Dicad Systeme

What Dicad Systeme does

DICAD Systeme GmbH is a privately held German software company headquartered in Cologne that has developed and continuously evolved STRAKON, a specialized 2D/3D/BIM-CAD platform purpose-built for structural engineers (Tragwerksplaner) and precast concrete manufacturers since 1984. The product is built on a proprietary 3D/BIM calculation kernel developed in-house (last major kernel update 2012) and bundles formwork planning, reinforcement planning (including the Cube-Bewehrung 3D reinforcement tool), parametric bridge/tunnel design, precast and semi-precast (Halbfertigteile) element planning, steel construction, stairwell design, and architecture-for-structural-engineers modules into a single 2D/3D/BIM-native project environment that does not require mode switching within a project.

The company's commercial model combines perpetual software licenses with a subscription/rental (Miete) option, structured paid CAD training seminars priced at €490–€1,470 per seat, €1,200-per-day individual corporate seminars, and recurring hotline/support contracts staffed by qualified civil engineers and construction drafters. Direct sales are led by domain-native civil engineers (Bauingenieure) at the Cologne and Berlin offices, supplemented by country-specific resellers in Austria, Poland, France, and Belgium/Flanders. STRAKON 365 extends the offering into managed cloud deployment, and a free non-commercial student license distributed to universities builds a long-cycle talent pipeline. Distribution is reinforced by five customer working groups (Arbeitskreise) and an annual user conference (Anwendertreffen).

DICAD serves three primary customer segments: structural engineering firms working in Hochbau, Ingenieurbau, and Tiefbau; precast concrete manufacturers (Fertigteilwerke) producing structural precast and semi-precast elements; and architecture firms collaborating with structural engineers. The platform is deeply integrated into customers' downstream workflows via bidirectional interfaces to ERP/PPS systems (Betsy, Gesys, ERP-Bos, I-TWO, Priamos, Infor, Strauch, SOFTBAUWARE), FEM structural analysis tools (FRILO, mb, Sofistik, Dlubal, RIB, InfoGraph, PCAE, Tornow, D.I.E.), BIM collaboration (BIMcollab, BCF, IFC, buildingSMART IFC4-certified), and automated precast production equipment (Unitechnik, BVBS, PXML, CNC/laser/mesh welding). Notable customers include Zapf GmbH, Thomas Gruppe, Otto Quast GmbH, IBC Ingenieurbau-Consult, Glass GmbH Bauunternehmung, and Betonwerk Thansn, alongside over 90 listed customer logos across engineering, precast, construction, and academia. DICAD holds a 63% stake in bauBIT Software & Service GmbH (Salzburg; acquired 2018, technology integrated December 2022) and a minority stake in RIBTEC Systeme GmbH (Cologne; 2024). In 2026, Süddeutsche Zeitung and Creditreform ranked the company as the 4th strongest IT service provider in Germany.

Name

Dicad Systeme

Legal name

DICAD Systeme GmbH

Website

https://dicad.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DICAD Systeme GmbH is a Cologne-based, privately held German software vendor that develops STRAKON, a 2D/3D/BIM-CAD platform purpose-built for structural engineers, precast concrete manufacturers, and architecture firms, selling perpetual and rental licenses plus training and support across the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses (Perpetual & Rental): STRAKON is sold as a perpetual license (Kauf/Lifetime) and as a rental/subscription model (Miete/Subscription). The software is available in multiple configurations including STRAKON premium for 2D/3D construction, formwork and reinforcement planning for high-rise, engineering and precast construction, plus specialized modules for semi-precast elements, 3D steel construction, stair modules, and form boards.
2. CAD Training Seminars: Revenue generated from structured group seminars (Basis, Cube reinforcement, 2D/3D deepening, BIM construction, BIM Coordinator with certificate, semi-precast elements, 3D/BIM bridge construction) and individual firm-specific seminars. Pricing ranges from 490 EUR per day (group) to 1,200 EUR per day (individual/corporate).
3. Technical Support & Hotline: Technical support services provided via telephone and email hotline staffed by qualified construction drafters, technicians, and civil engineers. Support levels and service agreements (Service Level A) offered to customers.
4. Student/Teaching Licenses: Free non-commercial student and trainee licenses distributed to universities and vocational schools, creating a pipeline of future customers trained on STRAKON.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

STRAKON is a proprietary 2D/3D/BIM-CAD software platform for structural engineers and precast concrete manufacturers, sold as perpetual licenses and subscriptions with optional add-on modules for precast, semi-precast, steel, bridge/tunnel, stairs, and formwork board generation. The offering is rounded out by paid training seminars, paid technical support and hotline services, and downloadable manufacturer-specific 3D/2D components and textures.

