diff --git a/opm/parser/eclipse/Utility/String.hpp b/opm/parser/eclipse/Utility/String.hpp
index 4c303cc1e..5547494a2 100644
--- a/opm/parser/eclipse/Utility/String.hpp
+++ b/opm/parser/eclipse/Utility/String.hpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <cctype>
+#include <string>
 
 namespace Opm {
 
@@ -19,6 +20,18 @@ typename std::decay< T >::type uppercase( T&& x ) {
     return uppercase( t, t );
 }
 
-}
 
+template<typename T>
+std::string trim_copy(const T& s) {
+{
+    auto ret = std::string(s.c_str());
+
+    const auto end = ret.find_last_not_of(" \t\n\r\f\v");
+    if (end == std::string::npos)
+        return "";
+
+    return ret.substr(0, end + 1);
+}
+}
+}
 #endif //OPM_UTILITY_STRING_HPP
diff --git a/tests/test_PaddedOutputString.cpp b/tests/test_PaddedOutputString.cpp
index f4a78eed6..5f089f354 100644
--- a/tests/test_PaddedOutputString.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_PaddedOutputString.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include <boost/test/unit_test.hpp>
 
 #include <opm/io/eclipse/PaddedOutputString.hpp>
+#include <opm/parser/eclipse/Utility/String.hpp>
 
 // Convenience alias.
 template <std::size_t N>
@@ -92,4 +93,15 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE (String_Shortening)
     }
 }
 
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE (Trim) {
+    const auto s1 = PadString<4>{"X"};
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(Opm::trim_copy(s1), std::string{"X"});
+
+    const auto s2 = PadString<4>{"ABCD"};
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(Opm::trim_copy(s2), std::string{"ABCD"});
+
+    const auto s3 = PadString<4>{""};
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(Opm::trim_copy(s3), std::string{""});
+}
+
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE_END()