Alma

What Alma does

Alma is a French employee-owned cooperative (SCOP - Société Coopérative de Production) headquartered in Saint-Martin-d'Hères near Grenoble, founded in 1981 to develop CAD/CAM software for industrial cutting optimization. The company owns the Almacam software suite, which covers 2D cutting (laser, plasma, oxy, water jet, punching, routing), 3D/tube/5-axis cutting, press-brake bending, CAD import and unfolding, quotation, workshop scheduling, and offline programming for cutting and welding robots. Its core technical asset is a set of proprietary nesting algorithms developed entirely in-house over more than 45 years, delivered both as a ready-to-use CAM platform and as embeddable software components (Powernest) licensed to third-party CAD/CAM and ERP vendors. Alma also operates Alma GmbH in Blaubeuren, Germany, and works with channel partners such as Klaassen Advanced Technology (Netherlands) and ASCO DATA (Bremen), serving approximately 8,000 customers in 20 countries across sheet metal subcontractors, machine tool builders, software publishers, and end users in aeronautics, shipbuilding, capital goods, and furniture.

The company monetizes the platform through a mix of perpetual and subscription software licenses, annual maintenance and support contracts, professional services for installation, parameterization, training, and robotic cell calibration, and component/royalty licensing of its nesting algorithms. Distribution is channel-first, with authorized resellers and direct subsidiaries providing local sales, installation, and support, complemented by a freemium web-based 2D nesting trial (Nest&Cut) on AWS and a multilingual website supporting self-serve evaluation in six languages. Recent product investment has been concentrated in extending the workflow beyond cutting: the March 2026 Almacam 4.1.2 release introduced the Almacam Robotics OLP module, a new Almacam Bend press-brake module, an updated Almaquote quotation tool, and incremental nesting improvements. The company is ISO 9001:2015 certified, operates without disclosed external investors or parent company, and reports no funding rounds, consistent with a profitable, employee-owned niche software business.

Name

Alma

Legal name

ALMA Scop

Website

https://almacam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Alma is a French employee-owned cooperative that develops the Almacam CAD/CAM software suite for nesting, sheet metal and tube cutting, bending, and robotic offline programming, serving approximately 8,000 industrial customers across 20 countries through resellers, direct subsidiaries, and OEM software-component licensing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

CAD/CAM Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Engineering Services (54133)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHDAEAEAB

Manufacturing ERP (Discrete, Process, Batch)

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Enterprise Platforms & Databases/Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Platforms

SECONDARYHDAEAEAA

Core ERP Suites (Financials, Procurement, Projects)

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Enterprise Platforms & Databases/Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Platforms

SECONDARYHDAEAEAE

Construction & Engineering ERP (Job Costing, Project Controls)

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Enterprise Platforms & Databases/Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Platforms

Keywords

• CAD/CAM software
• Sheet metal nesting
• CNC cutting software
• Robotic offline programming
• Tube cutting software

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-martin-d'heres

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses: Perpetual or subscription-based software licenses for Almacam CAD/CAM products. Licenses can be floating (network-based) or dedicated to specific workstations/machines.
2. Annual Maintenance and Support Contracts: Annual maintenance contracts with minimum 1-year term providing software updates (service packs, new versions), remote access support, and online technical documentation access.
3. Professional Services: Implementation services including on-site installation, software parameterization, testing with customer machines, training, calibration of robotic cells, and customized development services.
4. Software Components Licensing: Nesting algorithms commercialized as software components for third-party CAD/CAM or ERP software developers to integrate into their own applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Alma develops and sells the Almacam Suite, a unified CAD/CAM software platform for nesting, cutting, bending, and robotic programming. The company offers 2D cutting, 3D tube and profile cutting, press brake bending, offline programming for cutting and welding robots, quotation, and Industry 4.0 ERP/MES integration modules. It also licenses its proprietary in-house nesting algorithms as software components for integration by third-party CAD/CAM and ERP developers.

Product overview

Alma's product portfolio centers on the Almacam Suite, a unified CAD-CAM software platform for nesting, cutting, and robotics. The core offering includes 2D CAM modules for cutting (Almacam Cut), punching (Almacam Punch), routing (Almacam Routing), and combined operations (Almacam Combi), alongside 3D CAM for tubes (Almacam Tube), 5-axis cutting (Almacam Space Cut), and blocks (Almacube). The platform encompasses CAD import tools (Assembly2cam, Unfold), Industry 4.0 integration (Almaquote, Workshop/Scheduler, ERP/MES Integration), and robotic programming (Almacam Robotics, Almacam Weld, OLP Robotic Cutting). Alma is unique in developing nesting algorithms internally, offering them both as ready-to-use CAM software and as software components (Powernest) for integration by third-party CAD/CAM/ERP developers. Cloud-based access is available via Nest&Cut web application.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Almacam: Unified CAD-CAM software for Nesting, Cutting and Robotics developed by Alma for sheet metalworking, tube cutting, 5-axis machining, and robotic applications
• Almacam Cut
• Almacam Tube
• Almacam Bend
• Almacam Robotics
• Almacam Weld
• Almaquote
• Nest&Cut
• Powernest
• Almacube

