FVA Software & Service

What FVA Software & Service does

FVA Software & Service GmbH is a private German engineering software and services company headquartered in Frankfurt/Main, established in 2010 and operating as the commercial subsidiary of the FVA (Forschungsvereinigung Antriebstechnik e.V.) industrial research network. It commercializes more than 50 years of drive technology research into products and services for the mechanical engineering, gearbox manufacturing, and drivetrain sectors. The company sells FVA-Workbench, a manufacturer-neutral simulation platform for modeling, parameterization, and calculation of gear systems (cylindrical gears, bevel gears, planetary stages, shafts, rolling and plain bearings), with calculation methods grounded in international standards (ISO 6336, ISO 281, DIN 743, VDI 2230). A second product, mechanicus.app, is a free web-based calculation tool launched in 2024 covering machine elements from gears and bearings to bolted joints and Hertzian contact stress, functioning as a lead-generation funnel for the commercial software.

The company also operates REXS (Reusable Engineering Exchange Standard), an open data exchange standard for powertrain model data (version 2.0.0), and the interop4X platform focused on OPC UA interoperability in machinery. Revenue is generated through multi-year subscription licensing of FVA-Workbench (single-seat and network licenses), paid professional training seminars, and the organization of industry conferences (ISC, Interoperability Summit, SiME Kongress, BEARING WORLD, AFGP, and others). Named enterprise customers include ZF Friedrichshafen, Lenze, STÖBER Antriebstechnik, and Reintjes, with additional reach into academic and Formula Student racing segments. The company employs 11-50 people, is led by two Managing Directors (Norbert Haefke and Hartmut Rauen), and has no external funding rounds or M&A activity on record, consistent with a mature, cash-funded niche specialist.

Name

FVA Software & Service

Legal name

FVA GmbH

Website

https://fva-service.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FVA Software & Service GmbH is a private German engineering software firm that commercializes 50+ years of FVA drive technology research into FVA-Workbench (manufacturer-neutral gear system simulation), the free mechanicus.app calculation tool, and professional training seminars and conferences, serving gearbox manufacturers and drivetrain engineers in DACH-region enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing (FVA-Workbench): FVA-Workbench is licensed as either single-seat (Einzelplatzlizenz) or network license (Netzwerklizenz). The software uses a hardware-key based licensing system managed via Keytool.exe or the FVA-Workbench start dialog. Version 11.0.0 introduced a new simplified licensing mechanism with web-based configuration.
2. Professional Training Services (Seminare): FVA offers structured professional development programs including foundational seminars (Grundlagenseminare), advanced seminars (Vertiefungsseminare), and online seminars on topics such as gear design, tribology, bearing analysis, OPC UA, battery systems, and more. Instructors include FVA GmbH experts and academic partners from universities.
3. Industry Conferences and Events: FVA organizes and sponsors industry conferences including ISC (International Sealing Conference), Interoperability Summit, MOBILE MACHINES, SiME Kongress, CWD & DSEC, nextlub, AFGP (Aachen Forum on Gear Production), and BEARING WORLD.
4. mechanicus.app (Free Web Application): mechanicus.app is offered as a free web-based calculation tool, serving as a lead generation and customer acquisition channel for the commercial FVA-Workbench software.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FVA Software & Service develops and licenses FVA-Workbench, a manufacturer-neutral simulation platform for modeling, parameterization, and calculation of gear systems including cylindrical gears, bevel gears, planetary stages, bearings, and shafts. The company also offers mechanicus.app, a free web-based calculation tool for machine elements, the REXS open data exchange standard, the interop4X interoperability initiative, and professional training seminars and industry conferences in drive technology.

Product overview

FVA Software & Service GmbH offers a portfolio of engineering software and services centered on drive technology. The core product is the FVA-Workbench, a manufacturer-neutral simulation platform for modeling and calculating gear systems, which is complemented by mechanicus, a free web application for machine element calculations. The company also maintains REXS, an open standard for powertrain data exchange, and operates the interop4X platform for industry interoperability. Educational services include professional seminars and conferences. All products are grounded in over 50 years of research from FVA (Forschungsvereinigung Antriebstechnik e.V.), which connects leading industry companies with research institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FVA-Workbench: Manufacturer-neutral simulation platform for modeling, parameterization, and calculation of gear systems
• mechanicus.app
• interop4X
• REXS

