GIA

What GIA does

GIA mbH (Gesellschaft für industrielle Automatisierung mbH) is a privately-held German engineering company founded in 1989 and headquartered in Leverkusen. The firm delivers complete process automation and IT services for large industrial customers, covering process control systems (PLCs, SCADA, Leitsysteme), electrical and instrumentation (EMSR) engineering, system migration from legacy platforms (Teleperm, Simatic IT, S5) to modern stacks (PCS7, S7-1500, iFix, AVEVA, Ignition), qualification/validation for regulated environments, and ongoing on-call support. It operates four industry-aligned divisions — Oil & Gas, EMSR Maintenance, Chemistry / Specialty Chemistry, and Building Management & Infrastructure — and serves enterprise clients such as Boehringer Ingelheim, Currenta, Innogy, 3M, Intervet and Stadtwerke Neuss.

The technology stack is anchored in certified partnerships with Siemens (Solution Partner – Automation Drives, with expert modules in Chemical, Pharmaceutical, PCS7 Application and Process Safety), AVEVA (Certified System Partner since 2016, with execution experience on Wonderware since 1996), and Ignition (Certified Integrator for modern HMI/SCADA and IIoT). On top of this integrator base, GIA has developed two proprietary products: PROSYS, a hardware inspection system for underwater, building and solar applications (Full HD camera, telescopic pole up to 5.4m, smartphone/tablet integration, €949 list price), and AMS (Auftrags-Management-System), a mobile/desktop order and device management platform. The group also includes two wholly-owned subsidiaries: GIA-TEC GmbH in Cologne for electrical assemblies and control cabinet construction, and GIAnet GmbH in Leverkusen for Business Intelligence and IT integration (Microsoft Certified Partner, Data Platform competency).

GIA generates revenue through project-based engineering services, recurring 24/7 on-call support contracts, customer-specific training, and one-time sales of its PROSYS and AMS products. It is a family-owned GmbH led by founder Karl-Heinz Horst (Chairman of the Management Board) and second-generation Managing Director Philipp Horst, with Alexandra Horst heading HR and Jan Hänisch leading IT. Quality and safety are codified through ISO 9001:2015 and SCC certifications issued by TÜV NORD. The company has 80+ employees, two operating offices (Leverkusen HQ and Monheim team-leader site), and reports activity as recently as October 2025.

Name

GIA

Legal name

GIA - Gesellschaft für industrielle Automatisierung mbH

Website

https://gia.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GIA mbH is a family-owned German engineering company founded in 1989 that delivers process automation, EMSR technology, system migration and IT services to large industrial clients in the chemical, pharmaceutical, energy, oil & gas and manufacturing sectors, complemented by two proprietary products and two subsidiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Services

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian) (IMAHAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Process & Batch Control Software (Recipe Management, ISA-88) (IMAGABAH), iBPMS (Intelligent BPM Suites) & Process Automation Suites (HDAEAHAG)

Keywords

• Process automation services
• Industrial control systems
• EMSR technology integration
• Control system migration
• Custom software development

Headquarters

HQ city

Leverkusen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering and Project Services: Complete engineering solutions from concept, consulting, realization, commissioning to after-sales services. Project-based revenue from process automation, EMSR technology, and IT services for industrial clients.
2. Product Sales: Sale of proprietary products including PROSYS inspection systems and AMS (Auftrags-Management-System) software solutions.
3. Training and Workshops: Customer-specific training services for automation technology (Siemens S7, PCS7, WinCC, Teleperm, Wonderware) conducted at GIA premises or customer site.
4. On-Call Support Services: 24/7 on-call support services within various contract forms, including maintenance of hardware and software components to ensure smooth operation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GIA mbH delivers complete engineering solutions for process automation and IT services to large industrial clients in chemical, pharmaceutical, energy, oil & gas and manufacturing sectors. Core offerings include process control technology (Prozessleittechnik), electrical and I&C technology (EMSR/E-MS R), system migration services from legacy to modern automation platforms, plant planning, project management, qualification and validation, IT service, industrial IT monitoring, custom software development, training, and 24/7 on-call support. The company also sells two proprietary products: PROSYS (propeller and hull inspection system) and AMS (Auftrags-Management-System, an all-in-one mobile order management solution).

Product overview

GIA offers a portfolio of two main software/hardware products: PROSYS (propeller and hull monitoring/inspection system) and AMS (order management system). PROSYS is a hardware-focused inspection product with a mobile app component for underwater and building inspections. AMS is a mobile-first order management and device management platform with desktop and mobile components. Both products are positioned as professional tools for industrial and municipal applications, with complementary capabilities in asset inspection and operational management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PROSYS: Propeller and hull monitoring system - professional inspection system for underwater, buildings and solar installations in real-time.
• AMS

