What Eckelmann IBE Software does

Eckelmann IBE Software GmbH is a privately held German software developer headquartered in Wilhelmshaven that has specialized for over 30 years in CAD/CAM and nesting software for the sheet metal processing industry. Its self-developed product line centers on cncCUT (available in Basic control-panel and Nest desktop versions), ncCAD32 (a combined cutting and punching package for combination machinery), and the ncNest nesting engine. The portfolio is complemented by BLECHCENTER Plus (AV32), an order and parts management system that links quotation, cost calculation (AVKalk), invoicing, and production control, with additional modules for macros, part variants (PartCreator), nesting plan templates (SPL), machine scheduling, and night-shift operation. The company's technical differentiators are machine-manufacturer independence, broad support for laser, plasma, water jet, oxyfuel, punching, nibbling, drilling, and bevel cutting, and DXF/DWG import with error correction (IBECADImport).

The business operates on a mixed revenue model combining one-time perpetual software licenses for core CAD/CAM products, annual subscriptions for BLECHCENTER Plus modules, multi-year licensing and royalty arrangements for OEM/embedded solutions (ncNest DLL, cncCUT control software, simulation), and professional services for custom interface programming into customer PPS/ERP systems. Go-to-market is primarily sales-led direct consultation complemented by self-serve demo downloads and OEM partnerships with CNC control panel and machine manufacturers who embed IBE's components under their own branding. Distribution is global in stated scope but DACH-centric in practice, with the company serving three identifiable customer segments: sheet metal fabricators, contract manufacturers (Lohnfertiger), and machine manufacturers as OEM partners.

The company is structured as a German private limited liability company (GmbH) with 1–10 employees, no external funding rounds, no parent company, and no public listing. Its commercial footprint rests heavily on the depth of its specialized technology and the embedded relationships with unnamed control panel manufacturers, rather than on scale or marketing reach.

Name

Eckelmann IBE Software

Legal name

Eckelmann IBE Software GmbH

Website

https://ibe-software.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Eckelmann IBE Software GmbH is a German software developer specializing in CAD/CAM, nesting, and order management software for the sheet metal processing industry, serving fabricators, contract manufacturers, and machine manufacturers via direct sales and OEM/embedded licensing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sheet Metal CAD/CAM Software

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial CAD/CAM for Manufacturing (EDAOAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

CNC Plasma/Laser Cutting & Automated Fabrication Training (EDAOADAH)

Keywords

• CAD/CAM software
• Sheet metal nesting
• CNC cutting software
• Order management
• OEM nesting engine

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilhelmshaven

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses (cncCUT, ncCAD32, ncNest): Sale of CAD/CAM software packages including cncCUT (Basic/Nest versions), ncCAD32, and ncNest. Versions include desktop solutions and control panel versions. Licensing uses Hardlock or IBEDongle systems.
2. BLECHCENTER Plus Modules: Modular order management and production control software with optional modules including calculation (AVKalk), invoicing, part creation (PartCreator), and technology modules for various cutting processes.
3. OEM/Embedded Solutions: Licensing of nesting engine (DLL), control software, and simulation modules to machine and control panel manufacturers for embedding in their products.
4. Custom Programming/Interfaces: Individual interface programming and custom CAD/CAM solutions to meet specific customer requirements and operational processes. Interfaces to PPS/production planning systems.
5. Macro Modules: Optional macro packages offering 90+ additional macros for the macro module, purchasable as add-on functionality.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Eckelmann IBE Software develops and sells self-developed CAD/CAM and nesting software for the sheet metal processing industry, covering laser, plasma, water jet, oxyfuel, punching, nibbling, drilling, and bevel cutting. Its portfolio includes cncCUT (a desktop and control-panel CAD/CAM solution for cutting), ncCAD32 (combining cutting and punching for combination machinery), ncNest (standalone nesting software with an OEM DLL), and BLECHCENTER Plus/AV32 (order and parts management with MS SQL integration). The company also licenses OEM components to machine manufacturers and provides custom interface programming.

