What Flownex does

Flownex is a South African-headquartered engineering simulation software company specializing in 1D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for thermal-fluid system analysis. The company operates under M-Tech Industrial Pty Ltd, headquartered in Potchefstroom, South Africa, with sales and distribution activity across more than 40 countries via a two-tier Elite and Certified channel partner network and direct sales operations in the UK and Africa. Founded in 1986 on code (originally called Flownet) developed to solve mine ventilation networks, Flownex has evolved into a vertically specialized simulation platform serving nuclear and SMR designers, gas turbine manufacturers, data centre operators, hydrogen system developers, aerospace/spaceflight programs, HVAC engineers, supercritical CO2 cycle designers, and academic users.

The core product, Flownex Simulation Environment (SE), is a physics-based 1D CFD platform that performs both steady-state and transient analysis of integrated thermal-fluid networks. A proprietary non-iterative implicit transient solver enables rapid parametric studies, while deep couplings to the Ansys ecosystem (Mechanical via an ACT extension, Workbench, Fluent, CFX, SpaceClaim) support hybrid 1D-3D workflows. Industry-specific components cover pressurized water reactors, HTGR, PBMR, sodium-cooled fast reactors, Reactor Cavity Cooling Systems, gas turbine secondary flow, rocket propulsion, PEM fuel cells and electrolysers, sCO2 Brayton cycles, and data centre cooling. Supporting modules include Revit and CAD Network Builders, an enhanced Excel editor, an embedded Python scripting environment with Cantera, a Reality DC Simulation component, and a Reactor Builder Script. Development and qualification occur under ISO 9001:2015 and ASME NQA-1 quality frameworks with 10 CFR Part 50 Appendix B compliance, positioning the software for safety-related nuclear licensing work.

Flownex monetizes primarily through annual subscription software licenses sold via channel partners, complemented by partner-delivered training, customization and consulting services, with a free Student Version providing a top-of-funnel entry point. Target buyers are enterprise engineering teams in regulated and high-consequence industries; named users include NASA, Eskom, AngloGold Ashanti, Steinmüller, Lufthansa, Aerosud, and Gi-Gabriel Automotive. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; the company is privately held under M-Tech Industrial Pty Ltd with no disclosed external investment, private equity backing, or funding rounds in the available data.

Name

Flownex

Legal name

M-Tech Industrial Pty Ltd

Website

https://flownex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Flownex builds Flownex Simulation Environment, a 1D CFD software platform for steady-state and transient thermal-fluid system analysis, serving enterprise engineering teams in nuclear, gas turbines, data centres, hydrogen, spaceflight, HVAC, and academia across more than 40 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Illinois City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses: Flownex SE is sold as engineering simulation software with various licensing options. The software is available for enterprise, academic, and student versions.
2. Channel Partner Services: Channel partners provide training, customization, and consulting services to customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Flownex develops and licenses the Flownex Simulation Environment (SE), a 1D Computational Fluid Dynamics software platform used to simulate steady-state and transient behavior of thermal-fluid systems where fluid flow is the driving factor. The software is purpose-built for engineering teams in nuclear/SMR, gas turbine, data centre, hydrogen, spaceflight, HVAC, and industrial process industries, providing component libraries, reactor-specific neutronics, combustion models, and integrations with Ansys, Revit, Excel, Python, and FMI tools.

Product overview

Flownex offers a unified product portfolio anchored by the Flownex Simulation Environment (SE), a comprehensive 1D CFD thermal fluid simulation platform. The core product serves as the primary engine for system-level analysis, with specialized modules extending capabilities: the Network Builder and Revit Network Builder for CAD integration with Ansys and Revit; Excel Integration for data management and reporting; Python Integration with embedded Python environment and Cantera library for custom scripting; ANSYS Integration (ACT extension) for co-simulation with Mechanical and Fluent; Reality DC Simulation for data centre applications; and the Reactor Builder Script for nuclear reactor modelling. Supporting services include the Student Portal for academic access, Channel Partner Portal for distributor support, Flownex Training via Teachables online platform, a library of 80+ case studies, and on-demand webinars. The product supports steady-state and transient analysis across industries including nuclear/SMR, gas turbines, data centres, hydrogen, spaceflight, HVAC, and academic/research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flownex Simulation Environment (SE) 1D CFD thermal-fluid simulation software platform for steady-state and transient analysis of flow and heat transfer systems, used by engineering teams in nuclear/SMR, gas turbine, data centre, hydrogen, spaceflight, HVAC, sCO2, and academic applications.
• Flownex Student Version via Student Portal Free Flownex Student Version accessed through the dedicated Student Portal for university students and educators to teach and learn thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer concepts using the Flownex engine.
• Flownex Training on Teachables Online training platform hosted on Teachables delivering structured Flownex courses for engineers, students, and channel partners learning the simulation environment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Global presence in 40+ countries with established academic and industrial user base
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration19 records

