WinSim
WinSim Inc. develops DESIGN II for Windows, a steady-state and dynamic process simulator for chemical and hydrocarbon processes, serving oil and gas operators, EPC firms, chemical producers, consulting engineers, and universities across 60+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersRichmond, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What WinSim does
WinSim Inc. develops and markets DESIGN II for Windows, a steady-state and dynamic process simulator for chemical and hydrocarbon processes including refining, refrigeration, petrochemical, gas processing, gas treating, pipelines, fuel cells, ammonia, methanol, sulfur, and hydrogen facilities. The company acquired the rights to the DESIGN II program from ChemShare Corporation in 1995 and has continued development for over 30 years on top of an underlying engine with 45+ years of continuous refinement. The product combines 60+ thermodynamic methods, a 1,200+ pure component database, a 38-world-crude library, four-phase (vapor, hydrocarbon liquid, aqueous liquid, solid) calculations, and 50+ unit operation modules including reactors, columns, heat exchangers, compressors, and specialty equipment, exposed through a Windows graphical flowsheet interface with native Excel export and an Inline FORTRAN custom-calculations environment. A secondary product, Link2WinSim, is a DLL-based SDK that lets OEM customers embed WinSim's physical properties, thermodynamics, and flash calculations into their proprietary software.
WinSim monetizes primarily through DESIGN II for Windows software licenses paired with recurring maintenance and lease contracts, which are required for technical support. The Link2WinSim SDK generates licensing revenue from customers embedding the engine into proprietary software, supplemented by on-site and off-site training ($500 per student per day), free periodic introductory classes, and printed documentation sales. Go-to-market is sales-led through direct phone and email contact, an actively-recruited international reseller network, and an indirect channel of consulting engineering firms that recommend the software to clients. The company attends industry events including the GPA Midstream annual convention and the Laurance Reid Gas Conditioning Conference.
The customer base spans 2,000+ active users across 60+ countries, including oil and gas operators (Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, Shell, BP, Statoil), chemical producers (BASF, Samsung Fine Chemicals, SK Chemicals), engineering and construction firms (KBR, Fluor, Foster Wheeler, Technip), consulting engineers (The Process Group, Ascent Engineering, Whitlow EPC), and academic institutions (Texas A&M University, University of New South Wales). WinSim is privately held, founded in 1995, headquartered in Richmond, Texas (Houston metropolitan area), and operates with 1-10 employees.
WinSim firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WinSim
- Legal name
- WinSim Inc.
- Website
- https://winsim.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- WinSim Inc. develops DESIGN II for Windows, a steady-state and dynamic process simulator for chemical and hydrocarbon processes, serving oil and gas operators, EPC firms, chemical producers, consulting engineers, and universities across 60+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WinSim industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Process Simulation Software
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Process & Batch Control Software (Recipe Management, ISA-88) (IMAGABAH)
Keywords
Where WinSim is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richmond
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
WinSim business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- DESIGN II for Windows Software License: The primary product is a process simulation software license. The company offers maintenance, service and support contracts as well as lease contracts. Technical support requires a current maintenance or lease contract.
- Link2WinSim: API/software development kit that allows embedding WinSim's simulation capabilities into proprietary software packages for OEM and enterprise customers
- Training Services: On-site and off-site training classes ranging from half-day to 5-day sessions. Pricing at $500 per student per day with minimum 3 and maximum 6 students per class.
- Documentation Sales: Printed copies of user guides and manuals available for purchase through Lulu.com, including the User Guide, Tutorial and Sample Flowsheets, General Reference Guide, Unit Module Reference Guide, and Programming Guide
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | On-site training at WinSim office |
| Other | Multi-year contract | On-site customer training |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free introductory training |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
WinSim product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WinSim develops and markets DESIGN II for Windows, a steady-state and dynamic process simulator for chemical and hydrocarbon processes including refining, refrigeration, petrochemical, gas processing, gas treating, pipelines, fuel cells, ammonia, methanol, sulfur and hydrogen facilities. The software performs heat and material balance calculations with 1,200+ pure components, 60+ thermodynamic methods, and 50+ unit operation modules. WinSim also offers Link2WinSim, a DLL-based SDK for embedding simulation capabilities (physical properties, thermodynamics, flash calculations) into proprietary software, along with the ChemTran data regression module and paid training classes.
