PDES
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersSummerville, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
PDES firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PDES
- Legal name
- PDES, Inc.
- Website
- https://pdesinc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PDES industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Standards Development Consortium / Product Data Interoperability
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Standards Development & Publishing (SDOs, Technical Standards) (MPAJACAB)
Keywords
Where PDES is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Summerville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
PDES business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: PDES, Inc. operates as a member-based consortium funded through annual membership dues. Most members pay annual dues and participate in the consortium's technical activities. First year dues are payable at start of participant's term; subsequent years are payable on anniversary date.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Industry Members (Large) |
| Subscription | Annual | Industry Members (Medium/Small) |
| Subscription | Annual | Government Agencies |
| Subscription | Annual | Academic/Non-Profit |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
PDES product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PDES, Inc. operates an international industry, government, and university consortium that develops and implements product data exchange standards (notably ISO 10303/STEP), supports long-term archiving standards (LOTAR), and runs implementor forums (MBx-IF) for CAx translator testing. The consortium is funded through annual membership dues and delivers value through board representation, Technical Advisory Committee participation, expert access, and collaborative standards testing for enterprises across aerospace, automotive, electronics, manufacturing, and software sectors.
Product overview
PDES, Inc. is a standards development consortium—not a commercial software product company. Its core offering is the PDES Consortium, which facilitates the development and implementation of STEP (ISO 10303) product data exchange standards, LOTAR (Long Term Archiving and Retrieval) standards, and MBx Interoperability testing. These standards and collaborative forums support model-based engineering, manufacturing, and sustainment across aerospace, automotive, electronics, manufacturing, and software industries. The consortium does not offer commercial software products; its 'products' are standards, recommended practices, and interoperability forums.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- STEP (ISO 10303) Standards
Quantifiable outcome
- Significant progress in reducing interoperability costs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use PDES
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PDES technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
PDES partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
27 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and member.
- MBx Interoperability Forum (AFNeT, prostep ivip)coreJoint testing effort between AFNeT, PDES, Inc. and prostep ivip to accelerate CAx translator development and ensure that users' requirements are satisfied. Includes CAx-IF, EWIS-IF testing activities and round tables.
- LOTAR InternationalcorePDES, Inc. is a key enabler of Long Term Archiving and Retrieval (LOTAR). LOTAR International develops, tests, publishes and maintains standards for long-term archiving of digital data such as 3D CAD and PDM data.
- INCOSE (International Council on Systems Engineering)coreFormal collaboration to accelerate digital data exchange in Model Based Systems Engineering Environments. Memorandum of understanding helps solidify collaboration between the two organizations.
- 3D PDF ConsortiummajorPDES, Inc. announced merger agreement with 3D PDF Consortium to combine efforts in advancing 3D PDF standards for product data exchange.
- OMG (Object Management Group)corePDES, Inc. and OMG join forces to advance semantic interoperability. OMG is involved in the MBSE project bringing together organizations to ensure MBSE standards are aligned and interoperable.
- DMSC, Inc.majorPDES, Inc. and DMSC, Inc. signed Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration on standards development and interoperability.
- MTConnect InstitutemajorPDES, Inc. and MTConnect Institute signed Memorandum of Understanding for advancing manufacturing data standards.
- European Space Agency (ESA)majorESA highlights the ISO 10303 (STEP) based project DEFINE for multidisciplinary 3D digital models for AIT (Assembly, Integration and Test).
- prostep ivipcoreFormal collaboration announced in 2016 between prostep ivip, PDES, Inc., and AFNeT for cooperation in MBx Interoperability Forums.
- AFNeTcoreEuropean aerospace testing network cooperating with PDES, Inc. in MBx Interoperability Forums for CAx translator development.
- Global Product Data Interoperability Summit (GPDIS)majorPDES, Inc. is a partner and sponsor of the annual Global Product Data Interoperability Summit, bringing together leaders from digital engineering, manufacturing, and standards communities.
- nVariatemembernVariate joined PDES, Inc. Consortium in April 2025. Tom Kramer of nVariate received 2025 Bryan K. Martin Technical Excellence Award.
- Anark CorporationmemberAnark Corporation joined PDES, Inc. Consortium as a new member.
- Action EngineeringmemberAction Engineering joined PDES, Inc. Consortium.
- BETA TechnologiesmemberBETA Technologies became a member of PDES, Inc. as of January 2024.
- University of MarylandmemberUniversity of Maryland joined PDES, Inc. consortium in August 2023.
- Kubotek3DmemberKubotek3D joined PDES, Inc. Consortium as an Industry 6 participant. Kubotek Kosmos released version 8.0 of 3D Framework supporting STEP AP242 Edition 4.
- Open Design Alliance (ODA)memberOpen Design Alliance (ODA) welcomed to the PDES, Inc. Consortium in October 2021.
