What MDESIGN does

MDESIGN is a modular engineering calculation software suite for mechanical and plant engineering, operated by TEDATA Gesellschaft für technische Informationssysteme mbH, a privately-held German GmbH headquartered in Bochum. Founded in 1989, the platform provides standards-compliant design, recalculation, optimization, and documentation of machine elements and assemblies, covering shafts, axles, hubs, screw connections (per VDI 2230), welded/soldered/bonded joints, gearing and drive technology, bearings and linear technology, springs, beams, tanks, flanges, and pipelines, along with material databases and FKM-based component strength assessment. The software is delivered via desktop installation or browser-based MDESIGN cloud powered by AWS AppStream 2.0, with auxiliary modules for STEP-based 3D model exchange (MDESIGN connect), process chain automation (MDESIGN author), and an engineering user environment (MDESIGN explorer).

The business model combines multiple revenue streams: perpetual and rental software licenses, monthly cloud/SaaS subscriptions (3-month minimum term, 99% monthly availability SLA), per-engagement professional services including calculation, simulation, software development, and AI/ML development (priced per the TEDATA price list), and fee-based seminars, trainings, and workshops. A free 14-day no-installation trial drives product-led acquisition, supplemented by a direct sales team with named enterprise contacts, inside sales, and a strong event-driven motion. Target customers are mechanical and plant engineering professionals in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), with student/academic editions available for educational use; the company offers network/server licensing for enterprise deployment and participation in industry events and trade fairs.

Geographically, MDESIGN is concentrated in the DACH region with global cloud/SaaS accessibility; operationally it relies on AWS infrastructure, Google and Microsoft marketing/analytics tooling, and partnerships with web development and webinar vendors. Management is led by Managing Directors Dr. med. Thomas Marquardt M.Sc. and Dr.-Ing. Denis Polyakov, alongside named sales (Timo Hölscher) and business development (Reinhard Blömer) leads. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification (Certificate No. 50129) and BSFZ R&D certification (2025), and it pursues alignment with the EU Machinery Regulation 2027 as part of its standards-compliance positioning. No funding rounds, acquisitions, or significant leadership changes are disclosed in the input data.

Name

MDESIGN

Legal name

TEDATA Gesellschaft für technische Informationssysteme mbH

Website

https://mdesign.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MDESIGN, a product of TEDATA GmbH (Bochum, Germany, founded 1989), is a modular engineering calculation software suite for mechanical and plant engineering, providing standards-compliant design, verification, and documentation of machine elements and assemblies for engineers and designers in the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bochum

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software License Sales (Purchase/Mietlizenz): MDESIGN is sold as standard software via purchase or rental (Miete) licenses. License types include single-user licenses and network/server licenses. Ownership transfers only upon full payment; network/server usage requires express consent and corresponding network license. The company offers perpetual download licenses and time-limited rental licenses.
2. Cloud/SaaS Subscriptions: Online or cloud solutions provide time-limited, contract-bound usage via browser or cloud (AWS AppStream 2.0). Monthly recurring fees with 3-month minimum contract term and 1-month termination notice. Pricing adjusts based on number of users and storage volume.
3. Professional Services: Services include calculation services, simulation services, software development, and AI/machine learning development projects. Billed per engagement, with rates per the TEDATA price list.
4. Seminars, Trainings, Workshops: Practice-oriented continuing education for engineers in construction and product development on standards-compliant machine element design. Offered as online seminars, in-person trainings, workshops, and tutorials. Revenue from participant fees.
5. Student Software Sales: MDESIGN student and MDESIGN student pro products sold online to students via the website, processed through payment service Verifone.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

MDESIGN provides a modular engineering calculation software suite for mechanical and plant engineering, enabling standards-compliant design, recalculation, optimization, and documentation of machine elements and assemblies. The suite covers shafts, screws (VDI 2230), welds, gearing, bearings, springs, beams, tanks, flanges and pipelines, supported by material/FKM databases and 3D STEP exchange. It is delivered via desktop, on-premise, or MDESIGN cloud (browser-based on AWS AppStream 2.0), with optional professional services (calculation, simulation, software and AI development) and seminars/trainings.