Feature14 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered elite, certified, core and standard.

• PADT (USA)eliteChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPADT is a globally recognized provider of Numerical Simulation, Product Development, and 3D Printing products and services. They are an Elite channel partner for Flownex across North America, offering training, customization, and consulting services. PADT also resells Ansys, Stratasys, and EOS products.
• EnginSoft USAeliteChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnginSoft is one of the leading technology transfer companies in the field of Simulation Based Engineering Science (SBES). They are an Elite channel partner providing advanced skills in simulation technologies combined with statistical approaches and SPDM knowledge.
• ESSS (Argentina & Brazil)eliteChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorESSS has expanded operations beyond Brazil to Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Spain. Their customer base consists of more than 500 companies from oil and gas, aerospace, automotive, and energy industries. Elite channel partner for South America.
• CFX Berlin (Germany)eliteChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCFX Berlin is a certified Elite partner of Flownex SE in Germany, providing numerical simulation software and solutions for fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetics, structural mechanics and coupled physics analysis. They also develop TwinMesh software for CFD analysis of rotary positive displacement machines.
• EnginSoft Europe (Italy)eliteChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnginSoft Europe serves as Elite channel partner for Italy, providing simulation technology transfer and expertise.
• Fluid Codes (Middle East)eliteChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFluid Codes is the certified Flownex SE Elite Partner in the Middle East and Africa with exclusive rights to distribute Flownex SE solutions through offices in Saudi Arabia and UAE. Founded in 1997 to address fluid simulation requirements in the Middle East region.
• Numesys (Turkey)certifiedChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNUMESYS was established in 2018 with experienced engineers as distributor and technical support provider of leading engineering analyses software. Joint venture of FİGES Engineering Inc. and Anova Engineering. Holds the title of 'Ansys Elite Channel Partner'.
• Cybernet (Japan)certifiedChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCYBERNET SYSTEMS has developed its solutions business using computer technology since foundation, contributing to society through digital solution services.
• Pera Global (China)certifiedChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPERA Global is dedicated to deliver advanced R&D technology and services to companies through advancing product R&D cycle. Applications across aviation, aerospace, shipbuilding, auto, railway, mechanical, energy, and electronics industries.
• DHIO Research and Engineering (India)certifiedChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDHIO Research and Engineering Pvt Ltd is a collaborative engineering R&D, services and engineering simulation software company based in Bangalore, India. Supports customers on design validation, verification, manufacturing process development, and multi-disciplinary product optimization.
• TAE SUNG S&E Inc. (TSNE, South Korea)certifiedChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTSNE is a CAE specialized company established in 1988, aiming to be a 'One Stop Total CAE Solution Provider'. Covers full portfolio of CAE products and offers TSNE Cloud platform for hardware resources.
• LEAP (Australia)certifiedChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLEAP Australia has a long established reputation for successfully delivering CAE software and services to thousands of Australian and New Zealand customers. Provides support, training, advice and customization in CAD, CAM, Simulation and Product Development tools.
• CADMEN (Taiwan)certifiedChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHumen Technology, founded in 1980, is the earliest CAD/CAM/CAE company in China. Has provided technical services as Ansys partner since 1992 and extends experience from finite element to fluid mechanics and electromagnetics.
• RCCM (Japan)certifiedChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRCCM not only sells and supports software but also performs contract analysis and contract development work. Specializes in concrete/civil engineering, medical care, structure, thermal/fluid/acoustic analysis, disaster prevention, and database system engineering solutions.
