WSCAD
WSCAD GmbH is a German software company founded in 1990 that develops ELECTRIX, an AI-powered electrical CAD (E-CAD) platform serving 40,000+ users across machinery and plant engineering, building automation, cabinet engineering, and electrical installation in over 100 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersBergkirchen, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What WSCAD does
WSCAD GmbH is a privately held German software company founded in 1990 and headquartered in Bergkirchen near Munich. The company develops and distributes ELECTRIX, an electrical computer-aided design (E-CAD) platform serving electrical design, cabinet engineering, building automation, fluid engineering, and piping & instrumentation workflows. In November 2024, WSCAD launched ELECTRIX AI, positioned as the world's first E-CAD software with integrated AI technology, featuring an AI Copilot built on OpenAI's generative AI for automated error checking, task automation, and natural-language interaction across electrical design projects. The company claims a base of 40,000+ users across 100+ countries and operates a US subsidiary (WSCAD Inc., Charlotte, NC) alongside its German headquarters.
The core technology stack comprises the ELECTRIX platform with discipline-specific modules, an Automation Interface for extensibility, and the wscaduniverse.com free E-CAD data portal containing over 2.2 million manufacturer article datasets from 450 suppliers. AI capabilities leverage OpenAI (for the Copilot chatbot) and Perplexity AI (for wscaduniverse.com search). The product portfolio is complemented by WSCADEMY video training, WSCAD Apps (including AR visualization tools), and an Education program providing free licenses to students and teaching institutions.
WSCAD generates revenue through a diversified mix: perpetual software licenses, annual software subscriptions (Softwaremiete) with a 10% discount for 3-year commitments, 24-month minimum maintenance contracts, Global Business Services (GBS) professional consulting billed on time and materials, and WSCADEMY training subscriptions. Distribution combines direct enterprise field sales (organized by German postal-code territories and supported from Charlotte for North America), a partner/reseller network of system integrators and consultants, and self-service free trials/demo downloads. Customer segments span machinery and plant engineering, building automation, electrical installation trades, and engineering consultancies, with named enterprise customers including Cummins, WAGO, Frankfurt Airport Terminal 3, Rotkäppchen-Mumm, and BAELTEC GmbH.
WSCAD firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WSCAD
- Legal name
- WSCAD GmbH
- Website
- https://wscad.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- WSCAD GmbH is a German software company founded in 1990 that develops ELECTRIX, an AI-powered electrical CAD (E-CAD) platform serving 40,000+ users across machinery and plant engineering, building automation, cabinet engineering, and electrical installation in over 100 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WSCAD industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electrical CAD Software
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Industrial Design Services (541420), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- EDA Software Platforms (Digital Implementation, Verification & Signoff) (HDAHAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian) (IMAHAHAJ)
Keywords
Where WSCAD is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bergkirchen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
WSCAD business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Software Licenses (Perpetual): Traditional one-time perpetual license purchase model where customers acquire software rights outright. Includes basic functionality with additional modules available separately.
- Software Subscriptions (Rental/Miete): Annual or multi-year subscription model (Softwaremiete) offering the same functionality as perpetual licenses with included maintenance. Minimum 12-month terms with 3-month notice periods. Includes 10% discount for 3-year commitments.
- Software Maintenance Contracts: 24-month minimum maintenance contracts providing program updates, new versions, phone/email support in German/English, and access to certain interfaces and features not available to base licensees. Annual billing in advance.
- Professional Services and Consulting: Global Business Services (GBS) offering consulting, digitization, automation services, schematic conversion, system integration, manufacturing integration, and construction support. Billed by time and materials.
- Training Services: Standard seminars (online or at training centers), individual training, workshops, and consulting. Training subscriptions (WSCADEMY) available with 365-day minimum terms and annual billing. Voucher system available with 3-year validity.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Software Subscription (Miete) - Annual Billing |
| Subscription | Monthly | Software Subscription (Miete) - Short-term |
| Subscription | Annual | Software Maintenance Contract |
| Subscription | Annual | WSCADEMY Training Subscription |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Training Satisfaction Guarantee |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | wscaduniverse.com Data Portal |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
WSCAD product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WSCAD develops and sells ELECTRIX AI, an AI-powered electrical CAD (E-CAD) software platform for electrical design, engineering, and documentation across multiple disciplines including building automation, cabinet engineering, electrical engineering, electrical installation, fluid engineering, and piping & instrumentation. The platform features an integrated AI Copilot for automation, error checking, and workflow optimization, and is complemented by the free wscaduniverse.com data library (2.2 million+ parts), WSCADEMY video training, AR mobile apps, and Global Business Services consulting.