Products and services

• FVA-Workbench Manufacturer-neutral simulation platform for modeling, parameterization, and calculation of gear systems. Supports cylindrical gears, bevel gears, planetary stages, shafts, bearings (rolling and plain), and comprehensive analyses including load spectra, NVH, and FEM integration. Based on over 50 years of FVA research in drive technology. Licensed to engineering teams in gearbox manufacturing, automotive drivetrain, and industrial motor sectors.
• mechanicus.app Free web application for online calculation of machine elements including cylindrical gears, rolling bearings, bending lines, cutting forces, shaft notches, interference fits, feather keys, splined shaft connections, bolted connections, and Hertzian contact stress. Serves as a standalone tool and lead generation channel for the commercial FVA-Workbench software.
• REXS (Reusable Engineering Exchange Standard) Open standard for efficient model data exchange in powertrains. Enables standardized data transfer between CAE tools and serves as a basis for data-based applications in the power transmission industry.
• interop4X Platform focused on interoperability in mechanical engineering, sharing knowledge and generating value through standardization efforts including OPC UA for machinery and drive technology. Organizes the Interoperability Summit conference series.
• Professional Seminars (Seminare) Professional education and training services covering gear technology, bearing technology, tribology, NVH, OPC UA, electric drives, battery systems, and FVA-Workbench software training. Offered as foundational seminars (Grundlagenseminare), advanced seminars (Vertiefungsseminare), and online seminars taught by FVA experts and academic partners.
• Industry Conferences (Konferenzen) Organization and hosting of professional conferences in drive technology including ISC (International Sealing Conference), Interoperability Summit, MOBILE MACHINES, SiME Kongress, CWD & DSEC, nextlub, AFGP (Aachen Forum on Gear Production), and BEARING WORLD.
• Engineering Consulting Services Consulting and engineering services (Beratung und Service) provided by FVA GmbH experts on gear design, bearing analysis, and drive technology topics. Led by Benjamin Abert, Head of Consulting and Service.
• Software Development Services (Softwareentwicklung) Custom software development services related to drive technology and engineering simulation, building on FVA's research and platform expertise.

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FVA (Forschungsvereinigung Antriebstechnik e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFVA GmbH is the software and service subsidiary of FVA (Forschungsvereinigung Antriebstechnik e.V.), the innovation network for drive technology. The research results from FVA's industrial community research (industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung) form the foundation for FVA GmbH's products and services. FVA connects leading companies with top research institutes to develop innovative solutions for the drive technology industry.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Altair Engineering: Altair provides simulation, HPC, and data analytics software including multi-physics solvers used for mechanical component analysis. Its broad portfolio overlaps with FVA-Workbench's structural and dynamics analysis capabilities at the systems engineering level.
• ANSYS: ANSYS is a global multi-physics simulation platform used across mechanical, fluids, electronics, and structural engineering. Its broad simulation portfolio could subsume specialized gear analysis through general-purpose solvers, representing competitive pressure at the high end of the engineering simulation market.
• Dassault Systèmes: Dassault Systèmes offers the 3DEXPERIENCE platform with SIMULIA for structural and multi-physics simulation. Its broad mechanical engineering portfolio competes for the same enterprise CAD/CAE budgets that include gear and drivetrain design tools.
• Siemens Simcenter (Digital Industries Software): Siemens Simcenter is a comprehensive CAE portfolio that includes multi-physics simulation, NVH analysis, and systems modeling. As part of Siemens' broader digital twin and Industry 4.0 strategy, it competes with FVA-Workbench for engineering simulation budgets in drivetrain development.
• Hexagon MSC Software: MSC Software (part of Hexagon) provides Adams, Nastran, and other CAE tools widely used in mechanical and structural simulation. As a broad incumbent in mechanical CAE, it represents competitive pressure at the systems-simulation level where FVA-Workbench also operates.

Emerging players

• MITcalc: MITcalc is a Czech-based mechanical engineering calculation suite covering gear, bearing, shaft, and structural design. It serves a similar SMB and individual engineering customer base to mechanicus.app and represents partial overlap with FVA-Workbench's calculation features at lower price points.
• MDESIGN: MDESIGN is a German engineering software company offering machine element calculations including gears, bearings, and shafts. As a fellow DACH-based mechanical calculation software provider, it represents an emerging alternative to FVA-Workbench in the specialized design calculation segment.

Direct peers

• Romax Technology (Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence): Romax is a drivetrain and bearing simulation software platform, now part of Hexagon. It serves automotive, wind, aerospace, and industrial drivetrain designers with bearing and gear analysis tools that compete directly with FVA-Workbench's core offerings.
• GWJ Technology: GWJ Technology is a German engineering software company specializing in gear calculation and design tools. As a fellow German-based provider of specialized gear engineering software, it directly competes with FVA-Workbench for gearbox manufacturers in the DACH region.
• KISSsoft (Gleason Corporation): KISSsoft is a leading gear design and analysis software suite, owned by Gleason Corporation. It is the closest direct competitor to FVA-Workbench, offering similar gear calculation, bearing analysis, and shaft design capabilities to gearbox manufacturers and drivetrain engineers worldwide.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/fvagmbhfrankfurt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/12397238
• Xx.com/FvaGmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 FVA Software & Service