STEP Tools

What STEP Tools does

STEP Tools Inc. is a privately held, Troy, NY-based software firm founded in 1991 that builds commercial implementations of the STEP (ISO 10303), STEP-NC, and IFC interoperability standards. Its core products are STEP and IFC programming libraries used by major CAD/CAM vendors including Siemens NX and Autodesk, supplemented by a Digital Thread for Manufacturing platform that fuses STEP design data with MTConnect machine status and QIF metrology feedback to build a real-time digital twin during machining. Domain-specific add-ons include the STEP-NC Machine and STEP-NC Explorer modules, a free STEP Python Interface (stpython) on PyPI, and newer additive and composite tools (Powder Bed Fusion Generation, Tape Layup Generation). The firm also runs standards-development services and training.

The company sells predominantly through enterprise-level annual subscriptions for server and desktop digital-thread deployments, plus OEM/embedded licensing of its STEP and IFC libraries inside third-party CAD/CAM and BIM products, with supplementary training and consulting revenue. Major named enterprise customers include Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, GE Aircraft Engines, Raytheon, the U.S. Army (Watervliet Arsenal), and OEM partners Siemens NX and Autodesk. Funding to date has come almost entirely from non-dilutive sources, including a $2M ATP award (1999) and a long series of DARPA, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Department of Commerce, and DMDII/NIST SBIR contracts, with no disclosed venture or private-equity investment. The company employs 1-10 people and is led by President Dr. Martin Hardwick, and it actively contributes to the ISO TC184/SC4 working groups that define the standards it sells into.

Name

STEP Tools

Legal name

STEP Tools Inc.

Website

https://steptools.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Data Exchange Software (STEP/IFC)

NAICS

All Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (333248), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)

akta.pro primary industry

3D Design & CAD for Additive Manufacturing (IMAAACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Slicing & Build Preparation Software (IMAAACAC), Support Generation & Lattice/Structure Design Tools (IMAAACAJ), Quality Assurance, Inspection & Traceability Software (AM) (IMAAACAG), Industrial CAD/CAM for Manufacturing (EDAOAGAG), Scan-to-CAD & Reverse Engineering Software (IMAAAHAE)

Keywords

• CAD data exchange
• STEP programming libraries
• Digital thread manufacturing
• IFC BIM software
• CNC machining software

Headquarters

HQ city

Troy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Enterprise Software Licensing: Digital thread solutions licensed at enterprise level with yearly terms including server and desktop software components, technology stack license for extended enterprise use, and consulting work for specific adaptations.
2. STEP/IFC Programming Libraries: Programming libraries for CAD, CAM, BIM systems providing STEP and IFC translation, visualization, and data access capabilities. Libraries used by leading CAD vendors including NX and Autodesk.
3. Training and Support Services: Training programs and support services offered alongside software solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

STEP Tools develops and licenses software for industrial product and building model data exchange based on the ISO 10303 (STEP), STEP-NC, and IFC standards. Its offerings include STEP and IFC programming libraries embedded in leading CAD tools (Siemens NX, Autodesk), a Digital Thread for Manufacturing platform that fuses CAD geometry, MTConnect machine status, and QIF metrology into a real-time digital twin during machining, and STEP-NC based solutions for CNC machining, additive manufacturing, and composite layup. Customers include aerospace and defense manufacturers such as Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, GE Aircraft Engines, Raytheon, and U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal, plus CAD/CAM/BIM vendors and the construction industry.

Product overview

STEP Tools offers a comprehensive suite of industrial data exchange solutions centered on STEP (ISO 10303) and IFC standards for CAD/CAM and BIM interoperability. The core offering consists of STEP Programming Libraries that power CAD vendor tools including NX and Autodesk, supplemented by domain-specific solutions: Digital Thread for Manufacturing (real-time digital twin during machining), STEP Solutions for CAD/engineering analysis, and IFC Solutions for building construction. Additional modules include STEP-NC Machine for CNC control, STEP-NC Explorer for process visualization, and Python Interface (stpython) available on PyPI. Specialized tools address additive manufacturing (Powder Bed Fusion Generation, Tape Layup Generation). The company also provides training and standards development services. The architecture supports enterprise-level digital thread deployments with REST API access and integrates with MTConnect machine tools and QIF metrology systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ST-Developer: STEP development toolkit for reading, writing, and manipulating STEP files
• ST-Machine
• ST-Viewer
• STEP-NC Explorer
• STEP-NC Write
• Digital Thread
• STEP Python Interface

