Leichtbau-Zentrum Sachsen

What Leichtbau-Zentrum Sachsen does

Leichtbau-Zentrum Sachsen GmbH (LZS) is a Dresden, Germany-based engineering services company founded in 2003 that operates as a development partner for functional-integrative system lightweight construction in multi-material design. The company serves enterprise customers across aerospace, automotive, rail vehicle, machinery and plant engineering, and increasingly bicycle/sports equipment sectors. Named customers and partners include BMW AG, Rolls-Royce Deutschland, KWD Kupplungswerke Dresden, V Frames, ANTEWA, AMST-Systemtechnik, and Mitras Composites Systems, with consortium participation in EU- and German-funded hydrogen aviation (SaxonHy) and hydrogen storage (BRYSON) research programs.

LZS delivers the full development chain — feasibility studies, material- and process-appropriate construction, structural and process simulation, prototype manufacturing, near-series production, and accredited component testing — under a single roof, leveraging co-location with TU Dresden's Institut für Leichtbau und Kunststofftechnik (ILK) and the broader 240+ employee Dresden Leichtbau-Campus. Its technology portfolio spans injection molding (2,300-ton multi-component), high-temperature autoclave, RTM, VAP, braiding, winding, thermoplastic pultrusion, LFT, LFI, additive manufacturing (SLM), topology optimization, and functional integration of sensors and actuators into fiber composite structures. The SiTeC sub-brand, positioned within the Siemens software family, extends the offering into simulation-driven digital product development and consulting. The testing laboratory holds DAkkS accreditation (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025), and the company maintains ISO 9001 and TISAX certifications — important credentials for serving regulated automotive and aerospace supply chains.

The business model is project-based professional services sold through direct B2B field sales, with consortium and grant-funded research projects as a significant revenue stream alongside commercial development work. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quoted per-project. Marketing and lead generation rely on flagship industry events (JEC World Paris, International Dresden Leichtbausymposium), the Composites United network, LinkedIn, and the corporate website. The company has won consecutive AVK Innovation Awards (2023 for the isolating coupling shaft with KWD; 2024 for the GreenGuard bicycle box with Mitras Composites), underscoring a reputation for translating multi-material lightweight concepts into near-series production.

Name

Leichtbau-Zentrum Sachsen

Legal name

Leichtbau-Zentrum Sachsen GmbH

Website

https://lzs-dd.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Leichtbau-Zentrum Sachsen is a Dresden-based B2B engineering services firm specializing in functional-integrative multi-material lightweight construction, serving aerospace, automotive, rail, and machinery OEMs across the full development chain from feasibility studies to accredited component testing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dresden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering Development Services: Comprehensive engineering services covering the entire development chain from feasibility studies, construction, material characterization, structural and process simulation, prototype manufacturing, production, to component testing. Project-based professional services for industrial clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Leichtbau-Zentrum Sachsen GmbH (LZS) is a B2B engineering development partner specializing in functional-integrative system lightweight construction using multi-material design. The company provides professional services spanning the full development chain — feasibility studies, construction, material characterization, structural and process simulation, prototype manufacturing, production, and component testing — for industrial customers in aerospace, automotive, rail, machinery, plant engineering, and bicycle/sports equipment. It also operates the SiTeC sub-brand for simulation-driven integrated product development.

Product overview

Leichtbau-Zentrum Sachsen GmbH (LZS) is an engineering services company and leading development partner in functional-integrative system lightweight construction using multi-material design. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of services spanning the entire development chain: feasibility analysis, construction, material characterization, structural and process simulation, prototype manufacturing, production, and component testing. Key service offerings are organized by topic (Machbarkeit, Konstruktion, Simulation, Fertigung, Prüflabor, Weiterbildung, Technologieberatung, Projektmanagement), by structure (Additive Fertigung, Topologieoptimierung, Funktionsintegration, Antriebswellen, Druckbehälter, Hydraulikkomponenten, Sandwich), and by process (RTM, Spritzgießen, VAP, Pressen, Flechten, Wickeln, TP-Pultrusion, LFT, LFI). LZS also operates the SiTeC sub-brand for simulation-driven integrated product development in structural mechanics and flow simulation, positioning it as part of the Siemens family. The company holds ISO 9001 certification and TISAX certification, and its testing laboratory is accredited per DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SiTeC: A brand of Leichtbau-Zentrum Sachsen GmbH offering consulting and solutions for simulation-driven integrated product development in structural mechanics and flow simulation. SiTeC is part of the Siemens family.

