lipp-system.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lipp GmbH is a family-owned German engineering firm (founded 1958) that designs, manufactures, and installs custom steel tanks and container systems for municipalities, agriculture, and industry using its patented LIPP Doppelfalz double-seam welding technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Steel Tank and Container Manufacturing

NAICS

Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing (33242), Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing (332420)

SIC

Metal Shipping Barrels, Drums, Kegs & Pails (3412)

akta.pro primary industry

Chemical Tank Farms & Bulk Liquid Chemical Storage (TLALAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Storage & Delivery Infrastructure (Tanks, Reservoir Liners, Bladders) (AFABAHAK)

Keywords

• Steel tank construction
• Biogas fermenter systems
• Drinking water storage
• Thermal energy storage
• Wastewater treatment tanks

Headquarters

HQ city

Tannhausen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Tank and Container Construction: Project-based revenue from design, engineering, and construction of custom steel tanks and containers for storage of liquids, gases, and bulk solids. Revenue is generated through one-time project contracts ranging from individual tanks to complete turnkey plant installations.
2. Aftermarket Services: Ongoing revenue from maintenance and inspection services (Wartung & Inspektion) for installed LIPP equipment, including refurbishing and repair services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lipp GmbH designs, engineers, fabricates, and installs custom steel tanks and container systems for storing liquids, gases, and bulk solids. Its offerings span biogas fermenters, gas and thermal energy storage tanks, drinking water and wastewater containers, slurry and bulk material silos, and related refurbishment services, all built on the proprietary LIPP Doppelfalz double-seam system and automated LIPP welding technology.

Product overview

LIPP GmbH offers a comprehensive portfolio of steel tanks and container systems built using the proprietary LIPP System, which combines the patented double-seam construction method with automated welding technology. The product range centers on fermentation and biogas equipment (KomBio, Universalfermenter, Eco Fermenter, Nachgärer), gas and thermal energy storage solutions (Großpufferspeicher, Pufferspeicher, Gasspeicher), and liquid/solid storage containers (Trinkwasserbehälter, Flüssigkeitsbehälter, Schüttgutsilo, Güllebehälter). These products serve municipal, industrial, and agricultural sectors across applications including waste-to-energy, wastewater treatment, drinking water storage, heat storage for district heating, and biogas production. The LIPP double-seam and welding technologies form the core enabling system for all container products, while supporting services include tank refurbishment and custom special tank designs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KomBio: Fermenter with integrated gas storage for industrial, municipal, and agricultural applications - proven for more than 20 years
• LIPP Doppelfalz
• LIPP Schweißtechnik
• VERINOX
• FORTIDE-TL
• UniCentralmix-Fermenter
• Eco Fermenter

