Truma Celebrates 75 Years of ‘Pioneering Spirit’ in 2024 – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
PUTZBRUNN, Germany – 2024 is a special year for Truma Gerätetechnik GmbH & Co. KG: It marks Truma’s 75th anniversary, which it will celebrate while also launching new innovations in the caravanning and outdoor sector. The market leader from Putzbrunn near Munich therefore has an exciting year ahead of it. You can find the complete timeline here: Truma’s history
1949 was a very eventful year in history: among other things, the German Federal Railway and the IG Metall trade union were founded, Konrad Adenauer became the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, and US President Harry S. Truman was sworn in for his second term of office.
Truma company founder Philipp Kreis also returned from the war in 1949 and opened a
language school in Munich. The inadequate power supply at that time gave him the idea of developing gas lamps. Due to increasing demand, he registered his business on 27 October 1949, naming his company Truma. The brand name was inspired by the then US president, Harry S. Truman. Philipp Kreis revered him as the man who made it possible for Germany to rebuild itself as an industrialised nation. This was the starting shot for Truma Gerätetechnik.
From the gas lamp to the caravan heater
From its initial solution for an insufficient power supply, the company continued to develop, and in 1961 the Truma-matic was introduced as ‘the first officially recognised caravan heater’. A new found sense of freedom and larger caravans demanded greater heating power, which led Truma to launch the Trumatic S 3000 with 3000 HU (= 3.5 kW) in 1967. In 1970, Philipp Kreis was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his efforts in the development of propane gas systems and central oil supplies.
In 1983, Truma – including its production, technology and administration – moved into a new, modern building in Putzbrunn. A large climatic chamber suitable for motorhomes was also created. Truma appliances and vehicles are still inspected here today under the toughest practical conditions, as it is often used by vehicle manufacturers and specialised journalists for various tests.
The company passed to the next generation in 1988 when the company founder’s daughter,
Renate Schimmer-Wottrich, took over the management of the company as managing partner. Philipp Kreis withdrew from day-to-day business. Renate Schimmer-Wottrich was also honoured with the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for her entrepreneurial and social achievements.
From the Truma Combi to the future of caravanning
Truma launched the new Combi motorhome heater in 2007. It replaced the Trumatic-C
heater, of which over 500,000 units had been manufactured. Truma also expanded its air
conditioning business with the launch of the Aventa roof-mounted air conditioning series in 2011.
2015 saw another milestone and the continuation of the family business as Alexander Wottrich joined the company, the third generation to continue the tradition. As Managing Director, he is responsible for the business activities of the Truma Group and took over the position of Technical Managing Director on 1 January 2018. Renate Schimmer-Wottrich works together with her son as Deputy Managing Director and remains Chair of the Advisory Board.
In 2021, Truma entered the world of digitalisation in the caravanning sector, when the iNet X System started entering motorhomes as a central operating system. Control over the Truma devices in the vehicle, status queries in real time, intuitive operation and advanced control via app – all this is possible with the iNet X System.
CIVD honours Truma and Truma celebrates its 75th anniversary
A great honour was bestowed on the entrepreneurial family and all Truma employees by the Caravaning Industrie Verband e.V., CIVD for short: Renate Schimmer-Wottrich (Chair of the Truma Group’s Advisory Board) and Alexander Wottrich (Co-CEO of the Truma Group) were the first suppliers ever to receive the Silver Medal of Honour. The CIVD’s Silver Medal of Honour recognises special entrepreneurial achievements and outstanding commitment to the caravanning industry.
Pioneering spirit. Passion. Innovation. Tradition. A family business since 1949. Truma
celebrates its 75th anniversary on 27 October 2024 and will continue to set new standards as a system supplier in the caravanning and outdoor sector for (at least) the next 75 years.