Product overview

MDESIGN is a modular calculation software suite for engineering design and development, providing norm-compliant calculation, verification, optimization, and documentation of machine elements and assemblies. The core platform consists of integrated modules: MDESIGN explorer (documentation and verification), MDESIGN mechanical (calculation modules for machine elements), MDESIGN process (plant engineering calculations), MDESIGN technology (materials and strength databases), MDESIGN connect (CAD/data format integration), and MDESIGN author (custom calculation integration). The software is delivered via desktop installation or MDESIGN cloud (browser-based access), supported by online resources including MDESIGN compendium (formula reference) and a customer forum. The suite targets engineers in mechanical and plant engineering with solutions spanning 35+ years of development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MDESIGN explorer: User environment for engineers - documenting, verifying, informing
• MDESIGN mechanical
• MDESIGN process
• MDESIGN technology
• MDESIGN connect
• MDESIGN author
• MDESIGN cloud
• MDESIGN compendium
• MDESIGN student

Products and services

• MDESIGN explorer User environment for engineers providing functionality for documenting, verifying, and informing about machine element calculations and designs; serves as the documentation and verification backbone of the MDESIGN suite.
• MDESIGN mechanical Calculation modules for the design of machine elements, including shafts/axles/hubs, screw connections (VDI 2230), welded/soldered/bonded joints, gearing, roller and plain bearings, springs and shock absorbers, and beams/frames.
• MDESIGN process Calculation modules for plant engineering covering tanks, flanges, and piping systems, enabling design, calculation and verification of process equipment.
• MDESIGN technology
• MDESIGN connect
• MDESIGN author
• MDESIGN cloud
• MDESIGN student
• MDESIGN compendium
• MDESIGN 2026
• Engineering calculation and simulation services
• Software and AI development services
• Seminars, trainings and workshops

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% minimum monthly system availability for cloud deployments
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TEDATA GmbH & DriveConcepts GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTEDATA GmbH is the parent company and IP holder of MDESIGN. DriveConcepts GmbH is listed as a partner company that accesses customer personal data for customer management purposes. Both companies operate in the engineering software and consulting space, with DriveConcepts potentially contributing to product co-development or service delivery.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) — AppStream 2.0coreTechnology or IntegrationAWS AppStream 2.0 is used to deliver MDESIGN's cloud-based software solutions. Customer data (first name, last name, email) is incorporated into AWS AppStream 2.0 user accounts for the cloud delivery of the MDESIGN trial and full software versions. AWS provides the underlying cloud infrastructure for the software-as-a-service deployment.
• Vogel Corporate Solutions GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVogel Corporate Solutions GmbH (Leipziger Straße 126, 10117 Berlin) is responsible for the design and technical realization of the MDESIGN website. They provide web development and corporate communications services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ANSYS (Synopsys): Global simulation and CAE incumbent now part of Synopsys. Offers broader multiphysics simulation that overlaps with MDESIGN's structural and mechanical calculation modules, but as part of a much larger enterprise platform.
• Autodesk: Inventor, Fusion 360, and Autodesk Simulation bundle calculation tools with mainstream CAD, reaching a broad base of mechanical engineers who might otherwise use a niche calculation suite like MDESIGN.
• AVEVA: Industrial software incumbent focused on plant engineering design and digital twin. Competes with MDESIGN process modules (tanks, flanges, pipelines) inside a much broader plant lifecycle platform.
• Dassault Systèmes: SOLIDWORKS and SIMULIA provide embedded mechanical calculation and FEA inside a dominant CAD platform. Competes with MDESIGN for engineering-seat wallet share in mid-market and enterprise manufacturers.
• COMSOL: Multiphysics simulation platform used by engineers for advanced structural, thermal, and fluid calculations. Adjacent competitor for higher-end mechanical/plant engineering analysis that overlaps with MDESIGN process modules.
• Siemens Digital Industries Software: Major CAD/CAE/PLM vendor (NX, Solid Edge, Simcenter). Bundles mechanical calculation and simulation as part of an integrated design platform, putting competitive pressure on standalone calculation specialists like MDESIGN.

Direct peers

• MITCalc: Czech engineering calculation suite covering machine elements, sheet metal, and structural mechanics. A scaled-down direct competitor selling to a similar mechanical-engineer audience at lower price points.
• Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence (Romax): Acquired Romax Technology, a specialist in bearing, gearbox, and driveline engineering calculation. Directly competes in MDESIGN's mechanical calculation domain and shares a target buyer in industrial drivetrain design.
• KISSsoft (Gleason): Swiss engineering calculation software specialized in machine-element design (gears, shafts, bearings, springs). Closest direct functional competitor to MDESIGN mechanical with similar target customers in mechanical engineering and overlapping standards-based positioning.
• FVA GmbH (FVA-Workbench): German research-driven software for gear and drivetrain calculation, widely used in the same DACH engineering audience as MDESIGN. Direct competitor in machine-element calculation with strong academic and industry ties.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MDESIGNweb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mdesign-vertriebs-gmbh
• Xx.com/MDESIGN_online
• Facebookfacebook.com/MDESIGN.WissenfuerdieTechnik

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 MDESIGN