• Ozen Engineering (USA)certifiedChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOzen Engineering is headquartered in Silicon Valley and collaborates with best-in-class companies worldwide to optimize product design performance. Provides FEA, CFD, electrical/electronics and Optics and Photonics simulation support.
• CAD-IT (Malaysia)certifiedChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCAD-IT assists customers in implementing Industry 4.0 enablement technologies such as Additive Manufacturing, Augmented Reality, Industrial IoT, and Engineering Simulation for Digital Twin and Digital Factory transformation.
• AnsyscoreTechnology or IntegrationDeep integration with Ansys ecosystem including Mechanical (ACT extension), Fluent (co-simulation), CFX, SpaceClaim, and Workbench. Flownex 2026 R1 includes major enhancements for Ansys Mechanical integration with non-axisymmetric element modelling and independent time stepping.
• NIST/REFPROPcoreTechnology or IntegrationFluid properties database integration allowing import of thermophysical properties from NIST REFPROP database for non-standard applications such as cryogenic states. Properties can be imported at a level of detail chosen by the user.
• CanterastandardTechnology or IntegrationCantera library for combustion modeling has been added to the embedded Python environment that ships with Flownex, allowing users to easily extend combustion models.
• 6Sigma Room (Future Facilities)standardTechnology or IntegrationFlownex can link with 6Sigma Room developed by Future Facilities for coupling system models with full 3D CFD co-simulation for data centre white space modeling. The component enables convenient and hassle-free co-simulation.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• COMSOL: COMSOL provides multiphysics simulation software widely used for 1D and 3D coupled physics, including fluid flow and heat transfer. It overlaps directly with Flownex in thermal-fluid system modeling for engineering customers across aerospace, energy, and academia.
• AFT (Applied Flow Technology): AFT Fathom and Arrow are 1D pipe-flow and compressible-gas system simulation tools directly comparable to Flownex's steady-state and transient network solver, serving similar process, power, and oil-and-gas engineering customers.
• MathWorks (Simulink / Simscape): MathWorks' Simulink with Simscape Fluids is a 1D system-level modeling platform with co-simulation to thermal-fluid domains. It overlaps with Flownex in control-system-coupled thermofluid simulation for energy and aerospace applications, and the two are integrated via FMI.
• Aspen Technology: Aspen HYSYS and Aspen Plus are process-simulation standards for chemical, petrochemical, and energy customers — a directly adjacent system-simulation category to Flownex in thermal-fluid process modeling, with overlapping buyers in power and process industries.
• Thermoflow: Thermoflow provides thermal-cycle simulation software for power plants (gas, steam, combined-cycle, nuclear), directly comparable to Flownex's sCO2 Brayton, gas turbine, and nuclear reactor thermal-cycle use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Ansys: Ansys is the dominant CAE platform and Flownex's deepest integration partner. While Flownex extends Ansys with 1D system-level thermal-fluid capability, Ansys offers overlapping multiphysics and CFD products at much greater scale, making it both the primary partner and the primary competitive threat.
• Siemens Simcenter: Siemens Simcenter (incorporating STAR-CCM+ and Flotherm) is a broad CAE portfolio covering CFD and system-level thermal simulation, overlapping with Flownex in data-centre thermal management and rotating-machinery cooling.
• Dassault Systèmes SIMULIA: Dassault SIMULIA (Abaqus, XFlow, PowerFLOW) competes broadly with Ansys in CAE and overlaps with Flownex in multiphysics system-level engineering simulation for aerospace and energy customers.
• Altair: Altair's HyperWorks and HyperStudy platforms provide CAE and design-exploration tools overlapping with Flownex's optimization-driven 1D thermal-fluid workflow, particularly for aerospace and turbomachinery customers.

Others

• Future Facilities: Future Facilities' 6SigmaRoom is a data-centre thermal simulation platform that directly co-simulates with Flownex for white-space CFD. The companies are technology partners and adjacent competitors in the data-centre thermal management niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FlownexSE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/flownex

Compliance5 records

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&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Flownex