Sampro

What Sampro does

Sampro GmbH is a privately held German engineering software company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Magdeburg, Germany, that develops and licenses "virtua RFW" — described as the world's first finite element CFD simulation software for the predictive modeling of rotary friction welding (RFW) and related processes including linear friction welding, friction stir spot welding (FSSW), and friction element welding (FEW). The product combines a proprietary CFD engine built on a Carreau-fluid constitutive model and an exponential decay transition friction law with a mixed explicit/implicit thermo-mechanical solver and automated meshing based on Persson's implicit geometry meshing routine, packaged as a standalone Windows executable that imports CAD geometry (STL) and exports results to Abaqus (.inp). The company also operates ATLAS, a material parameter acquisition service covering 20-1200°C and strain rates from 0.0001 to 1000 1/s.

The company's commercial offering is dual-pronged: software licensing (rental licenses from a 3-month minimum and perpetual licenses with optional annual maintenance, single-seat and tied to dedicated workstations) and process engineering services delivered through cooperative four-stage customer projects covering specification, concept design, simulative optimization, and experimental validation. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; quotations are custom, with discounts for academic institutions and SMEs. Direct sales is the sole distribution model, supported by on-site and web-meeting training, and there is no reseller or channel partner program.

Sampro's customer base is concentrated in automotive and industrial manufacturing with named logos including ZF, Audi AG, MAHLE, Thyssenkrupp, Siemens, Stanley Tools, SAF-Holland, IFA Group, and Raiser, alongside research and academic customers in the HyLight consortium (Hochschule Magdeburg, FAU Erlangen, LimFox, Audi). The company is founder-owned, led by Dr. David Schmicker (who founded it on his PhD dissertation at Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg), with a small team supplemented by an academic board (Prof. Dr. Sven Jüttner, Prof. Dr. Jens Strackeljan, plus TU Braunschweig IFS representation). It has no external funding, no patents filed, no subsidiaries, and is actively operating as of 2026, having hosted the 2nd Friction Welding Symposium in March 2025.

Name

Sampro

Legal name

Sampro GmbH

Website

https://sampro-software.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sampro GmbH develops and licenses virtua RFW, finite element simulation software for predictive modeling of rotary, linear, friction stir spot, and friction element welding processes, serving automotive, transmission, industrial manufacturing, aerospace, and academic research customers in Germany and internationally with software plus engineering services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Process Simulation Software

NAICS

All Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (333248), Industrial Design Services (54142), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Welding, Joining & Soldering Equipment (Arc, Resistance, Friction, Brazing) (IMAHADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Welding Inspection & QA/QC (NDT, PWHT, Weld Procedure/Qualification) (EUAEAHAD), Welding, Fabrication & Field Machining Services (On-site) (IMAIACAD)

Keywords

• Friction welding simulation
• Manufacturing process software
• Finite element analysis
• Rotary friction welding
• Material characterization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Magdeburg

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 Licensing: Rental licenses available from minimum 3-month term for project-based use; perpetual licenses with optional annual maintenance and support; single-seat licenses tied to dedicated workstations with virtual desktop support
2. Maintenance and Support: Annual maintenance and support add-on for perpetual license holders; professional training sessions on-site or via web meeting
3. Process Engineering Services: Engineering services for friction welding process development using predictive simulation; cooperative projects guiding customers through four stages: gathering specifications, concept design, simulative optimization, experimental validation

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sampro GmbH develops and sells 'virtua RFW', a proprietary finite element simulation software for the predictive modeling of friction welding processes including rotary friction welding, friction stir spot welding, linear friction welding, and friction element welding. The company also provides process engineering services and the ATLAS material parameter acquisition service to support manufacturing customers in optimizing welding processes and developing new joint designs.

Product overview

Sampro offers two main product/service lines: (1) virtua RFW — the core finite element simulation software for predictive friction welding process modeling, supporting rotary friction welding, linear friction welding, and friction stir spot welding; (2) ATLAS — a material parameter acquisition service providing high-temperature material testing and simulation-assisted characterization. Supporting services include process engineering for friction welding applications and custom software development using Matlab-based numerical analysis tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• virtua RFW World's first finite element simulation software for predictive modeling of rotary friction welding (RFW), friction stir spot welding (FSSW), linear friction welding, and friction element welding (FEW). Maps complex physics including frictional heat generation, plastic deformation, material flow, and microstructure transformation. Used by manufacturing companies and researchers to predict temperature fields, weld flash, shortening speed, residual stresses, and to optimize joint geometry and process parameters before physical prototyping.
• ATLAS (Alloy Testing Laboratory at Advanced Specifications) Material Parameter Acquisition Material characterization service enabling fast and cost-effective material development and testing across wide temperature ranges (20-1200°C) and strain rates (0.0001 to 1000 1/s). Uses simulation-supported testing and optimization algorithms for material parameter identification, serving manufacturing companies needing accurate material data for welding simulation.
• Process Engineering Services Engineering services for friction welding process development using predictive simulation. Sampro guides manufacturing companies through a four-stage development process: gathering specifications, concept design, simulative optimization, and experimental validation. Targets companies developing new friction welding applications for automotive, transmission, powertrain, and aerospace/railway components.

Quantifiable outcome

• Excellent correlation between simulation and experimental results for process parameter runs, plastic deformation shapes, and temperature cycles
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Hochschule MagdeburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Research partner in HyLight project; co-organizer of Friction Welding Symposium; joint research on aluminum-steel hybrid welding
• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität ErlangenmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Research partner in HyLight project for hybrid aluminum-steel welding; academic research collaboration
• LimFox GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Industry partner in HyLight project for hybrid material joint development
• Otto-von-Guericke-Universität MagdeburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClosely associated university for fundamental and applied research; joint research projects; PhD supervision; access to research facilities; collaborative publications
• ZFmajorTechnology or IntegrationMajor automotive driveline and safety technology supplier; customer and application partner for friction welding simulation
• SiemensmajorTechnology or IntegrationIndustrial technology partner; application development for friction welding simulation in industrial manufacturing
• Audi AGmajorTechnology or IntegrationPremium automotive manufacturer; research partner in HyLight project for hybrid aluminum-steel welding applications
• MAHLEmajorTechnology or IntegrationAutomotive supplier specializing in engine components; application partner for friction welding technology
• RaisercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFriction welding machine manufacturer; co-organizer of Friction Welding Symposium; innovation prize sponsor; joint research projects
• Harms-Wende GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and development partner; Friction Welding Symposium co-organizer
• IFA GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner; joint research projects including overlap friction welding and Self-Centered Friction Welding; Dr. David Schmicker affiliated with IFA Technologies GmbH
• Delta Sigma Analytics GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetence cluster ATLAS partner for material development and characterization; joint ZIM-funded research project
• Nordmetall GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetence cluster ATLAS partner; regional industry association supporting material research
• FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg (WW1)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner; joint research on friction welding processes
• BIL-IBS BelgiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner in Belgium for joining technology
• TU Braunschweig (IFS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner; represented on academic board; friction welding research
• DVS ForschungminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNetwork partner in German welding society; DVS Congress participation

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJBMEDFVRYZEOmcghvUYe1A
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sampro-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Sampro