Thermo-Calc Software

What Thermo-Calc Software does

Thermo-Calc Software AB is a privately held Swedish software company founded in 1997 and headquartered in Solna, Sweden, with regional subsidiaries and representatives in the United States (McMurray, PA), South Korea, Brazil, India, Japan, and the MENA/CIS region. The company develops computational materials engineering software built on the CALPHAD (Computer Coupling of Phase Diagrams and Thermochemistry) methodology. Its flagship Thermo-Calc platform provides a calculation engine for thermodynamic equilibrium, phase diagram, property diagram, Scheil solidification, and Pourbaix simulations, extended by a modular suite including the Diffusion Module (DICTRA) for multicomponent diffusion, the Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA) for precipitation kinetics, the Process Metallurgy Module for steelmaking simulation, and the Additive Manufacturing Module for powder bed fusion modeling. The platform is anchored by more than 40 proprietary thermodynamic, kinetic, and properties databases covering steels, nickel-based superalloys, aluminum, titanium, noble metals, solders, oxides, cemented carbides, nuclear materials, and related systems, all developed via expert critical assessment.

The company monetizes the platform through quote-based multi-year enterprise subscriptions and academic site licenses, with software, databases, add-on modules, and three SDKs (TC-Python, TC-Toolbox for MATLAB, and the Fortran-based TQ-Interface) sold separately against a maintenance and support contract tied to a twice-yearly release cadence. A free, three-component-limited educational package supported by teaching materials co-developed with KTH Royal Institute of Technology is offered to universities to seed the next generation of users. Thermo-Calc claims 2,000+ customer organizations across 60+ countries, with 72 of the top 100 QS-ranked materials science universities among them, and its software and databases are cited in more than 50,000 peer-reviewed journal articles and over 1,000 patent applications.

Go-to-market is a direct enterprise field-sales motion with regional offices and channel partners (ITOCHU Techno-Solutions in Japan, Sharklin Tech in MENA/CIS), supplemented by a community-led motion that includes a global user group meeting circuit, a webinar and YouTube content program, and a free educational package targeting undergraduate pedagogy. The company maintains no disclosed outside funding, does not publish financials, and operates with a stated headcount of 11-50 employees, consistent with a tightly run, profitable niche scientific-software vendor. Notable customer references include R&D metallurgists and materials science professors, while the cited commercial deployments include the Skyrora and Metalysis partnership for tantalum alloys in 3D-printed rocket components, illustrating traction in aerospace and additive manufacturing.

Name

Thermo-Calc Software

Legal name

Thermo-Calc Software AB

Website

https://thermocalc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Thermo-Calc Software, founded in 1997 in Solna, Sweden, develops CALPHAD-based computational materials engineering software used by 2,000+ organizations in 60+ countries. Its platform combines 40+ thermodynamic databases with modules for diffusion, precipitation, additive manufacturing, and process metallurgy, serving industrial R&D and academic markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Solna

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses: Thermo-Calc licenses the core software platform along with required thermodynamic and properties databases. Licenses are sold with maintenance and support subscriptions that provide software updates on the twice-yearly release cycle.
2. Database Licenses: Over 40 high-quality thermodynamic, kinetic, and properties databases are available for specific materials systems. Databases are developed using CALPHAD methodology and are licensed alongside the software platform.
3. Add-on Modules: Optional modules including Diffusion Module (DICTRA), Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA), Process Metallurgy Module, Additive Manufacturing Module, and Model Libraries for Steel, Nickel, Titanium, and Noble Metal Alloys extend platform functionality.
4. SDK Licenses: Software Development Kits (TC-Python, TC-Toolbox for MATLAB, TQ-Interface) enable integration with customer code and are sold as add-on licenses.
5. Academic Network Site Package: Discounted licensing package for academic institutions that teach and examine undergraduate students, providing access to full software version at reduced pricing.
6. Professional Services: Training courses, application expert retainer services, and calculation services are offered. Courses available in Sweden, USA, and through local partners globally.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Thermo-Calc Software develops and licenses the Thermo-Calc computational materials engineering platform, which performs thermodynamic and kinetic calculations for predicting phase equilibria, phase transformations, and material properties in multicomponent alloy systems. The platform is built on the CALPHAD methodology and is sold alongside over 40 proprietary thermodynamic/kinetic/properties databases, Add-on Modules for diffusion, precipitation, process metallurgy, and additive manufacturing, and SDKs for programmatic integration.

