FlowConcept

What FlowConcept does

FlowConcept GmbH is a privately held German engineering consultancy founded in 2002 as a spin-off of Leibniz University Hannover, headquartered in Hannover. The firm specializes in flow mechanics (Strömungsmechanik) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation for the water and wastewater sector, using ANSYS Fluent as its core simulation platform, extended with proprietary applications for denitrification basins, sand traps, UV disinfection systems, membrane bioreactors, digestion tanks, and pump stations.

The company offers three integrated services: CFD simulation for detailed flow visualization, flow mechanics consulting grounded in DWA guidelines, and R&D support for clients developing new equipment or process strategies. Customer segments include municipal wastewater treatment operators, rainwater and stormwater infrastructure operators (including highway separators and retention basins), and industrial process companies in pharmaceuticals, food processing, and energy. The firm also participates in publicly funded research projects with DBU, BMBF, and the EU.

FlowConcept generates revenue through project-based professional services engagements rather than a recurring SaaS or licensing model. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated per project, with customer acquisition driven by direct outreach via the company website, referrals, and its presence in German water-sector networks (DWA, Strömungsraum Allianz, SIMCHRONIZE, Wasser Hannover, NWZ). The firm operates with 11–50 employees under founder-led management, with PD Dr.-Ing. habil. Michaela Hunze as Managing Director since 2002.

Name

FlowConcept

Legal name

FlowConcept GmbH

Website

https://flow-concept.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FlowConcept GmbH is a German engineering consultancy providing CFD simulation, flow mechanics consulting, and R&D support for municipal wastewater operators, rainwater infrastructure providers, and industrial process companies, using ANSYS Fluent extended with proprietary water-sector applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engineering Consulting Services for Water and Wastewater

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAIAD

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Engineering & Technical Consulting

SECONDARYEUANACAC

Sewer Pump/Lift Stations & Wet Wells

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Water & Wastewater Utilities/Wastewater Collection (Sewer Networks)

SECONDARYEUANAAAB

Raw Water Conveyance & Transmission (Aqueducts, Mains, Pumping Stations)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Water & Wastewater Utilities/Drinking Water Supply & Distribution

Keywords

• CFD simulation services
• Flow mechanics consulting
• Wastewater engineering
• Water treatment CFD
• Fluid dynamics analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering Consulting Services: FlowConcept GmbH provides specialized flow mechanics consulting services, CFD simulations, and R&D support to clients in water/wastewater treatment and related industries. Revenue is generated through project-based consulting engagements rather than a recurring SaaS model.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

FlowConcept GmbH provides specialized CFD-based flow simulation, flow mechanics consulting, and research & development services to operators of water and wastewater treatment facilities and industrial process plants. Services cover wastewater treatment basins (screens through digestion), stormwater/rainwater management systems, drinking water tanks, UV disinfection, biogas fermenters, and broader industrial fluid-handling equipment, using ANSYS Fluent extended with proprietary CFD applications to visualize flow behavior, identify hydraulic weak points, and optimize process reliability and energy efficiency.