- ElysiummemberElysium joined PDES, Inc. Consortium as an Industry 6 participant.
- Mitutoyo America CorporationmemberMitutoyo America Corporation joined PDES, Inc. Consortium as an Industry 3 participant, serving the metrology and inspection community.
- El-Com SystemsmemberEl-Com Systems joined PDES, Inc. Consortium in April 2021.
- Boost ConseilmemberBoost Conseil joined PDES, Inc. Consortium in July 2013. Kevin Le Tutour received 2018 Bryan K. Martin Technical Excellence Award.
- Dassault SystèmesmemberDassault Systèmes joined PDES, Inc. Consortium in July 2012. Alain Roche received 2013 Bryan K. Martin Technical Excellence Award.
- EngisismemberEngisis joined PDES, Inc. Consortium in May 2013.
- JotnememberJotne is a PDES, Inc. participant contributing to Europe's largest project for digitization of industry. Jotne's DESIGN project uses AP209 for ESA spacecraft design.
- ISO TC184 SC4corePDES, Inc. is a contributing member of ISO category A liaison to ISO 10303 (STEP). The organization works with the national and international standards structure for STEP development and implementation.
- EXPRESS Language FoundationmajorTom Thurman's role in the EXPRESS Language Foundation indicates dedication to transferring knowledge to the next generation of standards professionals.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
PDES competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- prostep ivip: German-headquartered industry association focused on product lifecycle management interoperability and digital engineering standards. PDES, AFNeT and prostep ivip jointly run the MBx Implementor Forum, making it the closest direct counterpart to PDES in Europe.
- 3D PDF Consortium: Consortium advancing 3D PDF as a product data exchange format that entered into a merger agreement with PDES. Highly comparable mission and membership overlap.
- DMSC (Dimensional Metrology Standards Consortium): Consortium maintaining the QIF (Quality Information Framework) standard which PDES members like Mitutoyo and nVariate also implement. Signed an MoU with PDES for standards collaboration, addressing adjacent interoperability scope.
- MTConnect Institute: Standards organization for manufacturing data exchange (MTConnect). Signed MoU with PDES to advance manufacturing data standards, addressing adjacent shop-floor-to-enterprise interoperability.
- LOTAR International: International consortium developing standards for long-term archiving of digital product data. PDES is a key enabler and partner; the two consortia operate in tightly coupled but distinct standards domains.
- AFNeT: French aerospace and manufacturing digital network that co-organizes the MBx Implementor Forum with PDES and prostep ivip. Operates as a regional interoperability consortium with overlapping standards-testing mandates.
- OMG (Object Management Group): Standards body responsible for UML, SysML and other modeling standards; formal MBSE collaboration partner of PDES. Competes/overlaps in setting semantic interoperability standards relevant to PDES members.
Broad incumbents
- ASME Y14 Committee: U.S. standards body governing engineering drawing and product definition practices (ASME Y14.5 etc.). PDES participates in joint events; both organizations shape product data exchange conventions for U.S. manufacturers.
- ISO/TC 184/SC 4: ISO subcommittee responsible for industrial data and STEP standards (ISO 10303). PDES holds category A liaison status to this committee, making it the upstream governance body for PDES's core standard.
- INCOSE (International Council on Systems Engineering): Global professional society for systems engineering with formal collaboration MoU with PDES. Broader scope (systems engineering practice, MBSE working groups) but overlapping standards influence.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PDES social profiles
Digital presencePDES financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PDES leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
PDES funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PDES M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PDES
What does PDES do?
PDES, Inc. operates an international industry, government, and university consortium that develops and implements product data exchange standards (notably ISO 10303/STEP), supports long-term archiving standards (LOTAR), and runs implementor forums (MBx-IF) for CAx translator testing. The consortium is funded through annual membership dues and delivers value through board representation, Technical Advisory Committee participation, expert access, and collaborative standards testing for enterprises across aerospace, automotive, electronics, manufacturing, and software sectors.
Is PDES a public or private company?
PDES is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was PDES founded?
PDES was founded in 1988. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is PDES based?
PDES is headquartered in Summerville, United States, in the North America region.
How does PDES make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Dues.
Who are PDES's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are prostep ivip, 3D PDF Consortium, DMSC (Dimensional Metrology Standards Consortium), MTConnect Institute, LOTAR International, AFNeT and OMG (Object Management Group). Broad incumbents are ASME Y14 Committee, ISO/TC 184/SC 4 and INCOSE (International Council on Systems Engineering).
Does PDES have an API?
No public API is recorded for PDES.
What industry is PDES in?
PDES's product category is Standards Development Consortium / Product Data Interoperability. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJACAB, Standards Development & Publishing (SDOs, Technical Standards). Its NAICS code is 541380 and its SIC code is 2741.