CS-Lab

What CS-Lab does

CS-Lab GmbH is a German software company headquartered in Krefeld that develops and licenses BACnet protocol software stacks for the building automation market. Founded in 2012 as a spin-off of MBS GmbH, the company inherited the BACnet stack originally developed by MBS in the late 1990s and has continuously refined it for over two decades. CS-Lab's product portfolio consists of three platform variants — Embedded (microcontroller / RTOS, including ARM Cortex M4), Linux/Posix, and Windows (32/64-bit with a .NET wrapper) — all supporting the full standard BACnet profile set (B-BC, B-SS, B-SA, B-ASC, B-AAC, B-OD, B-OWS, B-AWS) and current Protocol Revision 26, including the BACnet/SC (Secure Connect) extension. The Embedded variant uses static memory allocation and runs without an operating system; the Linux and Windows variants include an integrated object database and automatic fallback mechanisms for value acquisition from field devices. CS-Lab states its stacks are used by all BTL-accredited testing laboratories worldwide as part of the BACnet Test Framework, providing a standards-compliance credibility anchor.

CS-Lab serves two primary customer segments: building automation device manufacturers that need to embed BACnet communication into certified products, and system integrators plus in-house engineering teams implementing BACnet-based integration projects. A third segment covers large-enterprise customers for whom CS-Lab builds complete custom Leittechnik (control technology) software. Revenue is generated through three one-time or recurring licensing models — Library Leasing (time-limited with annual fees), Library Buy-out (perpetual binary license), and Source Buy-out (perpetual license including complete C source) — plus annual maintenance contracts and bespoke professional-services engagements. All license models bundle one day of on-site training at the Krefeld facility. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; orders above EUR 10,000 follow a three-stage payment schedule. Distribution is direct via email and phone, supplemented by the MBS GmbH channel for complementary products such as BACeye/SC, BACnet-2-OPC, the BACnet Test Framework, the DALI stack, and the M-Bus OPC Server.

Name

CS-Lab

Legal name

CS-Lab GmbH

Website

https://cslab.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CS-Lab GmbH develops and licenses BACnet protocol software stacks for building automation device manufacturers and system integrators across Embedded, Linux, and Windows platforms, plus maintenance and bespoke development services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Krefeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software License Sales (BACnet Stacks): CS-Lab sells BACnet protocol software stacks under three licensing models: (1) Library Leasing — a time-limited development workstation license with annual fees; (2) Library Buy-out — a perpetual development license for the program library; (3) Source Buy-out — perpetual license including complete C source code. All models include one day of on-site training at CS-Lab in Krefeld.
2. Software Support and Maintenance: Annual maintenance contracts provide regular updates, access to the latest BACnet stack revisions, and technical product support. A maintenance agreement enables easy product upgrades to the latest BACnet standard functions.
3. Professional Services (Custom Software Development): CS-Lab provides bespoke software development services for building automation Leittechnik (control technology), including requirements analysis, specifications, integration, testing, and certification support. Services are delivered on-site, in Krefeld, or remotely.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CS-Lab designs, develops, and licenses BACnet protocol software stacks for the building automation industry. The stacks are available in three platform variants — Embedded, Linux/Posix, and Windows — and support all standard BACnet profiles including Protocol Revision 26 and BACnet/SC. The company also provides custom software development services for building automation control technology (Leittechnik) and supports customers with training, pretesting, and certification assistance.

Product overview

CS-Lab offers a suite of BACnet protocol software stacks for building automation, available in three variants targeting different platforms: Windows, Linux/Posix, and Embedded systems. The BACnet stack enables manufacturers and developers to implement BACnet-compliant products without building the protocol stack from scratch, supporting various BACnet profiles and datalayers. The company also provides related services including training, pretesting, maintenance contracts, and development support. CS-Lab's products are complemented by MBS GmbH's related offerings including BACeye/SC (BACnet Secure Connect), BACnet-2-OPC (OPC gateway), BACnet Test Framework (testing tool), DALI stack (lighting protocol), and M-Bus OPC Server (meter data integration).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BACnet stack: Software stack for BACnet protocol implementation in building automation, available for Embedded, Linux/Posix, and Windows platforms.