Product overview
WSCAD offers ELECTRIX AI as the core AI-powered E-CAD software platform for electrical design and documentation. The platform spans multiple engineering disciplines including Building Automation, Cabinet Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electrical Installation, Fluid Engineering, and Piping & Instrumentation, all working with consistent cross-discipline data to prevent errors. The portfolio includes add-on modules such as Project Wizard for automated project setup and the WSCAD Automation Interface for extended automation capabilities. Supporting infrastructure includes wscaduniverse.com, a free E-CAD data library with over 2.2 million parts from 450 manufacturers; WSCADEMY for video-based training; WSCAD Apps including AR visualization tools; and specialized solutions for electrical trades and educational institutions. The company serves machinery and plant engineering, building automation, and electrical installation sectors across over 100 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ELECTRIX: AI-powered electrical CAD software platform for electrical engineering design and documentation across multiple disciplines including building automation, cabinet engineering, electrical engineering, fluid engineering, and piping & instrumentation.
- ELECTRIX AI
- WSCADEMY
- wscaduniverse.com
- WSCAD Education
- Engineering Automation Forum (EAF)
Products and services
- ELECTRIX AI AI-powered E-CAD software platform for electrical design, documentation, and engineering across multiple disciplines, featuring an integrated AI Copilot for automation, error resolution, and workflow optimization.
- Building Automation Module Engineering discipline module for creating plant layouts, control schemes, and function lists for building automation and control systems (BACS) structured according to ISO 16484 guidelines.
- Cabinet Engineering Module Engineering discipline module for control cabinet design with tools for optimal placement of components and generation of cabinet build plans, including CNC-ready layouts.
- Electrical Engineering Module Engineering discipline module for planning, developing, and documenting medium, low, and extra-low voltage installations for power distribution and control systems.
- Electrical Installation Module Engineering discipline module for electrical designers and contractors to plan building system technology, high/low voltage installations, antenna systems, and fire alarm systems.
- Fluid Engineering Module Engineering discipline module for planning and documenting pneumatic and hydraulic machines and systems.
- Piping & Instrumentation Module Engineering discipline module (P&ID) for process engineers to create piping and instrumentation flow diagrams (R&I) for process plant design.
- Project Wizard Software addon for streamlined project setup and configuration using predefined templates and automated data entry across all engineering disciplines.
- wscaduniverse.com Data Portal Free E-CAD data library and portal providing over 2.2 million article data from 450 manufacturers in WSCAD, EDZ, and 3D-STEP formats, enabling component search and download directly into WSCAD projects.
- WSCADEMY Video tutorial mediathek providing on-demand training content for WSCAD software, with subscription-based access to video tutorials and guidance on specific software features.
- WSCAD Apps Mobile applications including Cabinet AR App and Building AR App for augmented reality visualization of cabinet layouts and building systems in real-world environments.
- WSCAD Elektrohandwerk Specialized solution for electrical trade businesses (Elektrohandwerk) with tools tailored for small to medium electrical installation projects.
- WSCAD Automation Interface Interface module extending WSCAD ELECTRIX with automation capabilities, available as a rental module for customers with valid software maintenance contracts.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50% reduction in electrical design engineering effort
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use WSCAD
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
WSCAD technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration13 records
AI capability5 records
Feature8 records
WSCAD partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- OpenAI Ireland LimitedcoreAI infrastructure provider powering WSCAD's ELECTRIX AI functionality. Provides generative AI interface for the AI Copilot chatbot. Located at 1st Floor, The Liffey Trust Centre, 117-126 Sheriff Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 YC43, Ireland.
- Perplexity AI, Inc.coreAI provider integrated into wscaduniverse.com, providing AI-powered search capabilities on the E-CAD data portal. Located at 115 Sansome Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA.
- Industry Association MembershipsminorWSCAD is a member of CSIA (Control Systems Integrators Association), VDMA (German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association), VDE (German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association), NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), and BITMi (German Association of IT Medium-Sized Businesses).
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
WSCAD competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- EPLAN: EPLAN, part of the Friedhelm Loh Group, is the dominant European provider of electrical CAD and CAE software for machinery, plant, and control cabinet engineering. It is WSCAD's most direct head-to-head competitor and the company most frequently displaced in WSCAD's win stories (e.g., Cummins cited migrating from both AutoCAD Electrical and EPLAN to WSCAD).
