Lignocam

What Lignocam does

Lignocam is a privately-held Swiss software company, founded in 1997 and headquartered in Vevey, that develops CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) software purpose-built for the woodworking industry. Its single core product imports and interprets BTL and BTLx files — a 3D geometric data format used in timber construction CAD workflows (from vendors such as Cadwork, Sema, Dietrich's, and Hsbcad) — and automatically generates ISO code (machine instructions) for woodworking CNC machines. The software is differentiated from general mechanical CAM tools by its handling of wood's anisotropic properties, single-piece custom production workflows (versus metalworking's mass-production orientation), and counter-deflection (contre-flèche) management for cambered timber carriers. Lignocam is also the official publisher of the BTL-Viewer, the de facto reference tool for the BTL format in the woodworking ecosystem.

The company's go-to-market combines direct website sales (multilingual: French, English, German) for individual carpenters and SMBs with OEM co-marketing alongside machine manufacturers (Technowood, Krüsi, SCM, Felder, Homag, Soukup/Pontec). Its revenue model centers on one-time software licenses supplemented by technical support from wood-industry professionals. A 20+ year annual Userclub tradition — bringing together 260 technicians in 2023 across European in-person sessions and online international meetings — functions as both a customer-retention engine and a product feedback loop. The company is founder-led (CEO Jean Roulier), has 1–10 employees, no disclosed institutional funding, and an active international footprint spanning Switzerland, France, Germany, the USA, Japan, Taiwan, and New Zealand, anchored by high-visibility timber construction reference projects such as the Mount Fuji World Heritage Centre and Stuttgart's Seeblickweg wood/carbon pedestrian bridge.

Name

Lignocam

Legal name

Lignocam

Website

https://lignocam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lignocam is a Swiss CAM software vendor that imports BTL/BTLx CAD files and generates ISO code for woodworking CNC machines, serving carpenters, timber fabricators, and CNC machine OEMs across Europe and selected international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Woodworking CAD/CAM Software

akta.pro primary industry

CAM Toolpath Generation & DfAM Optimization (IMAAACAB)

Keywords

• CAD to CAM software
• Woodworking CNC
• BTL file format
• Timber construction CAM
• CNC machining software

Headquarters

HQ city

Vevey

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses: Sale of CAM software licenses for woodworking CNC machines. The software enables import of BTL/BTLx files from CAD software and generates ISO code for CNC machines.
2. Technical Support: Technical support and consultation services provided by wood industry professionals, mentioned as part of the software benefits.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lignocam develops and sells a wood-specialized CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) software that imports and interprets BTL and BTLx CAD files containing 3D geometric machining information, then automatically calculates ISO code for woodworking CNC machines based on a built-in macro/strategy library. The software addresses wood's anisotropic properties, supports single-piece custom production, and manages counter-deflection (contre-flèche) requirements specific to timber construction, and Lignocam is also the official publisher of the BTL-Viewer.

Product overview

Lignocam offers a single unified CAM software product for the woodworking industry. The core Lignocam software imports BTL and BTLx geometric data files from CAD software (such as Cadwork, Sema, Dietrich's, or Hsbcad) and automatically calculates ISO code for CNC machines. It is designed specifically for wood — not adapted from metalworking — and handles wood-specific challenges including anisotropic machining, single-use programming files, and counter-deflection (contre-flèche) processing. The software features a 4-menu interface and includes 3D ISO code simulation. Lignocam also publishes the official BTL-Viewer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lignocam CAM Software CAM software for the woodworking industry that imports and interprets BTL and BTLx files containing 3D geometric machining data, and automatically calculates ISO code for CNC machines via a built-in strategy/macro library. Designed specifically for wood's anisotropic properties, supports single-piece custom production, handles counter-deflection (contre-flèche) processing, and includes 3D ISO code simulation through a 4-menu interface. Targeted at carpenters, timber framers, stair builders, and CNC workshops.
• BTL-Viewer Official viewer application for the BTL (Bois Tilbury Format) file format used in the woodworking industry for CAD-to-CAM data exchange, published by Lignocam as the standard-bearer for the BTL format.
• Woodpecker (BTL Generator for Rhino/Grasshopper) A specific module launched by Lignocam to generate BTL files from Rhino and Grasshopper software, enabling CAD-to-CAM interoperability for users of the Rhino/Grasshopper design environment.

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TechnowoodcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Swiss CNC machine manufacturer (TwMillE, TwMillM/C, Twoods, TwAgil). Hosts annual Userclub events at their facility in Alt St. Johann. Active demonstration partner for Lignocam software integration.
• KrüsicoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Swiss CNC machine manufacturer (MC-15 and Lignamatic). Hosts annual Userclub events at their facility in Schönengrund. Integration partner for Lignocam software.
• CadworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationCAD software for timber construction. Representatives attend Userclub events to support mutual customers.
• BFH - Bern University of Applied SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerner Fachhochschule (Swiss university). Hosts annual Userclub events at their Biel campus. Partner for research and development in woodworking CNC education.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IMOS: German CAD/CAM suite for furniture, cabinetry, and woodworking. IMOS targets a similar end market and offers comparable CNC output workflows, positioning it as a direct competitor in the woodworking CAM niche.
• Microvellum: CAD/CAM software specialized for cabinet, closet, and architectural millwork manufacturers. Microvellum competes for the same custom woodworking CNC workflow that Lignocam enables.
• Cabinet Vision: CAD/CAM software for cabinetmakers and woodworking shops, owned by Hexagon. Cabinet Vision targets the same custom-woodworking CNC operator persona, making it a relevant peer in the segment.
• Dietrich's: German CAD/CAM software for timber construction. Dietrich's is a Userclub partner of Lignocam and serves the same carpenter/timber-framer customer base with overlapping CAM functionality.
• Hsbcad: Danish-origin CAD software for timber construction with CAM output for CNC. Hsbcad is a Userclub partner and operates in the same CAD-to-CNC workflow that Lignocam's software completes.
• Cadwork: Swiss-headquartered CAD/CAM suite specialized for timber construction. Cadwork generates BTL/BTLx files that Lignocam reads, making it an upstream peer in the same CAD-to-CNC value chain for carpenters and timber framers.
• Sema: German CAD/CAM software for timber and solid wood construction. Sema is a named integration partner of Lignocam and addresses overlapping end users (carpentry and timber frame shops) with a comparable workflow.
• ALPHACAM: Woodworking-focused CAM software from Vero Software (Hexagon). ALPHACAM directly competes for the same CNC operator use case as Lignocam, generating toolpaths for wood machining from upstream CAD data.

Broad incumbents

• Mastercam: One of the largest general-purpose CAM software products worldwide, with significant penetration in CNC machine shops including woodworking. Mastercam is a broad incumbent that overlaps with Lignocam at the toolpath-generation step.
• Autodesk Fusion 360: General-purpose CAD/CAM platform with integrated manufacturing workspace. Fusion 360 is the dominant cloud-enabled CAD/CAM suite and could encroach on Lignocam's niche if wood-specific CAM features are added.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lignocam-sa

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 Lignocam