Product overview

Eckelmann IBE Software offers a modular CAD/CAM software portfolio for the sheet metal processing industry. The core products include cncCUT (CAD/CAM for cutting operations with Basic and Nest versions), ncCAD32 (combining cutting and punching modules for combination machinery), and ncNest (standalone nesting software). These are complemented by BLECHCENTER Plus (AV32), a comprehensive order and parts management system that connects design with production planning. BLECHCENTER Plus integrates multiple modules including AVKalk for cost calculation, the Rechnungsmodul for invoicing, SPL Schachtelplanvorlagen for nesting templates, PartCreator for complex part creation, and Makromodul with over 90 optional macros. Additional modules include IBECADImport (DXF import with error correction), Sketcher (2D CAD), and production control features (Maschinenbelegung, Nachtbetrieb, Teilestempelung). The company also offers OEM solutions including the ncNest Schachtel-DLL for third-party software integration, cncCUT OEM control software for CNC controllers, and cncCUT OEM Simulation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• cncCUT: CAD/CAM software for desktop and control systems, optimized for cutting processes such as laser, water jet, plasma and oxyfuel cutting.
• ncCAD32
• ncNEST
• BLECHCENTER Plus
• PartCreator

Products and services

• cncCUT CAD/CAM software for CNC cutting processes including laser, water jet, plasma, and oxyfuel cutting. Available as desktop solution or control-panel version for direct CNC machine operation, with technology-specific material/thickness settings and macro expansion.
• ncCAD32 CAD/CAM package that combines cutting (ncSCHNEID) and punching (ncSTANZ) modules in one solution for programming combination cutting/punching machinery.
• ncNest Standalone nesting software with high-performance nesting routines, coil/roll nesting capabilities, and modules for optimal workpiece placement on sheets.
• BLECHCENTER Plus (AV32) Modular order and production management system for sheet metal processing that sorts orders by material and thickness, performs nesting, transmits to CAM, and integrates with PPS via custom interfaces.
• ncNest OEM (Schachtel-DLL) Embeddable ncNest nesting engine delivered as a DLL for OEM integration into third-party software applications, field-proven and operated standalone or as an engine-only subroutine.
• cncCUT OEM Steuerungsversion cncCUT optimized as control software for direct installation on CNC controllers, with touchscreen and softkey support, used as OEM interface by control panel manufacturers.
• cncCUT OEM Simulation CNC simulation component for OEM integration that visualizes machine travel movements and enables restart at any position; used by smaller OEMs lacking in-house simulation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced programming time - machines can remain productive during programming and even operate in night mode
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CNC Control Panel Manufacturers (Multiple Unnamed)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerIBE Software works with multiple prestigious control panel manufacturers who integrate cncCUT as OEM control software. The software is fully integrated with these control panels and version upgrades from Basic to Nest are available.
• Machine Manufacturers (OEM Partners)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerMachine manufacturers use cncCUT as CAM component on CNC control panels and embed ncNest nesting engine as OEM solution. Some smaller manufacturers use IBE's simulation software as they lack their own simulation capabilities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Peers

• Alma (Actief Group):

Direct peers

• SigmaNEST (Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence): Leading nesting and CAM software for sheet metal cutting, now part of Hexagon. Directly competes with IBE's ncNest and cncCUT for nesting optimization and NC code generation across the same cutting technologies, with broad machine-OEM relationships that mirror IBE's OEM channel.
• Metalix CAD/CAM: Israeli developer of mbend, mcut, and mtube CAD/CAM software for sheet metal cutting, bending, and tube processing. Directly comparable product suite (cutting CAM + nesting) and similar mid-market, niche positioning to IBE.
• JETCAM International: UK-based vendor of nesting and CAM software (JETCAM Expert, CrossTrack) for sheet metal CNC cutting and punching. Comparable mid-sized niche player to IBE with similar OEM integration model and product breadth across cutting technologies.
• Lantek: Spanish-headquartered global vendor of CAD/CAM and nesting software dedicated to sheet metal fabrication (laser, plasma, oxyfuel, water jet, punching). Closest direct competitor to IBE, with a comparable product scope (cncCUT vs. Lantek Expert) and an overlapping sheet metal customer base, but at significantly larger scale and international footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Ibe-softwareDe/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/i-b-e-software

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Eckelmann IBE Software