SimPlan

What SimPlan does

SimPlan AG, headquartered in Hanau, Germany, is a private Aktiengesellschaft founded in 1992 and one of the leading independent simulation service providers in the DACH region for production and logistics processes. The company operates across four business lines: (1) simulation consulting and studies, including virtual commissioning/emulation and digital twin creation, delivered as professional services; (2) proprietary software products—SimVSM, SimPacSi, SimQueue, and SimAssist—including freemium mobile apps distributed through Apple, Google, and Microsoft app stores; (3) vendor-neutral distribution of third-party simulation platforms (AnyLogic, anyLogistix, AutoMod, Emulate3D, Plant Simulation, Siemens Supply Chain Suite, Simio, Simul8) with associated training; and (4) training and coaching services for both beginners and advanced users.

The company's technology stack centers on discrete-event simulation, material flow modeling, and digital-twin emulation that connects real PLC/SPS control software to simulation models for virtual commissioning. SimPlan employs 120 staff across branches in Braunschweig, Dresden, Bremen, Munich, Regensburg, and Sindelfingen, plus Austrian and Chinese subsidiaries, and claims 400+ accumulated man-years of project experience. The group is led by an Executive Board of three PhD-level members—Dr. Sven Spieckermann (Spokesperson), Dr. Ulrich Burges, and Dr. Harry Kestenbaum—with a Supervisory Board chaired by Prof. Dr. Stefan Nickel and including Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alice Kirchheim of Fraunhofer IML (appointed May 2026). Customer base spans automotive, logistics, retail, mechanical engineering, food processing, agriculture, and healthcare, with named references including S.Oliver, Frontmatec, Fruitmasters, and IntraLogistik Beratung GmbH. Marketing relies on direct sales, trade shows (LogiMAT, Hannover Messe, FachPack, LOG.NET), a SimBlog, the SimTalk podcast, a quarterly SimNews newsletter, and active LinkedIn/XING presence, with ISO 9001 quality certification held since 2015.

Name

SimPlan

Legal name

SimPlan AG

Website

https://simplan.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SimPlan AG, founded in 1992 and headquartered in Hanau, Germany, is the leading independent simulation service provider in the DACH region. It combines proprietary simulation software, third-party platform distribution, virtual commissioning, and digital twin consulting for enterprise customers in automotive, logistics, and manufacturing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Simulation & Virtual Commissioning Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374), Wholesale-Computers & Peripheral Equipment & Software (5045), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Robot Software, Autonomy Stacks & Simulation (ROS, digital twins) (HDAAAIAK)

Keywords

• Production simulation services
• Virtual commissioning emulation
• Digital twin solutions
• Logistics simulation software
• Material flow analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Simulation Consulting Services: Professional execution of simulation projects, coaching, and project support. Core business as a simulation service provider with more than 30 years experience and over 400 man-years of project experience.
2. Proprietary Software Sales: Sale of own software products including SimVSM, SimPacSi, SimQueue, and SimAssist for value stream analysis, packaging simulation, queueing analysis, and simulation project support.
3. Third-Party Simulation Software Distribution: Reseller and distributor of third-party simulation software including AnyLogic, anyLogistix, AutoMod, Emulate3D, Plant Simulation, Simio, Simul8. Neutral, manufacturer-independent software selection consulting.
4. Training Services: Basic and expert training on various simulation software products as well as special training for different applications. Includes webinars and workshops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

SimPlan AG is a simulation service provider that delivers consulting studies, virtual commissioning/emulation, and digital twin solutions for production and logistics processes. The company also develops proprietary software tools (SimVSM, SimPacSi, SimQueue, SimAssist) and resells third-party simulation software from Siemens, AnyLogic, Emulate3D, Simio, Simul8, and AutoMod on a manufacturer-independent basis.

