About Digital Power Systems
Digital Power Systems develops and manufactures digitally controlled power supplies at our facility in Karlsruhe, Germany. Founded as a spin-off of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), we pursue a singular objective: delivering power supply solutions engineered to operate reliably for decades — not years.
Electrolytic capacitors are responsible for 52% of all LED power supply failures — a well-documented challenge across the industry. At KIT's Lichttechnisches Institut (LTI), Dr.-Ing. Michael Heidinger set out to develop a power supply architecture that eliminates this vulnerability entirely.
The result was a digitally controlled power supply topology that eliminates electrolytic capacitors entirely, replacing them with film and ceramic capacitors. This innovation yields a power supply with a verified operational lifetime exceeding 50 years under continuous testing at KIT since 2019.
On 2 November 2020, Digital Power Systems GmbH was established in Karlsruhe to transfer this technology from the laboratory to industrial application.
Today, our team of five engineers operates from Haid-und-Neu-Straße 7 in Karlsruhe, where we design, manufacture, and deliver digitally controlled power supplies to clients across diverse sectors — from obstacle lighting on wind turbines to industrial automation and renewable energy infrastructure.
Dr.-Ing. Michael Heidinger
Dr. Heidinger established Digital Power Systems following extensive research into long-life power supply topologies at KIT. His doctoral thesis, ‘Long Life Single Stage PFC/SLC Converter driving LEDs,’ constitutes the scientific foundation of DPS's digital control technology.
- M.Sc. Electrical Engineering, TU Munich (2014)
- Doctorate at KIT — Lichttechnisches Institut (LTI)
- Approx. 17 peer-reviewed publications in power electronics
- KIT Innovation & Technology Transfer Award 2019 & 2020
Core Competencies
Digital Control Technology
Advanced digital control algorithms that enable software-configurable output parameters, adaptive regulation, and predictive maintenance capabilities — without requiring hardware modifications.
LongLife Technology
A design philosophy that eliminates all electrolytic capacitors, employing exclusively film and ceramic alternatives. The outcome: a verified record lifetime exceeding 50 years under continuous operation, validated at KIT.
Industry 4.0 / IoT Ready
Integrated remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, and standardised bus interfaces. Software-defined power management enables seamless integration into industrial automation and IoT networks.
Application Areas
Lighting & Obstacle Beacons
LED drivers for obstruction lighting on wind turbines, chimneys, and broadcast towers — applications where a single replacement can exceed ten times the unit cost.
Automation
DIN rail power supplies for programmable logic controllers, sensor networks, and control cabinets in demanding industrial environments.
Renewable Energy
DC-DC converters engineered for solar installations and energy storage systems, designed for 20 to 30 years of unattended, maintenance-free operation.
Mobility
Onboard power supplies for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, rail systems, and transportation networks requiring sustained reliability.
Access Systems
Power supplies for automated door systems, barrier controls, and access management infrastructure with stringent uptime requirements.
Aerospace
High-reliability power conversion for aerospace and defence applications demanding zero-tolerance fault performance.
Our Promise
Every DPS product is underpinned by five fundamental commitments — from where we manufacture, to how long it operates, to how we support our clients. These are not marketing assertions. They are engineering principles.
Made in Germany
Every DPS power supply is designed and manufactured at our facility in Karlsruhe. We maintain comprehensive vertical integration — from PCB design and SMD assembly through conformal coating to end-of-line testing — entirely within a single production site.
Full component traceability ensures complete control over every stage of the manufacturing process. There is no outsourced production and no third-party contract manufacturing. When you procure from DPS, the provenance of your product is transparent and verifiable.
Up to 50 Years Lifetime
The primary cause of power supply failure is the electrolytic capacitor. These components degrade over time — losing capacitance and ultimately failing, typically within 5 to 10 years. DPS power supplies contain no electrolytic capacitors whatsoever.
Our proprietary digital control topology employs exclusively ceramic and film capacitors. Test units have been operating continuously at KIT since 2019 without a single failure. The calculated lifetime record stands at over 50 years at rated load and 40°C ambient temperature.
Trackable Quality
Every DPS power supply carries a scannable QR code that provides direct access to its complete quality record — including production line test results, calibration data, and manufacturing traceability.
This level of transparency enables our clients to verify product quality independently and maintain comprehensive documentation for their own quality management systems. No black boxes, no opaque supply chains — every unit is fully accountable.
Free Shipping, Fast Dispatch
We fulfil orders from Karlsruhe to destinations across Europe and worldwide. Orders exceeding EUR 1,000 net qualify for complimentary standard shipping within Germany. Orders received before 14:00 CET are typically dispatched on the same business day.
Consistently high stock levels across our standard product range minimise lead times. For time-critical requirements, DHL Express provides next-business-day delivery throughout Germany and the EU.
Expert Support
Every DPS client has direct access to our engineering team in Karlsruhe — including the company's founder. There are no call centres and no automated ticket queues. Whether you require guidance on product selection, system integration, or field-level troubleshooting, you engage directly with the engineers who designed the product.
We provide complimentary design-in support, thermal analysis, and EMC consultation for every project — from single-unit prototypes to volume production programmes.
Ready to Work With Us?
Whether your application requires a standard product or a bespoke solution, our engineering team stands ready to assist.
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