- Zuken: Zuken's E3.series is a dedicated electrical and fluid CAD platform for wire harness, control cabinet, and process engineering design. It overlaps directly with WSCAD's cabinet engineering, electrical engineering, and P&ID disciplines, particularly in machinery and automotive sectors.
- Schneider Electric (IGE+XAO / SEE Electrical): Schneider Electric's SEE Electrical (formerly IGE+XAO) is a long-established European electrical CAD vendor focused on industrial and building automation. It directly competes with WSCAD in machinery, energy, and building automation design.
- Trace Software International (elecworks): Trace Software's elecworks is a SolidWorks-embedded electrical CAD solution targeting the same machinery and plant engineering buyers as WSCAD. It competes directly in cabinet engineering and schematic design for mid-market manufacturers.
Broad incumbents
- Autodesk (AutoCAD Electrical): Autodesk's AutoCAD Electrical is a widely deployed electrical design tool used across manufacturing and process industries. It is a direct functional competitor to WSCAD's ELECTRIX for schematic design and is frequently displaced by WSCAD's cross-discipline platform, as evidenced by enterprise customer migrations.
- Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics): Siemens EDA offers capital electrical design and harness tools (Capital, VeSys) integrated into the broader Siemens Xcelerator portfolio. It competes with WSCAD at large OEMs that standardize on Siemens PLM and competes on the same electrical schematic and harness design workflows WSCAD targets.
- Dassault Systèmes (SOLIDWORKS Electrical): Dassault's SOLIDWORKS Electrical and CATIA Electrical applications serve schematic and harness design within the 3DExperience platform. They overlap with WSCAD's cabinet engineering and electrical installation modules for customers already standardized on Dassault 3D design tools.
- PTC (Creo Schematics / Windchill): PTC offers Creo Schematics for 2D electrical design integrated with Windchill PLM. It competes with WSCAD at industrial customers standardizing on PTC's PLM stack, particularly for cross-discipline electrical-mechanical coordination.
Emerging players
- Bricsys (BricsCAD): Bricsys (part of Hexagon) provides BricsCAD, a DWG-compatible CAD platform with electrical schematic extensions. It competes with WSCAD at price-sensitive customers seeking DWG-native electrical design, particularly in installation technology.
- Altium: Altium focuses on PCB and electronic design automation but is expanding upstream into electrical and mechanical system-level design. Partial overlap with WSCAD at companies that span PCB and cabinet-level electrical design.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WSCAD social profiles
Digital presenceWSCAD financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WSCAD leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
WSCAD subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
WSCAD funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WSCAD 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 WSCAD
What does WSCAD do?
WSCAD develops and sells ELECTRIX AI, an AI-powered electrical CAD (E-CAD) software platform for electrical design, engineering, and documentation across multiple disciplines including building automation, cabinet engineering, electrical engineering, electrical installation, fluid engineering, and piping & instrumentation. The platform features an integrated AI Copilot for automation, error checking, and workflow optimization, and is complemented by the free wscaduniverse.com data library (2.2 million+ parts), WSCADEMY video training, AR mobile apps, and Global Business Services consulting.
Is WSCAD a public or private company?
WSCAD is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was WSCAD founded?
WSCAD was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is WSCAD based?
WSCAD is headquartered in Bergkirchen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does WSCAD make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Software Licenses (Perpetual) is the primary driver. The others are software Subscriptions (Rental/Miete), software Maintenance Contracts, professional Services and Consulting and training Services.
Who are WSCAD's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are EPLAN, Zuken, Schneider Electric (IGE+XAO / SEE Electrical) and Trace Software International (elecworks). Broad incumbents are Autodesk (AutoCAD Electrical), Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics), Dassault Systèmes (SOLIDWORKS Electrical) and PTC (Creo Schematics / Windchill). Emerging players are Bricsys (BricsCAD) and Altium.
Does WSCAD have an API?
Yes. WSCAD offers an Automation Interface module that extends the WSCAD ELECTRIX base software with additional functions. The interface allows customers with valid software maintenance or rental contracts to access automation capabilities. The product terms reference various integrations and interfaces including SIEMENS TIA, SolidWorks, and other third-party tools. However, no dedicated public API documentation URL, developer portal, SDK details, or specific API technical specifications (REST/GraphQL, authentication methods, rate limits) are explicitly provided in the available source materials.
What industry is WSCAD in?
WSCAD's product category is Electrical CAD Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAFAA, EDA Software Platforms (Digital Implementation, Verification & Signoff), with a secondary code of IMAHAHAJ, Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian). Its NAICS code is 33451 and its SIC code is 7371.