Products and services

• Feasibility Studies (Machbarkeit) Feasibility studies analyzing lightweight construction potential, including mass savings estimation, material and process cost assessment, manufacturing time evaluation, and economic/technological risk evaluation. Targeted at industrial customers evaluating multi-material lightweight design.
• Construction (Konstruktion) Material- and process-appropriate construction services applying systematic conceptual methods to investigate cross-material approaches, part and product analysis, and requirement specification for lightweight components.
• Simulation (Structural and Process) Structural simulation and analysis services including component development through predictive or detailed simulations, variant studies, parameter optimization, strength evaluation, material modeling, and method development. Delivered by 30 simulation engineers devoted to design, simulation and testing.
• Manufacturing (Fertigung) and Prototyping Lightweight construction technologies and prototype manufacturing using nearly all industrially relevant production processes under near-series conditions, including high-temperature autoclave, RTM, VARI/VAP, winding, braiding, injection molding, pressing, LFI, LFT, RPM, and TSF processes.
• Accredited Testing Laboratory (Prüflabor) Accredited materials testing laboratory (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018-03) offering testing for plastics, composites, metals, and ceramics, including mechanical, physical, thermal, non-destructive, cyclic, impact, rotor, and component testing.
• Technology Consulting (Technologieberatung) Neutral, independent technology and product consulting including portfolio evaluation, new strategy development, cost and risk assessment of new technologies, and identification of funding opportunities.
• Training (Weiterbildung) Customized seminars and training courses on structural mechanics, lightweight construction simulation methods, materials, and manufacturing technologies, delivered in German, English, or Chinese.
• Project Management (Projektmanagement) Project management services including consortium composition, grant application writing, project coordination, and project documentation for national and international development projects.
• Additive Manufacturing (Additive Fertigung) Additive manufacturing enabling load-path-optimized, often organically shaped structures with high lightweight construction potential, using SLM (Selective Laser Melting) processes for metals such as AlMgSi10.
• Topology Optimization (Topologieoptimierung) Topology optimization using state-of-the-art calculation and optimization methods combined with process and material understanding to develop market-ready lightweight solutions.
• Functional Integration (Funktionsintegration) Functional integration of sensors, actuators, control elements, and measurement systems into fiber composite structures during the manufacturing process, including design, simulation, and testing of integrated functions.
• Drive Shafts (Antriebswellen) Development and manufacturing of fiber-reinforced plastic drive shafts using winding and braiding processes, enabling weight savings of up to 80% compared to classic metal shafts.
• Pressure Vessels (Druckbehälter) Lightweight pressure vessels (CNG, H2, compressed air) using intelligent hybrid construction with fiber composites for inner pressure loads and metal elements for complex geometric areas, with burst pressures up to 1700 bar.
• Hydraulic Components (Hydraulikkomponenten) Lightweight hydraulic components including hydraulic tubes, valve blocks, bladder accumulators, and cylinders, developed using fiber composite/metal lightweight construction for pressures up to 400 bar.
• Sandwich Structures (Sandwich) Sandwich structures achieving high bending stiffness with minimal material use using fiber composite face sheets and core materials, applicable in aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications.
• Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) Resin Transfer Molding including conventional and high-pressure RTM processes for infiltrating pre-conventioned dry fiber semi-finished products under pressure and temperature in a closed mold.
• Injection Molding (Spritzgießen) Plastic injection molding with functional integration, including 2,300-ton multi-component injection molding machine with turntable technology, and development of complex injection molding structures.
• Vacuum Assisted Process (VAP) Vacuum Assisted Process using semipermeable membrane systems for infusion of dry reinforcement fiber semi-finished products, particularly suitable for large shell components and thick-walled structures.
• Pressing Technologies (Pressen) Pressing technologies including thermoset and thermoplastic pressing, LFI, SMC, RPM (Resin Powder Moulding), TSF (Thermoset Sheet Forming), LFT, and GMT technologies, using 3000-ton high-speed presses.
• Braiding (Flechten) Braiding process for efficient and variable preform manufacturing of fiber-reinforced hollow profiles, using carbon fibers, glass fibers, or impregnated tapes at high speeds for near-zero waste.
• Winding (Wickeln) Winding process for manufacturing hollow composite structures, including dry winding with subsequent infiltration and online impregnation, using binder-coated fibers or pre-impregnated fiber tapes.
• Thermoplastic Pultrusion (TP-Pultrusion) Thermoplastic pultrusion combined with braiding or winding processes for manufacturing media-resistant plastic pipes with multi-axial braiding for high-performance pipe systems.
• Long Fiber Thermoplastics (LFT) Long fiber reinforced thermoplastics processing using LFT-press or LFT-injection molding processes suitable for large production volumes, with combined processing possible with endless fiber-reinforced organosheets.
• Long Fibre Injection (LFI) Long Fibre Injection process mixing cut reinforcement fibers and highly reactive PUR resin in a high-pressure mixing head, robotically applied to a tempered press tool for consolidation.
• SiTeC — Simulation-Driven Integrated Product Development A brand of LZS providing consulting and solutions for simulation-driven, integrated product development in structural mechanics and flow simulation, helping clients transform toward fully digital development processes in a harmonized software landscape. SiTeC is part of the Siemens family.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% cost reduction in manufacturing isolating coupling shafts compared to previous methods
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• V FramescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 July 2023Exclusive partnership for all mechanical and impact simulations for injection-moulded carbon composite bike components. Three-way cooperation between V Frames, LZS, and LEHVOSS Group for material development, product development, and simulation services.
• LEHVOSS GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 July 2023Partnership-based simulation and material R&D cooperation for injection-moulded carbon composite bike components as part of the V Frames collaboration.
• Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co.KGflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021Associated project partner in SaxonHy project working on hydrogen-based experimental aircraft APUS i-5 'H' for zero-emission aviation technologies.
• APUS – Aeronautical Engineering GmbHflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021Partner in SaxonHy project developing experimental aircraft for hydrogen-based flying. LZS works on H2 pressure tank integration into modular APUS i-5 platform.
• KWD Kupplungswerk Dresden GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of isolating coupling shaft for rail vehicles - won AVK Innovation Award 2023. Partnership combining KWD's coupling expertise with LZS's composite material and manufacturing capabilities for electrically isolating drive shafts.
• BMW AGflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRYSON project consortium partner developing novel hydrogen pressure storage for universal vehicle architectures. Project aims to reduce manufacturing costs of hydrogen tanks for fuel cell vehicles.
• Mitras Composites Systems GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term customer and partner in composite solutions. Co-developed GreenGuard bicycle box which won AVK Innovation Award 2024.
• Institut für Leichtbau und Kunststofftechnik (ILK) der TU DresdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose partnership with ILK provides access to research facilities, latest scientific findings, and manufacturing/testing technology. Enables unique research-development integration at Dresden Leichtbau-Campus.
• SiemenscoreTechnology or IntegrationSiTeC brand, part of Leichtbau-Zentrum Sachsen GmbH, operates as part of Siemens family providing simulation software portfolio and consulting for digital development processes.
• Composites United e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member in Composites United network. LZS leads working group 'SMC in Hochleistungsanwendungen' and participates in 'Brandschutz' and 'Faser-Matrix-Haftung' groups.
• JEC WorldminorOthersRegular exhibitor at JEC World trade show in Paris - world's largest composites and lightweight trade fair.
• Wirtschaftsförderung SachsenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExhibits on joint Saxon trade fair stand organized by Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen at international events like JEC World.
• Hochschule MünchenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRYSON project consortium partner for hydrogen tank system development.
• herone GmbHflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated partner in BRYSON project, hosts consortium meetings at their Dresden facility for fiber composite manufacturing.
• EAST-4D Carbon Technology GmbHflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaxonHy project partner contributing to hydrogen-based aviation development.
• BYK-Chemie GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost for Composites United working group meeting on functional additives in fiber composite process chain. Provides lab and development center tours.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bosch Engineering GmbH: Engineering services subsidiary of Robert Bosch providing motorsport, automotive, and off-highway engineering services including systems integration and lightweight development. Larger, broader portfolio player that competes with LZS on automotive engineering engagements.
• Capgemini Engineering: Global engineering services arm of Capgemini (formerly Altran) serving aerospace, automotive, and industrial clients with digital engineering and manufacturing services. A much larger incumbent that overlaps LZS in cross-industry engineering services for major OEMs.