Products and services

• STEP Programming Libraries Core programming libraries providing STEP (ISO 10303) and IFC translation, visualization, and data access for CAD, CAM, and BIM systems; used by leading CAD vendors including Siemens NX and Autodesk.
• Digital Thread for Manufacturing Enterprise solution that connects product design, manufacturing, and inspection through a digital twin built in real time during machining, fusing STEP CAD data with MTConnect machine status and QIF metrology feedback.
• IFC Solutions IFC-based software for BIM systems including translation, bill-of-materials applications, and visualization for building and construction data exchange at scale, including large multi-gigabyte IFC models.
• STEP Python Interface (stpython) Python interface that reads STEP CAD data and creates digital twins as defined by ISO 23247, enabling faster programming of manufacturing solutions.
• Training Professional training services covering STEP, STEP-NC, and IFC technologies for enterprise customers and partners.
• ST-Developer STEP developer toolkit for building applications that read, write, and manipulate STEP files, forming the foundation of the STEP Tools product line.
• ST-Viewer 3D visualization component for STEP files, embeddable in third-party CAD and engineering applications.
• ST-Machine Machine tool integration toolkit that connects STEP-NC applications to CNC machinery and supports digital thread manufacturing.
• Powder Bed Fusion Generation Tool Standalone tool that extends STEP-NC for powder bed fusion machines by generating scan paths for STEP solids in additive manufacturing processes.
• Tape Layup Generation Tool Standalone tool that extends STEP-NC for tape layup machines by splitting STEP surfaces into tapes for composite material manufacturing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15% or more reduction in tooling cost
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BoeingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2019Boeing uses STEP-NC to machine parts for all major airframes both single aisle and double aisle, even for satellites. Over 500 production models have been exchanged between Boeing and three engine companies. Boeing is a member of PDES, Inc. joint industry/government consortium.
• Pratt & WhitneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPratt & Whitney uses STEP (ISO 10303-203) for production data exchange with Boeing on 777 and 767-400ER programs as part of Digital Pre-Assembly process verifying form and fit of engine/airplane integration parts.
• Rolls-RoycecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRolls-Royce uses STEP for production data exchange with Boeing on 777 and 767-400ER programs. Member of PDES, Inc. consortium.
• GE Aircraft EnginescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGE Aircraft Engines uses STEP for production data exchange with Boeing on 777 and 767-400ER programs.
• Siemens NXcoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading CAD vendor using STEP Tools libraries for STEP translation capabilities - described as fastest and most reliable.
• AutodeskcoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading CAD vendor using STEP Tools libraries for STEP translation capabilities - described as fastest and most reliable.
• Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEP Tools awarded 'Operate, Orchestrate and Originate (O3)' contract and 'Mind The Gap' contract from DMDII for digital manufacturing and design innovation initiatives.
• U.S. Army Watervliet ArsenalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEP Tools opened STEP-NC Manufacturing Center at U.S. Army's Watervliet Arsenal and won contract for STEP-NC Implementation.
• SoftInWay, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEP Tools partnered with SoftInWay as subcontractor for FEA/STEP Data Exchange project supported by NIST SBIR Phase One.
• Applied Research Associates, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEP Tools teamed with Applied Research Associates to build STEP Translator for NASA's NextGRADE Graphical User Interface.
• PDES, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDES, Inc. is a joint industry/government consortium with 25+ major industrial companies and government agencies representing $600+ billion in annual revenue. STEP Tools is an active participant in this consortium.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Elysium (Elysium Global Technology): Elysium specializes in CAD data translation and 3D interoperability across STEP, IGES, JT, and other formats. It is a direct peer to STEP Tools in providing libraries and tools that enable CAD/CAM data exchange across heterogeneous engineering environments.
• Theorem Solutions: Theorem Solutions provides CAD/CAM translation, direct modeling, and visualization toolkits, including STEP and JT interfaces. It is a direct peer in delivering the type of multi-CAD interoperability toolkits STEP Tools sells to engineering software vendors and enterprises.
• Datakit: Datakit is a specialist in CAD/CAM/CAE data exchange, offering cross-format readers, writers, and converters for STEP, IGES, JT, and many proprietary formats. It is a direct competitor to STEP Tools' ST-Developer libraries for CAD interoperability.
• CAD Exchanger: CAD Exchanger offers CAD data exchange SDKs and viewers supporting STEP, JT, glTF, USD, and other formats. It overlaps directly with STEP Tools in providing development libraries for CAD interoperability, 3D visualization, and downstream digital-twin or web-viewer applications.
• Open Design Alliance: Open Design Alliance (ODA) develops Teigha and other SDKs for DWG, IFC, STEP, and other CAD/BIM formats, serving a similar developer and software-vendor audience. It is a direct peer in providing format libraries that downstream CAD/BIM vendors embed in their products.

Broad incumbents

• Spatial (Hexagon): Spatial, now part of Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division, historically provided 3D InterOp libraries for CAD/CAM data exchange. As a broad incumbent, Hexagon overlaps with STEP Tools in STEP/IFC tooling but offers it as part of a much larger metrology, CAM, and manufacturing software portfolio.
• Autodesk: Autodesk is both a customer (uses STEP Tools libraries for STEP translation in its products) and a broad incumbent across CAD/CAM/BIM. It is comparable as a strategic channel for STEP Tools' libraries while also being a potential competitor if it internalized translation capability.
• Siemens Digital Industries (NX): Siemens NX embeds STEP Tools' STEP libraries for translation. As a broad incumbent in PLM/CAD/CAM and digital twin, Siemens is comparable both as a customer/channel and as a potential long-term competitor to STEP Tools' interoperability tooling.

Emerging players

• TransMagic: TransMagic provides CAD translation and repair software for STEP, IGES, Parasolid, and other formats. It is an emerging/niche player with overlapping focus on multi-CAD interoperability, comparable to STEP Tools' ST-Developer and translation services.
• Dyndrite: Dyndrite offers an additive manufacturing software platform with native STEP data ingestion, build preparation, and toolpath generation. It is an emerging player that intersects STEP Tools' Powder Bed Fusion Generation tool in scan-path generation and AM data preparation workflows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 STEP Tools