Products and services

• BACnet Stack A software stack for implementing BACnet protocol in building automation applications. Originally developed by MBS GmbH, now marketed by CS-Lab since 2009. Supports over 100 customer products and includes services for certification support. Available in three platform variants: Embedded, Linux/Posix, and Windows.
• BACnet Stack | Windows Software stack for developing BACnet servers and clients on Windows (32-bit and 64-bit). Supports BACnet profiles B-BC, B-SS, B-SA, B-ASC, B-AAC, B-OD, B-OWS, B-AWS with datalayers including IP, Ethernet, MS/TP, and BACnet/SC. Includes .NET wrapper for simplified integration. Supports Protocol Revision 26.
• BACnet Stack | Linux (Posix) Software stack for developing BACnet servers and clients on Linux/Posix systems (32-bit and 64-bit). Supports BACnet profiles B-BC, B-SS, B-SA, B-ASC, B-AAC, B-OD, B-OWS, B-AWS with datalayers including IP, Ethernet, MS/TP, and BACnet/SC. Includes integrated object database and auto fallback for element-wise array reading. Supports Protocol Revision 26.
• BACnet Stack | Embedded Software stack for developing BACnet servers on embedded systems and microcontrollers (e.g., 32-bit ARM Cortex M4). Suitable for BACnet profiles B-SS, B-SA, B-ASC, B-AAC. Can operate without an operating system (compatible with real-time systems such as Keil RTX, ThreadX). Supports datalayers IP, Ethernet, MS/TP, and BACnet/SC. Supports Protocol Revision 26 with static memory allocation and system resources tailored via macros.
• Custom Software Development Services CS-Lab provides bespoke software development services for building automation Leittechnik (control technology), including requirements analysis, specifications, integration, testing, and certification support. Services are delivered on-site, in Krefeld, or remotely and are targeted at large enterprise customers who need complete custom software rather than off-the-shelf products.

Quantifiable outcome

• BACnet development time reduced by many months compared to building from scratch, even for experienced developers
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• MBS GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012CS-Lab was founded in 2012 as a spin-off of MBS GmbH, retaining the software development team through a Betriebsübergang (business transfer). MBS GmbH is a building automation manufacturer with over 30 years of market experience. CS-Lab develops and markets BACnet stacks that MBS originally created; MBS uses these stacks in its own products including universal gateways, BACnet Test Framework (BTF), and BACeye/SC. The two companies collaborate on customer projects as a one-stop-shop for building automation. MBS is also a member of BACnet International and BACnet Interest Group Europe, which influenced CS-Lab's creation to avoid conflict of interest in testing/certification.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Tridium (Niagara Framework): Tridium's Niagara Framework is a widely deployed building automation platform that natively supports BACnet and competes for the same integration and device-connectivity budget as CS-Lab's stacks, though at a higher system level rather than as a licensable protocol stack.
• Contemporary Controls (BASautomation): Contemporary Controls sells BASautomation gateways and BACnet-capable building automation infrastructure products. It is a broader incumbent that ships its own BACnet implementations and competes for similar device-OEM and integrator accounts.
• Honeywell Building Technologies: Honeywell's building automation division sells Niagara-derived and proprietary BACnet-capable platforms at scale. As a major OEM, it represents both a potential customer for CS-Lab stacks and an incumbent alternative for end customers seeking bundled protocol solutions.
• Schneider Electric (EcoStruxure Building): Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Building Operation platform supports BACnet and is widely deployed in commercial buildings. It competes for the same end-customer budget as CS-Lab's OEM customers and shapes protocol-roadmap expectations across the industry.

Direct peers

• Real Time Automation: Real Time Automation sells industrial protocol stacks and gateways including BACnet implementations. It competes with CS-Lab on embedded BACnet licensing for industrial and building automation device manufacturers.
• SCADA Engine (J2 Innovations): J2 Innovations (FRAMEWORK) and SCADA Engine provide BACnet stack components and building automation integration tools. They compete in the same protocol-implementation and integration-software niche as CS-Lab, particularly for system integrators.
• Cimetrics: Cimetrics sells BACnet protocol stacks and gateways for building automation. It is the most direct commercial competitor to CS-Lab in third-party BACnet stack licensing, targeting the same device-OEM and system-integrator customer base.
• Chipkin Automation Systems: Chipkin is a long-standing vendor of BACnet protocol stacks and building automation protocol gateways. Like CS-Lab, it sells reusable BACnet stack components to device manufacturers and integrators needing certified implementations.

Emerging players

• Polarsoft (BACnet stack vendor): Polarsoft has historically offered embedded BACnet stacks targeting microcontroller-based device manufacturers, overlapping with CS-Lab's Embedded stack variant for resource-constrained building automation devices.
• Cirrus Link Solutions: Cirrus Link provides MQTT-based and BACnet integration solutions for IoT-enabled building automation. It addresses the same device-to-cloud connectivity use case as CS-Lab's stack and is an emerging alternative for new connected-building architectures.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CSLabApps

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 CS-Lab