Product overview

DICAD Systeme offers STRAKON, a unified BIM-CAD software platform for structural engineering and precast construction planning. The core product is STRAKON premium, providing 2D/3D construction, formwork (Schalplanung), and reinforcement (Bewehrungsplanung) planning for Hochbau (residential/commercial), Ingenieurbau (civil engineering), and Fertigteilbau (precast). STRAKON integrates multiple specialized modules including: Halbfertigteile (Doppelwände, Elementdecken) for half-precast planning; 3D STAHLBAU for steel construction; Brücken-Designer/Tunnel-Designer for parametric bridge and tunnel design; Treppenmodule for stairwell planning; and Schalbretter for formwork board generation. The Cube-Bewehrung technology represents the latest generation of 3D reinforcement planning. STRAKON also offers BIM-Kommunikation through BCF, BIMcollab, and IFC interfaces, enabling seamless integration into Building Information Modeling workflows. Downloadable content includes 3D/2D-Einbauteile from manufacturers like HALFEN, Schöck, and FILIGRAN, plus Textures. A free Studentenlizenz is available for educational use.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STRAKON: Führende BIM-CAD-Software für die Tragwerksplanung – 2D/3D-Konstruktions-, Schal- und Bewehrungsplanung für Hoch-, Ingenieur- und Fertigteilbau. Auch bekannt als STRAKON premium.