Products and services

• Almacam Suite Unified CAD-CAM software suite for nesting, cutting, bending, and robotics covering 2D cutting, 3D/tube cutting, robotic welding, bending, CAD import, and Industry 4.0 integration. Used by sheet metal manufacturers, machine tool builders, and software developers.
• Almacam Cut 2D CAM and nesting solution for sheet metal cutting operations, supporting laser, water jet, plasma, and oxy-cutting technologies. Used by industrial cutting subcontractors and sheet metal manufacturers.
• Almacam Tube 3D CAM software for tube and profile cutting. Controls tube cutting machines with no limit on axes and includes a dedicated algorithm for profile sections such as U-, H-, and L-beams.
• Almacam Bend Press brake programming module that analyzes part geometry and determines bending parameters according to press brake constraints. Extends the CAD/CAM workflow from part preparation through cutting to bending.
• Almacam Robotics Offline Programming (OLP) module for cutting and welding robots introduced in version 4.1.2. Enables digital twins of robotic cells, simulates robot trajectories, and checks collision avoidance in a single environment.
• Almacam Weld OLP software for robotic welding, providing a continuous workflow from CAD import to robot program generation. Used by mechanical welding and boiler-making manufacturers.
• Almaquote Quotation software for sheet metal and mechanical welding. Features multi-level BOM management, quote reuse, graphics tools for quote analysis, and integration with Webquote online service.
• Nest&Cut Easy-to-use 2D CAM web application available as SaaS, powered by Amazon Web Services. Provides nesting capabilities via browser interface and supports geometric file imports including DXF, DWG, Step, DSTV, SVG, PDF, and CSV.
• Powernest Software component for nesting optimization that can be integrated into third-party CAD/CAM or ERP applications. Commercialized as an embeddable library for software developers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Material gain of approximately 0.15% compared to previous version through nesting improvements
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Klaassen Advanced TechnologycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 February 2026Klaassen Advanced Technology is a Dutch company specializing in distribution and integration of industrial machinery for metalworking. They distribute Bodor Laser cutting machines for sheet metal and tubes, Evotec and Durmapress equipment. Klaassen has selected Almacam as its CAD/CAM software solution and acts as an official Almacam reseller in the Netherlands, supporting customers from installation through to production start-up.
• Bodor LaserminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMachine brand distributed through Klaassen Advanced Technology network. Bodor Laser cutting machines for sheet metal and tubes are complemented by Almacam CAD/CAM software.
• EvotecminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEquipment brand distributed through Klaassen Advanced Technology network. Evotec equipment is complemented by Almacam CAD/CAM software.
• DurmapressminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEquipment brand distributed through Klaassen Advanced Technology network. Durmapress equipment is complemented by Almacam CAD/CAM software.
• ASCO DATA GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorASCO DATA Gesellschaft für Rechneranwendungen in der Fertigung mbH, based in Bremen, Germany, distributes Alma software solutions in German markets. They provide software licensing, installation, inbetriebnahme, and support services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mastercam (CNC Software): Mastercam is a leading CAD/CAM platform for milling, turning, and multi-axis machining with strong nesting capabilities used by thousands of machine shops worldwide. It overlaps directly with Almacam in serving CNC-driven metalworking subcontractors with toolpath and post-processing functionality.
• Tebis (Tebis Technische Datenverarbeitung): Tebis is a CAD/CAM system for tool and die making, mechanical engineering, and sheet metal working with strong nesting and automation features. It competes head-on with Almacam in the European discrete manufacturing and tooling market.
• SigmaNEST: SigmaNEST is a leading CAD/CAM nesting solution for sheet metal cutting, tube cutting, and punch press operations, serving fabrication subcontractors globally. It is one of the closest direct competitors to Almacam Cut and Almacam Tube in the cutting-subcontractor segment.
• Lantek: Lantek provides CAD/CAM and ERP/MES software specifically focused on sheet metal fabrication, including nesting, cutting, bending, and shop-floor management. The product scope and target customer base closely mirror Almacam's offerings for industrial cutting subcontractors.

Broad incumbents

• Autodesk (Fusion 360, formerly Delcam): Autodesk absorbed Delcam's CAM products (FeatureCAM, ArtCAM, PowerMILL) and offers Fusion 360 with manufacturing extensions for sheet metal and 5-axis CAM. As a broad PLM/CAD incumbent, it competes for mid-market CAM and nesting customers and could pressure niche players through bundling.
• TRUMPF (TruTops): TRUMPF offers TruTops CAD/CAM and nesting software bundled with its laser and punching machines, targeting the same metalworking OEMs and subcontractors as Alma. As a global machine tool leader, it competes with Almacam indirectly through customer lock-in to vendor-bundled software.
• Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence (ESPRIT / WorkNC / Radan): Hexagon's CAM division offers ESPRIT and WorkNC for machining and Radan for sheet metal nesting/cutting—directly comparable to Almacam Cut and Tube for sheet metal and tube/profile CAM at mid-market manufacturers. Hexagon is a much larger incumbent with a broader measurement and manufacturing portfolio.
• Bystronic (bysoft): Bystronic is a major manufacturer of sheet metal cutting and bending systems that offers its own BySoft CAM/nesting software alongside its machines. As an OEM-driven CAM suite, it competes with Almacam in the bundled machine-and-software buying motion Alma addresses through Klaassen-type resellers.

Emerging players

• Jetcam (Jetcam International): Jetcam provides nesting and CNC cutting software for sheet metal, tube, and composite cutting applications. It overlaps with Almacam's core cutting/nesting functionality for fabrication subcontractors, particularly in composite and aerospace-adjacent markets.

Others

• ASCO DATA GmbH: ASCO DATA is a long-standing Alma software distributor in the German market and was previously acquired by Alma in 2017. It is a distribution and services peer rather than a direct competitor, but provides insight into how Alma's partner-channel economics work in DACH.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scopalma

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alma