Products and services

• PROSYS PROSYS is a proprietary propeller and hull monitoring/inspection system providing real-time underwater inspection for ships, buildings and solar installations. It features a Full HD camera, telescopic pole up to 5.4m, smartphone/tablet holder, and an optional cleaning attachment, enabling inspection of hard-to-reach areas without specialized divers.
• AMS (Auftrags-Management-System) AMS is an all-in-one mobile order management solution for device management enabling paperless workflow optimization. It includes a desktop application for order administration and a mobile application for order execution via tablet or smartphone, with modules for real-time order overview, dynamic order distribution, personnel and vehicle management, meter management, maintenance/service functions, inventory management, fleet management, and reporting. Sold to municipal utilities and field service operators.
• Process Control Technology (Prozessleittechnik) Process Control Technology services include the design, implementation and commissioning of process control systems (Leitsysteme) including PLC/SCADA solutions for large industrial clients in chemical, pharmaceutical, energy and manufacturing sectors.
• Electrical and I&C Technology (Elektro- und MSR-Technik) EMSR/E-MS R engineering services covering electrical, measurement, control and regulation technology planning and implementation for industrial environments, performed by GIA's certified engineers.
• System Migration Services System migration services for control systems, migrating from legacy platforms (Teleperm, Simatic IT, S5, S7-300) to modern automation platforms (PCS7, S7-1500, iFix, InTouch, ArchestrA/Galaxy), targeting industrial clients with aging automation infrastructure.
• Plant Planning (Anlagenplanung) Plant planning services covering concept development, consulting, and engineering planning for industrial automation projects from initial concept through realization.
• Qualification and Validation (Qualifizierung und Validierung) Qualification and validation services for pharmaceutical and chemical clients operating in GMP/FDA-regulated environments, supporting batch control and documentation requirements throughout project delivery.
• IT Service IT Service delivery for industrial and enterprise clients including infrastructure support, database integration, and IT management for production environments.
• Industrial IT Monitoring Industrial IT monitoring services providing real-time visibility and digital documentation for industrial IT environments, supporting operational efficiency and compliance documentation.
• Custom Software Development (Software-Entwicklung) Custom Windows and web applications, mobile Windows Apps, and database programming using .NET (C#, VB.Net, C++), SQL, VBA, Java, HTML, JavaScript, PHP, XML, with integration to MS SQL Server, Oracle DB and MS Access databases.
• Training and Workshops Customer-specific training services for automation technology (Siemens S7, PCS7, WinCC, Teleperm, Wonderware) conducted at GIA premises or customer site for engineers and operators.
• On-Call Support Services (24/7 Service) 24/7 on-call support services offered within various contract forms, including maintenance of hardware and software components to ensure smooth operation of automation and IT systems for industrial clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• PROSYS enables inspection of hard-to-reach areas without specialized divers, resulting in cost savings for ship operators
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AVEVA (formerly Wonderware)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2016Certified System Partner since 2016. GIA has conducted projects on Wonderware (now AVEVA) products since 1996. Provides consultation, planning, implementation, project management, training and support for AVEVA System Platform, InTouch HMI, and Historian.
• GIA-TEC GmbHcoreOthersSubsidiary company located in Cologne (Köln) specializing in electrical assemblies and control cabinet construction. Morsestr. 4, D-50769 Köln. Part of the GIA corporate group.
• GIAnet GmbHcoreOthersIT services company within the GIA Group located in Leverkusen. Provides Business Integration and Business Intelligence solutions. Serves customers in chemical, mining, and pharmaceutical industries. Microsoft Certified Partner with Data Platform competency.
• SiemenscoreTechnology or IntegrationCertified Siemens Solution Partner - Automation Drives. Employees receive recurring training and certification in latest PCS7 versions. Expertise in Process Control System, Factory Automation, Industrial Communications, with expert modules in Chemical, Pharmaceutical, PCS 7 Application, and Process Safety Applications.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Siemens AG: Global industrial-automation platform vendor (PCS 7, SIMATIC) that also delivers direct system-integration services. GIA is a certified Siemens Solution Partner, so Siemens is simultaneously peer, partner and channel — making it the most relevant incumbent to benchmark against.
• ABB: Major DCS/process automation vendor (System 800xA) with broad SI capabilities serving chemicals, oil & gas, and pharma. Competes with GIA for the same enterprise modernization scope and increasingly bundles integrator services.
• Schneider Electric: Parent of AVEVA and Copa-Data (zenon SCADA), competing head-to-head with GIA on Wonderware/AVEVA migrations. Schneider's EcoStruxure platform is a frequent alternative to a Siemens PCS 7 retrofit — directly relevant on every project GIA pitches.
• Rockwell Automation: Large automation vendor (ControlLogix, FactoryTalk) serving process industries. Competes for control-system modernization work and operates its own integrator network overlapping GIA's chemical/pharma pursuits.

Direct peers

• Copa-Data (zenon): SCADA/HMI software vendor (zenon) and Schneider Electric subsidiary. Sells through a tight integrator network where members — like GIA's AVEVA/Ignition analogue — execute pharma/energy migration projects, making them a direct product-line competitor for control-system modernization bids.
• Ingeteam: European industrial automation SI operating in process industries (chemicals, energy, renewables) with similar Siemens/AVEVA certifications. Closest mid-sized peer by geography, industry mix and certified integrator profile.
• Insta GmbH: German automation and digitalization specialist of comparable size that delivers process automation, EMSR/PLC and IT integration to industrial customers. Most direct-like-for-like competitor to GIA inside Germany.
• ATS Automation Tooling Systems: North-American headquartered but Europe-active automation integrator serving process industries with migration, MES and SCADA work. Comparable in scope and customer-type to GIA's Siemens/AVEVA-led engagements.

Others

• AVEVA: SCADA/historian platform vendor (System Platform, InTouch, Historian) and GIA's technology partner since 2016. Included as a peer because AVEVA's own System Integrator program competes with GIA on enterprise-scale deployments and shapes GIA's product choices.
• Gefran S.p.A. Italian sensors, controllers and industrial automation components vendor active in process industries. Included as a peer because Gefran partners with and competes alongside system integrators like GIA on chemical and pharma installations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/giambh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 GIA