Kries
Kries Energietechnik is a German manufacturer of intelligent distribution network solutions — voltage testing systems, fault indicators, protection relays, and remote control technology — for medium and high voltage grids, serving utility providers and grid operators. Wholly-owned by TE Connectivity since January 2024.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersWaiblingen, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kries does
Kries Energietechnik GmbH & Co. KG is a German specialist manufacturer of intelligent distribution network solutions for medium and high voltage power grids, headquartered in Waiblingen, Germany. Founded in 1994 and operating with 51-100 employees, the company designs and produces secondary technology systems for transformer stations and distribution networks, organized across three product lines: CAP-Line (capacitive voltage testing, monitoring, and sensor systems including the patented CAPDIS self-test series), IKI-Line (fault indicators, short-circuit indicators, field control devices, and protection relays), and PON-Line (UPS systems, motor controls, remote control technology, and control center solutions). The technology centers on capacitive and ohmic voltage sensors that enable voltage-free verification, partial discharge detection, and automated switching with re-energization in under three seconds.
The company sells exclusively to utility providers, grid operators, and energy infrastructure operators through a direct B2B sales motion with quote-based pricing ("Preis auf Anfrage") and multi-year contracts. Products comply with IEC 61243-5 and IEC 62271-213:2021 standards and carry ISO 9001 certification. The company holds Patent DE 103 04 396 covering integrated self-test functionality for voltage testing devices.
In January 2024, Kries was acquired by Swiss multinational TE Connectivity Ltd and now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary under the Kries brand, integrated into TE's medium-voltage grid automation portfolio. Prior to acquisition, the company was geographically concentrated in Germany and broader Europe, with no disclosed revenue figures.
Kries firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kries
- Legal name
- Kries Energietechnik GmbH & Co. KG
- Website
- https://kries.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Kries Energietechnik is a German manufacturer of intelligent distribution network solutions — voltage testing systems, fault indicators, protection relays, and remote control technology — for medium and high voltage grids, serving utility providers and grid operators. Wholly-owned by TE Connectivity since January 2024.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Kries is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waiblingen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kries business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Smart Grid Hardware and Systems: Sale of intelligent distribution network solutions including voltage testing systems, fault indicators, protection relays, and remote control technology for medium and high voltage applications
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B product sales with quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Kries product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kries designs and manufactures intelligent components for medium- and high-voltage power distribution networks, including capacitive voltage indicators, phase-comparison devices, and integrated grounding/short-circuit indication systems. Its products are sold to utility providers, grid operators, and switchgear OEMs to provide continuous monitoring and operational safety in substations and feeder lines.
Product overview
Kries Energietechnik is a German company specializing in intelligent distribution network solutions for medium and high voltage power grids. The product portfolio is organized into three main product lines: (1) CAP-Line encompasses voltage testing, monitoring, and sensor systems including the CAPDIS capacitive voltage testing systems (CAPDIS-Sx series), voltage monitoring modules (CAPDIS-M), voltage transformer replacements (CAPDIS-4/4o), voltage sensors (OKE and OAS ohmic sensors, KKE capacitive coupling electrodes, TSKA voltage dividers, Sense retrofit sensors, and Kombi combination sensors), and phase comparators (CAP-Phase); (2) IKI-Line covers fault indicators and short-circuit indicators for overhead lines and underground cables, field control devices, protection relays for transformers, and retrofit solutions; (3) PON-Line includes UPS systems, motor controls, remote control technology, and control center solutions. The products are designed for transformer stations and distribution networks to reduce blackout times, minimize follow-up costs, and improve power supply availability. Kries was acquired by TE Connectivity in January 2024.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CAP-Line Capacitive voltage indication and detection product line used in medium and high voltage substations to provide continuous visual indication of live circuit status for grid operators and switchgear manufacturers.
- IKI-Line Integrated grounding and short-circuit indication product line for medium and high voltage distribution networks, providing fault localization and grounding status feedback to utility maintenance crews.
- PON-Line Phase-comparison and phase-monitoring product line used to verify correct phase alignment and coupling between sections of medium and high voltage distribution grids during commissioning and operation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Re-energization in less than 3 seconds with fully automatic Kries switching solutions (ATS)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kries
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Kries technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Kries partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kries competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ABB (Hitachi Energy): Hitachi Energy (formerly ABB Grid Integration) supplies MV switchgear, protection relays, voltage sensors, and full ADMS/SCADA stacks to global utilities, overlapping with Kries' CAPDIS, IKI, and PON product lines across protection and grid automation.
- Siemens Smart Infrastructure: Siemens offers SIPROTEC protection relays, Reyrolle MV switchgear, and SICAM grid automation — directly overlapping Kries' IKI-Line protection relays, fault indicators, and CAP-Line voltage sensing products sold to European DSOs.
- Schneider Electric: Schneider's EcoStruxure grid portfolio includes MV switchgear (RM AirSeT), protection relays (Easergy), and ADMS, covering the same DSO secondary-technology stack Kries targets with CAPDIS, IKI, and PON lines.
- Eaton: Eaton manufactures MV switchgear, protection relays, and capacitor-coupled voltage sensors for distribution networks, competing with Kries in voltage detection and fault indication for utility transformer stations.
- GE Vernova Grid Solutions: GE Vernova (including the former Trench instrument-transformer business) supplies instrument transformers, protection, and grid automation to DSOs, overlapping Kries' voltage-sensor and transformer-protection products.
Direct peers
- Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL): SEL specializes in protection relays, fault indicators, and distribution automation hardware for utilities — a direct product-line competitor to Kries' IKI-Line schutzrelais (protection relays), fault indicators, and field control devices.
- Driescher Wegberg: German MV switchgear and secondary-technology specialist with comparable focus on transformer stations, voltage testing, and protection for European DSOs — the closest geographic and product-line peer to Kries' CAP-Line and IKI-Line portfolio.
- Arteche: Arteche manufactures instrument transformers (current/voltage), protection relays, and grid automation for utilities, directly competing with Kries' CAPDIS voltage-sensing products and IKI protection-relay portfolio.
- Pfisterer: German-headquartered MV cable accessories, sensors, and substation secondary-technology supplier; Pfisterer's CONNEX and Ixosil lines plus voltage sensors overlap Kries' CAPDIS, KKE, and TSKA products for switchgear installations.
- Trench Group: Specializes in instrument transformers (current and voltage) and reactor products for HV/MV substations, directly competing with Kries' CAPDIS-4 and CAPDIS-4o voltage-transformer-replacement offerings for utility switchgear.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kries social profiles
Digital presenceKries compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Kries financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kries leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Kries funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kries M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kries
What does Kries do?
Kries designs and manufactures intelligent components for medium- and high-voltage power distribution networks, including capacitive voltage indicators, phase-comparison devices, and integrated grounding/short-circuit indication systems. Its products are sold to utility providers, grid operators, and switchgear OEMs to provide continuous monitoring and operational safety in substations and feeder lines.
Is Kries a public or private company?
Kries is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Kries founded?
Kries was founded in 1994. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Kries based?
Kries is headquartered in Waiblingen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Kries make money?
One revenue line is on record: smart Grid Hardware and Systems.
Who are Kries's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ABB (Hitachi Energy), Siemens Smart Infrastructure, Schneider Electric, Eaton and GE Vernova Grid Solutions. Direct peers are Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), Driescher Wegberg, Arteche, Pfisterer and Trench Group.
Does Kries have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kries.