Products and services

• LIPP Großpufferspeicher (Large Thermal Storage Tank) Large-scale buffer storage tanks for thermal energy, particularly for district heating networks and solar thermal installations, available in volumes up to 6,000 m³ with pressureless operation up to 95°C.
• KomBio (Reactor with Integrated Gas Storage) Fermenter with integrated gas storage for industrial, municipal, and agricultural applications, combining fermentation and gas storage in a single unit, proven for over 20 years.
• Universalfermenter (Universal Digester) Substrate-flexible fermenter for economical energy production, available with or without integrated gas storage and manufactured from VERINOX composite material (galvanized steel with stainless steel lining).
• UniCentralmix-Fermenter (UniCentralmix Digester) Central mixing fermenter designed for substrate-flexible energy generation in biogas production systems.
• Eco Fermenter Economically designed fermenter for biogas applications, offering cost-effective substrate processing for agricultural operations.
• Nachgärer (Post-Digester) Secondary fermentation tank for post-digestion processing in biogas production.
• Güllebehälter (Slurry Container) Safe and cost-effective storage containers for liquid manure/slurry, optionally equipped with various tank roofs.
• Gasspeicher (Gas Accumulator) Gas storage tanks for pressureless gas storage, available in sizes from 50 to 5,000 m³, with over 300 projects delivered worldwide since the 1970s.
• Schüttgutsilo (Bulk Storage Silo) Storage silos for bulk solids such as grain and other agricultural materials.
• Geschweißte Behälter (Welded Tanks) Custom-welded tanks for various liquid storage applications, fabricated using the automated LIPP welding technology.
• Trinkwasserbehälter (Drinking Water Tank) Stainless steel drinking water storage tanks manufactured using the continuous band method, designed for municipal drinking water storage.
• Pufferspeicher (Buffer Storage) Buffer storage tanks for storing thermal energy and managing heat supply in district heating networks.
• Sonderbehälter (Special Tanks) Custom-designed tanks for specialized industrial applications.
• Flüssigkeitsbehälter (Liquid Storage Tank) Containers for proper storage and treatment of liquids across wastewater treatment, process water, and fire water storage applications.
• Behälterdächer (Tank Roofs & Covers) Tank roof systems including free-standing stainless steel membrane roofs, membrane flat roofs, and cone roofs for LIPP containers.
• Rübensilo (Sugar Beet Silo) Specialized silos for sugar beet storage in agricultural operations.
• Behältersanierung (Tank Refurbishing Service) Renovation and refurbishment service to extend the lifespan of installed tanks and containers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11 GWh/year CO2-free heat production from solar thermal project
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Goffin Energie GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoffin Energie planned and implemented the modular Bio-Reforming plant for Papperts GmbH, selecting LIPP as the supplier for central tank components including gas storage and fermentation vessels. LIPP's quality, tightness of stainless steel containers, and experience in biogas plant construction were cited as key selection factors.
• Riker & RebmannminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering office Riker & Rebmann collaborated with LIPP GmbH on the Grosserlach drinking water tank project for municipality infrastructure, working alongside partner company Kurz Leitungsbau GmbH.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CST Industries: US-based global manufacturer of bolted steel and factory-welded tanks for water, wastewater, biogas, and dry bulk storage. Directly comparable to Lipp in product, customer base (municipal and industrial), and project-based delivery model, but at significantly greater scale.
• Permastore: UK-headquartered manufacturer of glass-fused-to-steel tanks serving potable water, wastewater, anaerobic digestion, and industrial applications. Direct competitor to Lipp in the municipal and agricultural biogas tank segment, with overlapping customer profiles.
• Balmoral Tanks: UK-based tank manufacturer offering steel, stainless steel, and GRP tanks for water, wastewater, biogas, and industrial storage. Highly comparable to Lipp across product range and end-market exposure.
• Superior Tank Co. US manufacturer of bolted and welded steel tanks for water storage, wastewater treatment, and industrial liquids. Direct peer to Lipp in steel tank construction, serving similar municipal and industrial customers.
• Highland Tank: US-based manufacturer of steel storage tanks for petroleum, water, wastewater, and chemical applications. Comparable to Lipp in custom steel tank manufacturing for industrial and municipal infrastructure.
• T.F. King Company: US manufacturer of bolted steel tanks for water, wastewater, and industrial applications. Direct competitor to Lipp in steel tank construction serving municipal utilities and industrial customers.
• Wessels Company: US-based manufacturer of ASME pressure vessels, hot water storage tanks, and chemical storage tanks. Comparable to Lipp in custom-engineered industrial and commercial steel tank fabrication.

Regional players

• Dehoust: German manufacturer of plastic and steel water storage tanks for residential, commercial, and municipal applications. Comparable to Lipp in the German drinking water and rainwater storage market, though focused on smaller-scale tanks.

Broad incumbents

• Roth Werke (Roth Industries): German-based manufacturer of tanks, heating systems, and storage solutions for residential and industrial applications. Broader incumbent in the German tank and storage market with overlapping water/heating storage product lines.
• Kingspan Group: Ireland-headquartered global building solutions provider with water and energy storage tank products. Operates at much greater scale than Lipp with broader portfolio, but overlaps in water and energy storage tanks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lipp