Product overview
WinSim develops and markets DESIGN II for Windows, a comprehensive steady-state and dynamic process simulator with over 2,000 active users worldwide. The product portfolio consists of the core DESIGN II for Windows simulator platform, the Link2WinSim API for embedding simulation capabilities into proprietary software, and the ChemTran module for data regression and property constants. The Professional package includes 50+ unit operation modules covering reactors, columns, heat exchangers, compressors, and specialty equipment, combined with 60+ thermodynamic methods and a 1,200+ component database. The software supports chemical, hydrocarbon, refining, gas processing, and petrochemical process simulation with capabilities including crude distillation, amine treating, LNG, and sulfur handling.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DESIGN II for Windows: A steady-state and dynamic process simulator for chemical and hydrocarbon processes including refining, refrigeration, petrochemical, gas processing, gas treating, pipelines, fuel cells, ammonia, methanol, sulfur and hydrogen facilities.
- Link2WinSim
Products and services
- DESIGN II for Windows Steady-state and dynamic process simulator for chemical and hydrocarbon processes, featuring graphical flowsheet creation, 1,200+ pure component database, 60+ thermodynamic methods, four-phase flash calculations (vapor, hydrocarbon liquid, aqueous liquid, solid), rigorous column calculations, heat exchanger sizing and rating, dynamic simulation with controllers, inline FORTRAN for custom calculations, and automatic Microsoft Excel export. Used by engineers at oil & gas operators, refineries, gas plants, chemical facilities, engineering consultancies, and universities.
- Link2WinSim SDK/API product that allows embedding WinSim's process simulation capabilities (component physical properties, thermodynamics, and flash calculations) into proprietary software via Dynamic Link Library. Accessed through Microsoft Visual Basic, Visual C++, or any software package that can call a DLL. Used for building digital twins and enabling field personnel decision-making; over 1,200 pure components and 60+ thermodynamic equations of state are available.
- ChemTran Module Data regression and property constants add-on for DESIGN II that enables users to create thermodynamic and physical properties for compounds via VLE, VLLE and LLE data regression. Provides tools for building custom component databases and property constant estimation, and supports expansion of the 1,200+ pure component database.
- Unit Modules (Professional Package) Comprehensive Professional Package of 50+ unit operation modules including reactors (stoichiometric, plug flow, CSTR, CO Shift, Steam Reformer, Methanation, Methanol Synthesis, Ammonia Synthesis), columns (distillation, absorption, amine regeneration, packed, batch), heat exchangers, compressors, pumps, expanders, separators, tanks, valves, and specialty equipment such as LNG exchanger, plate-fin heat exchanger, and hydrotreater.
- DESIGN II Training Services On-site and off-site paid training classes ranging from half-day to 5-day sessions, priced at $500 per student per day with minimum 3 and maximum 6 students per class. Customer-site training includes a $2,000 setup fee plus instructor travel. Free half-day introductory classes are periodically offered at WinSim's Richmond, Texas office. Taught by the head of technical support (Ph.D. Chemical Engineering).
Quantifiable outcome
- Process simulations that took weeks to perform by hand can now be performed in minutes
Companies that use WinSim
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
WinSim technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature10 records
WinSim partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WinSim competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Siemens Simcenter Flare / gPROMS: Siemens' process simulation tools (gPROMS for advanced/electrochemical processes, Simcenter Flare for flare system design) compete for chemical and refining process engineering customers alongside DESIGN II.
- AVEVA (PRO/II): AVEVA acquired the PRO/II steady-state process simulator from Schneider Electric, competing head-to-head with DESIGN II for hydrocarbon and chemical process design and optimization work.