Product overview

Thermo-Calc Software provides a comprehensive suite of computational materials engineering products centered on the Thermo-Calc platform — a powerful software package for thermodynamic and property calculations including phase diagrams, property diagrams, Scheil solidification, Pourbaix diagrams, and property models. The platform integrates over 40 high-quality thermodynamic, kinetic, and properties databases developed using the CALPHAD methodology. Functionality is extended through several Add-on Modules: the Diffusion Module (DICTRA) for multicomponent diffusion simulations; the Precipitation Module (TC-PRISMA) for precipitation kinetics; the Process Metallurgy Module for steelmaking simulations; the Additive Manufacturing Module for powder bed fusion modeling; and four Model Libraries (Steel, Nickel, Titanium, and Noble Metal Alloys) providing specialized property models for specific alloy systems. Three Software Development Kits — TC-Python, TC-Toolbox for MATLAB, and TQ-Interface — provide programmatic access to the calculation engine for integration with external software. A free Thermo-Calc Educational Package is available for academic teaching. The company maintains a twice-yearly release cycle and serves over 2,000 organizations in over 60 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Thermo-Calc (Core Platform) Flagship computational thermodynamics platform providing a calculation engine for thermodynamic and property calculations including phase diagrams, property diagrams, Scheil solidification simulations, and Pourbaix diagrams; serves as the unified platform integrating all Add-on Modules and databases for materials scientists and engineers in industry and academia.
• Diffusion Module (DICTRA)

Quantifiable outcome

• Thermo-Calc can reduce dependence on expensive, time-consuming experiments for materials data generation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability5 records

Feature12 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Professors Mats Hillert and Malin Selleby)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with Professors Mats Hillert and Malin Selleby from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, to provide a Free Educational Software Package for teaching and learning thermodynamics and kinetic theory at undergraduate level. This partnership enables provision of free software, demo databases, and educational materials including textbook, lecture slides, and computer exercises.
• Metalysis and SkyroraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThermo-Calc Solutions partnership working with Metalysis and Skyrora to test and evaluate a novel tantalum alloy for 3D printing rocket components in space applications.
• ITOCHU Techno-Solutions CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal representative in Japan for sales and distribution of Thermo-Calc products. Located at Kamiyacho Trust Tower, Tokyo, Japan.
• Sharklin Tech FZCOminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal representative for MENA and CIS Regions, located in Dubai, UAE.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Schrödinger: Schrödinger provides physics-based materials simulation software (including DFT, molecular dynamics, and materials informatics) via its LiveMaterials platform and Materials Science Suite. Comparable to Thermo-Calc for industrial materials R&D customers, though operates at a different (atomistic) modeling scale.
• ANSYS: ANSYS is a broad engineering simulation incumbent with materials science capabilities (after acquiring Granta Design and integrating ICME workflows). Overlaps with Thermo-Calc in materials data and process simulation for enterprise engineering customers, though ANSYS addresses a much wider CAE scope.
• Altair Engineering: Altair is a broad engineering simulation incumbent whose HyperWorks and HyperLife platforms include materials data, topology, and process simulation capabilities. Overlaps with Thermo-Calc in serving industrial engineering customers with simulation-led R&D.
• Dassault Systèmes (BIOVIA): Dassault Systèmes BIOVIA provides materials science and molecular simulation software for enterprise R&D, including tools for formulation, materials selection, and process simulation. Comparable to Thermo-Calc for industrial materials R&D, though part of a much broader PLM portfolio.

Emerging players

• Citrine Informatics: Citrine Informatics is an AI-native materials informatics platform that ingests materials data to accelerate materials and chemicals R&D. Emerging competitor to Thermo-Calc that could increasingly overlap as customers adopt ML-augmented materials workflows.
• Matlantis (Preferred Networks): Matlantis is an emerging universal atomistic simulator leveraging neural network potentials, targeting materials discovery and R&D. Represents an emerging AI-native alternative to traditional CALPHAD tools in some workloads, partially overlapping with Thermo-Calc's R&D customer base.

Direct peers

• CompuTherm LLC: CompuTherm develops Pandat, a directly competing CALPHAD-based software platform for thermodynamic and kinetic calculations of multicomponent alloys. Closest direct competitor to Thermo-Calc in methodology, target customers (metallurgists and materials scientists), and database licensing model.
• Sente Software (JMatPro): JMatPro is a CALPHAD-style materials properties simulation software focused on alloys (steels, Ni, Al, Ti, Mg). Directly comparable to Thermo-Calc for industrial alloy property prediction, with similar academic/industrial customer base and complementary proprietary databases.
• CRCT / GTT Technologies (FactSage): FactSage is a leading CALPHAD-based computational thermochemistry platform developed by CRCT (École Polytechnique Montréal) and GTT Technologies. Like Thermo-Calc, it serves metallurgical and process engineering R&D with thermodynamic databases and process simulation modules - a core head-to-head competitor in academia and industry.
• Thermo-Calc competitor: IDS (databases): Placeholder removed - see primary peer set.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLTh3apGItuaVK69mrwcpJg
• Facebookfacebook.com/Thermo-Calc-Software-161812907200787
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thermo-calc-software-ab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 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 Thermo-Calc Software