Direct peers

• FEV Group GmbH: Global engineering services company headquartered in Aachen with strong lightweight/CAE expertise for vehicle electrification, powertrain, and chassis. Direct comparable to LZS given overlapping customer base in German automotive and adjacent focus on simulation-driven development.
• EDAG Engineering GmbH: Large German engineering services provider for the automotive and aerospace industries with deep expertise in lightweight construction, vehicle integration, and series-production engineering. Closely comparable to LZS as a multi-disciplinary German engineering services firm serving similar OEM customers.
• AVL List GmbH: Austrian-headquartered engineering services firm providing powertrain, vehicle, and lightweight development to global OEMs. Comparable to LZS in serving automotive engineering customers with simulation-intensive, material-focused services.
• Forward Engineering GmbH: Munich-based composites engineering consultancy specialized in fiber-reinforced plastics, CAE, and series-production readiness for automotive and aerospace. One of the closest direct peers to LZS in terms of multi-material design services and customer overlap.
• Bertrandt AG: German engineering services provider for automotive, aerospace, and industrial customers with strong lightweight and prototype capabilities. Comparable business model (project-based engineering services for OEMs) and customer overlap with LZS.
• ITK Engineering GmbH: German engineering services firm (a Robert Bosch company) providing embedded systems, software, and mechatronics development for automotive and industrial customers. Overlaps with LZS in serving German automotive Tier-1/OEM engineering services with multi-disciplinary teams.

Emerging players

• Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability (LBF): Darmstadt-based Fraunhofer institute focused on lightweight design, structural durability, and polymer/composite component testing, offering commercial testing and development services. Comparable to LZS's accredited testing lab and lightweight engineering portfolio, with partial overlap on polymer/composite testing.

Others

• Institut für Leichtbau und Kunststofftechnik (ILK), TU Dresden: Academic research institute at TU Dresden specializing in lightweight engineering and plastics technology, and LZS's primary research partner at the Dresden Leichtbau-Campus. Not a competitor per se but the closest ecosystem peer with overlapping capabilities in fiber composites and lightweight R&D.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leichtbau

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Leichtbau-Zentrum Sachsen