- Honeywell UniSim Design: Honeywell's UniSim Design is a steady-state and dynamic process simulator targeting refining, gas processing, and petrochemicals, directly overlapping DESIGN II's core use cases and customer base.
- Virtual Materials Group (VMGSim): VMGSim is a steady-state and dynamic process simulator with strong hydrocarbon and gas processing capabilities, competing for the same oil & gas and refining engineering customer base as DESIGN II.
- ProSim: ProSim (France) provides process simulation software (ProSimPlus, Simulis Thermodynamics) for chemical and specialty process industries, serving a similar engineering user base to WinSim with comparable thermodynamic depth.
- Bryan Research & Engineering (ProMax): ProMax by Bryan Research & Engineering is a process simulation tool specialized for gas processing, amine treating, and sulfur recovery, directly competing with DESIGN II in hydrocarbon and gas processing applications.
- Chemstations (CHEMCAD): CHEMCAD is a steady-state and dynamic process simulator aimed at chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical process engineers, offering overlapping thermodynamic methods and unit operations with DESIGN II.
- Aspen Technology (Aspen HYSYS / Aspen Plus): Aspen Technology is the dominant process simulation vendor with Aspen HYSYS (hydrocarbon/refining) and Aspen Plus (chemicals), directly competing against DESIGN II for the same oil & gas, refining, and petrochemical engineering users.
Emerging players
- OLI Systems: OLI Systems provides electrolyte and aqueous chemistry simulation that complements or competes with the aqueous/amine handling capabilities in DESIGN II for chemical process design.
Broad incumbents
- KBR Technology Solutions: KBR is both a major WinSim customer and a competing technology/EPC provider offering proprietary process technologies and consulting services that leverage process simulators including DESIGN II for design and optimization work.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WinSim social profiles
Digital presenceWinSim compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
WinSim financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WinSim leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
WinSim funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WinSim 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 WinSim
What does WinSim do?
WinSim develops and markets DESIGN II for Windows, a steady-state and dynamic process simulator for chemical and hydrocarbon processes including refining, refrigeration, petrochemical, gas processing, gas treating, pipelines, fuel cells, ammonia, methanol, sulfur and hydrogen facilities. The software performs heat and material balance calculations with 1,200+ pure components, 60+ thermodynamic methods, and 50+ unit operation modules. WinSim also offers Link2WinSim, a DLL-based SDK for embedding simulation capabilities (physical properties, thermodynamics, flash calculations) into proprietary software, along with the ChemTran data regression module and paid training classes.
Is WinSim a public or private company?
WinSim is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was WinSim founded?
WinSim was founded in 1995. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is WinSim based?
WinSim is headquartered in Richmond, United States, in the North America region.
How does WinSim make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. DESIGN II for Windows Software License is the primary driver. The others are link2WinSim, training Services and documentation Sales.
Who are WinSim's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Siemens Simcenter Flare / gPROMS, AVEVA (PRO/II), Honeywell UniSim Design, Virtual Materials Group (VMGSim), ProSim, Bryan Research & Engineering (ProMax), Chemstations (CHEMCAD) and Aspen Technology (Aspen HYSYS / Aspen Plus). OLI Systems is listed as an emerging player. KBR Technology Solutions is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does WinSim have an API?
Yes. Link2WinSim allows embedding WinSim's process simulation capabilities (component physical properties, thermodynamics, flash calculations) into proprietary software via Dynamic Link Library (DLL). Accessed through Microsoft Excel's Visual Basic (VB) interface, or Visual C++, or any software package that can call a DLL. Over 1,200 pure components included. Properties include Cp, Cv, enthalpy, entropy, bubble point, dew point, compressibility, and over 60 thermodynamic equations of state. Developer documentation is at www.winsim.com/link2ws.html.
What industry is WinSim in?
WinSim's product category is Process Simulation Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGABAH, Process & Batch Control Software (Recipe Management, ISA-88). Its NAICS code is 5415 and its SIC code is 7372.