Product overview

SimPlan is a simulation services company offering a comprehensive portfolio combining proprietary software tools, third-party simulation software distribution, and professional consulting services. The core offering includes both proprietary mobile apps (SimVSM, SimQueue, SimPacSi for mobile value stream and packaging analysis) and professional simulation software (AnyLogic, anyLogistix, AutoMod, Emulate3D, Plant Simulation, Simio, Simul8) distributed as a vendor-neutral reseller. Services span simulation studies, virtual commissioning/emulation, coaching, training, digital twin creation, and 3D animation for production and logistics processes. Recent additions include Siemens Supply Chain Suite (SCS) distribution and AI-powered image recognition in the SimVSM app for automatic value stream component detection. The company operates internationally with 120 staff across Germany, Austria, and China.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Simulation Consulting Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced commissioning time through virtual commissioning
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 4flowminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2026Joint presence at LOG.NET 2026 conference with 4flow. Shared booth and collaborative presentation on digitalization in logistics.
• Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (Frankfurt UAS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Research partnership in SIMOBOT project developing predictive simulation approaches for mobile transport robots in intralogistics. SimPlan contributes simulation expertise to the two-year project with Continental Automotive Technologies and SYNAOS GmbH.
• Continental Automotive Technologies GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Industry partner in SIMOBOT research project for mobile transport robot simulation. Real-time scenarios evaluated directly at production facilities to validate simulation results.
• SYNAOS GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Technology partner in SIMOBOT research project contributing to development of predictive simulation approaches for autonomous transport robots.
• NeroSuBiancominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Partnership established in Italy for simulation services and solutions distribution in the Italian market.
• C-P-SminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2019Partnership to bundle activities in China, expanding SimPlan's presence and capabilities in the Chinese market.
• SiemenscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSimPlan serves as German distributor for Siemens Supply Chain Suite (SCS), a powerful software for supply chain and logistics planning, design, simulation, and optimization. SCS enables complex use cases with hundreds of technical components.
• SiemenscoreTechnology or IntegrationDistribution partner for Plant Simulation software and Siemens Supply Chain Suite. Long-standing relationship as authorized distributor.
• AnyLogiccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized reseller and consultant for AnyLogic simulation software in German-speaking markets.
• Emulate3DcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized reseller and training provider for Emulate3D digital twin and emulation software.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Visual Components: Finnish manufacturing simulation software vendor with a strong footprint in Europe. Comparable to SimPlan's Plant Simulation and AutoMod practice, with overlapping customer base in automotive and discrete manufacturing.
• FlexSim Software: US-based discrete-event simulation software vendor with a 3D modeling focus. Comparable to SimPlan's distribution of AutoMod and Simio in material flow simulation, and competes for the same industrial consulting engagements.
• Simio Software: Provider of simulation and scheduling software for manufacturing and logistics. Both a SimPlan distribution partner and a competitor in the same German-speaking and European market.
• Lanner Group: UK-based simulation consultancy and software provider focused on industrial and business process simulation. Closely comparable service-led model to SimPlan, with vendor-neutral tool selection.
• MOSIMTEC: US-headquartered simulation consulting firm specializing in discrete-event simulation and digital twin projects for manufacturing and logistics. Closely comparable to SimPlan in service-led model, vendor-neutral tool selection, and project-based delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Dassault Systèmes DELMIA: Dassault's manufacturing, logistics, and production simulation portfolio. Competes with SimPlan on large industrial simulation engagements and benefits from integration with the broader 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
• Rockwell Automation (Arena Simulation): Industrial automation incumbent with Arena Simulation in its portfolio. Competes for large-scale manufacturing simulation projects and benefits from installed automation customer base.
• Tecnomatix (Siemens): Siemens's manufacturing simulation and digital twin portfolio. Overlaps SimPlan's core offering (Plant Simulation, virtual commissioning) but is a software vendor, not a consulting-led partner; SimPlan both competes with and distributes parts of this portfolio.
• ESI Group: French industrial simulation software vendor with broader virtual prototyping focus. Comparable in providing industrial simulation tools and services, with a wider product portfolio across multiple physics domains.

Regional players

• Tetrix Simulation: German simulation consultancy focused on production and logistics. Closest direct German competitor to SimPlan in services-led simulation delivery and customer overlap in industrial Germany.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/simplanag
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SimPlanAG
• Facebookfacebook.com/SimPlanGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/simplan-ag
• Instagraminstagram.com/simplan_group

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries4 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 SimPlan