Products and services

• STRAKON premium Flagship 2D/3D/BIM construction, formwork, and reinforcement planning software for Hochbau (residential/commercial), Ingenieurbau (civil engineering), and Fertigteilbau (precast). Sold as perpetual license or annual rental/subscription.
• STRAKON Halbfertigteile (Half-Precast Elements Module) Add-on module for automated planning of half-precast elements including double walls, solid walls, core-insulated double walls, element ceilings, hollow-core slabs, and solid slabs.
• STRAKON 3D STAHLBAU (3D Steel Construction Module) Add-on module for 3D steel construction planning within STRAKON, supporting steel structures, stairs, and industrial buildings in combination with concrete (Massivbau) and steel (Stahlbau) in one system.
• STRAKON Brücken-/Tunnel-Designer (Bridge/Tunnel Designer) Parametric bridge and tunnel design module supporting complex superstructures and substructures including cross-slope transitions, cross-section changes, widenings, junctions, tapering, automated unwinding/curve sections, and coordinate-world integration.
• STRAKON Treppenhaus-Designer and Treppenmodule (Stairwell Designer and Stair Modules) Parametric staircase planning modules covering Treppenhaus, Fertigteiltreppen, stair flights, and landings, with automatic plan generation for stairwell design.
• STRAKON Schalbretter (Formwork Boards Module) Formwork board generation module for mold manufacturing, with automated creation of formwork including Unterbau (support structure) for 5-axis CNC milling machines via XML/F4Integrate output.
• STRAKON Cube-Bewehrung (Cube Reinforcement) 3D reinforcement planning tool enabling intuitive placement of rebar and mesh reinforcement directly inside the 3D model with immediate position control within components.
• STRAKON 365 (Cloud Deployment) Cloud-based deployment option providing remote access via simple input devices, automatic software updates, and reduced local IT overhead for STRAKON users.
• STRAKON Fertigteilbau-Werkplan-Turbo (Workshop Plan Turbo) Automated individual workshop plan creation tool for the structural precast sector, enabling rapid duplication and generation of precast production plans from STRAKON 3D models.
• STRAKON Student/Teaching License Free non-commercial full version of STRAKON premium for students and trainees at universities and vocational schools, used to build a future-customer pipeline.
• STRAKON Technical Hotline & Support (Service Level A) Telephone and email technical support staffed by qualified civil engineers, technicians, and construction drafters, offered via paid service agreements for STRAKON customers.
• STRAKON Training Seminars (Group and Individual) Paid seminars covering STRAKON Basis, Cube-Bewehrung, 2D/3D deepening, BIM construction, BIM Coordinator with certificate, semi-precast elements, and 3D/BIM bridge construction, delivered as scheduled group online sessions or individual firm-specific programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Automated production data exchange with Mattenschweissanlagen (mesh welding machines), laser, Umlaufanlagen (circulation systems), and 5-axis CNC machines for formwork
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration42 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• buildingSMARTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDICAD Systeme GmbH is a member of buildingSMART, the organization that develops and defines BIM standards and certifies the IFC exchange format. DICAD is actively represented in the buildingSMART user group 'Tragwerksplanung' (Structural Engineering), enabling aligned and practice-oriented further development of BIM standards in STRAKON. STRAKON is buildingSMART International IFC4 certified.
• RIBTEC Systeme GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDICAD Systeme GmbH is a shareholder in the newly founded RIBTEC Systeme GmbH based in Cologne. This investment positions DICAD in the structural analysis (Statik) software segment and expands its ecosystem for structural engineering workflows.
• bauBIT Software & Service GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDICAD acquired 63% of the shares of bauBIT Software & Service GmbH (based in Salzburg) in 2019. bauBIT's high-speed semi-precast element planning technology was fully integrated into STRAKON's 3D calculation kernel by December 2022, creating the STRAKON Halbfertigteile module.
• ERP/PPS System Partners (Betsy, Gesys, ERP-Bos, I-TWO, Priamos, Infor, Strauch, SOFTBAUWARE)coreTechnology or IntegrationSTRAKON supports bidirectional model-based data exchange with a range of ERP, PPS, and calculation systems commonly used in the precast concrete and structural engineering industries. This enables automated data flow between CAD, production planning, production control, assembly planning, and billing.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SEMA Software: SEMA is a German CAD/CAM software vendor focused on timber and prefabricated construction, comparable to STRAKON in serving DACH structural/craft engineering firms with specialized CAD for prefabricated elements. Adjacent rather than directly competing on reinforced concrete, but comparable in niche-specialist positioning and customer profile.
• SCIA Engineer (Nemetschek): SCIA Engineer is a structural analysis/FEM platform within the Nemetschek Group that competes for the German-speaking structural engineer segment addressed by STRAKON. It is complementary in workflow (analysis vs. CAD) but comparable in customer profile and AEC ecosystem positioning.
• Nemetschek Allplan: Nemetschek Group's Allplan is a Munich-based AEC software platform offering BIM, CAD, and precast detailing capabilities that directly compete with STRAKON across structural engineering, precast planning, and reinforcement in the DACH market. Allplan Precast is a particularly close competitor to STRAKON's Fertigteilbau and Konstruktive Fertigteile modules.
• FRILO Software GmbH: FRILO is a Stuttgart-based structural analysis (Statik) software vendor that already has a formal cooperation with DICAD for BIM/IFC data exchange between STRAKON CAD and FRILO's analysis solutions. Highly comparable in customer base (German structural engineers) and complementary in workflow, but focused on calculation rather than CAD/reinforcement detailing.
• SOFiSTiK: SOFiSTiK is a Munich-based structural analysis and BIM software vendor serving bridge, infrastructure, and building structural engineering markets. Comparable to STRAKON in DACH infrastructure engineering focus (bridge/tunnel) and in serving structural calculation workflows adjacent to STRAKON's BIM Brücken-/Tunnel-Designer module.
• mb AEC Software (mb WorkSuite): mb AEC Software GmbH is a German structural engineering software vendor offering EuroSta, Stahnbau, and related structural CAD/analysis tools. Comparable to STRAKON in targeting the German-speaking structural engineer and serving overlapping customer profiles, with complementary FEM and reinforced concrete design modules.
• Trimble Tekla Structures: Tekla Structures (Trimble) is a leading BIM software for structural engineering and precast concrete detailing, with comparable scope across reinforcement, formwork, and precast production data. It directly competes with STRAKON for precast manufacturer wallets globally and is the most commonly cited alternative to STRAKON in the German precast segment.

Broad incumbents

• RIB Software (Schneider Electric): RIB Software, now part of Schneider Electric, is a German-headquartered AEC software vendor with iTWO for construction project management and structural analysis offerings. As a much larger incumbent it competes for AEC software budgets broadly; DICAD's RIBTEC investment creates a structural engineering software linkage to the RIB ecosystem.
• Bentley Open Buildings / ProStructures: Bentley's OpenBuildings and ProStructures offerings span structural BIM, reinforcement, and steel detailing, competing with STRAKON in infrastructure and large-firm structural engineering accounts. As a much larger global incumbent, Bentley targets a broader portfolio than DICAD's specialized focus.
• Autodesk Revit: Autodesk Revit is the dominant general-purpose BIM platform used by structural engineers worldwide and competes with STRAKON for the structural engineer seat, though it lacks STRAKON's depth in reinforcement detailing and precast production automation. Often used alongside (rather than instead of) STRAKON in DACH structural firms.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DICADofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dicad-systeme-gmbh/mycompany/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/dicadsystemeofficial

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

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 Dicad Systeme