Product overview

FlowConcept GmbH is a consulting company offering an integrated portfolio of three core services for the water and wastewater industry: (1) CFD-Simulation using ANSYS Fluent® software for detailed computational fluid dynamics analysis, (2) Strömungsmechanische Beratung providing expert flow mechanics consulting based on DWA guidelines, and (3) Forschung & Entwicklung supporting R&D projects for new equipment and strategies. These services work together to help clients achieve procedurally optimal and energy-efficient operations in facilities involving fluid media.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CFD-Simulation (Computational Fluid Dynamics) Detailed computational fluid dynamics analysis using ANSYS Fluent® to visualize and optimize fluid dynamics in water and wastewater treatment facilities, including water distribution, flow velocity distribution, transport and distribution of contents, pressure distribution, and forces on container walls. Targets operators of wastewater treatment plants, stormwater systems, drinking water tanks, and industrial process vessels.
• Strömungsmechanische Beratung (Flow Mechanics Consulting) Expert consulting on flow mechanics based on long-term experience and fundamental DWA guidelines, analyzing liquid flow paths and identifying improvement possibilities and weak points in water and wastewater treatment facilities. Includes optional staff training in flow mechanics within the described application areas.
• Forschung & Entwicklung (Research & Development) Research and development support for companies developing new equipment or strategies in water and wastewater treatment, including participation in funded research projects and simulation-based testing of different variants before prototype creation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Early identification of unfavorable planning paths saves time and costs
• +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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ingenieurbüro FröseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering consultancy based in Cremlingen (Am Papendorn 22, 38162 Cremlingen), listed as a partner on FlowConcept's partner page. Nature of partnership appears to be collaborative project work in engineering consulting.
• hkw - di Harald Karl WinklerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering consultancy based in Imst, Austria (A-6460 Imst), listed as a FlowConcept partner. Website: hkwinkler.com. Nature of partnership appears to be collaborative engineering work.
• SYRO System-, Rohr- und Anlagenbau GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSystem, pipe and plant engineering company based in Wilnsdorf-Rudersdorf (Schmiedestr. 3, 57234 Wilnsdorf-Rudersdorf). Website: syrogmbh.de. Listed as a FlowConcept partner, likely providing engineering implementation and plant construction capabilities.
• SIMCHRONIZE (Verbund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIMCHRONIZE is a network/association of companies (advertised via simchronize.net) that FlowConcept is a member of. FlowConcept's logo and branding (Grafik-Schriftzug-Slogan-Regulaer) appear on the SIMCHRONIZE page, indicating a formal partnership within this simulation-focused network.
• Norddeutsches Wasserzentrum e.V. (NWZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth German Water Center e.V. (n-w-z.de), a membership organization in the water sector. FlowConcept is a member, representing a connection to the broader North German water industry network.
• Strömungsraum AllianzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlow dynamics alliance (ianus-simulation.de/stroemungsraum-allianz/) focused on simulation expertise. FlowConcept's membership signals alignment with other simulation specialists in Germany.
• Wasser HannovercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater Hannover network (wasser-hannover.de) bringing together water sector stakeholders in the Hannover region. FlowConcept holds a membership.
• DWA (Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall e.V.)coreOthersPersonal membership held by PD Dr. Michaela Hunze in DWA, the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste. DWA sets technical standards and guidelines (such as DWA rules) referenced in FlowConcept's consulting practice.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Arcadis: Global design and engineering consultancy with a large water and wastewater practice offering hydraulic design and process optimization. Overlaps with FlowConcept's value proposition but at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
• Bilfinger: German-headquartered industrial services provider with water/wastewater process engineering and consulting capabilities. Competes for industrial water and process plant optimization work, though as part of a broad industrial services portfolio.
• Ramboll: International engineering, architecture and consulting firm with a strong water and wastewater treatment practice. Competes for the same municipal and industrial water optimization mandates as FlowConcept, but as part of a much larger portfolio.
• CDM Smith: Global engineering and construction firm serving the water and environment sectors with hydraulic modeling and treatment plant design services. Same end market as FlowConcept but at significantly larger scale.
• AFRY (formerly ÅF / Pöyry): European engineering and design consultancy with deep water and wastewater process engineering capabilities. Comparable client base (municipal/industrial water operators) with overlapping CFD/simulation expertise.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology (UMSICHT): Large German applied research institute conducting CFD and process engineering for water, energy and industrial applications. Comparable in technical scope but broader mandate and substantially larger scale than FlowConcept.

Direct peers

• DHI Group (Danish Hydraulic Institute): Denmark-based specialist in water hydraulics modeling and CFD-based consulting for water utilities, wastewater and coastal engineering. Closest functional analogue to FlowConcept in terms of applied CFD and water-domain consulting depth.
• IANUS Simulation GmbH: German simulation consultancy co-anchoring the Strömungsraum Allianz alongside FlowConcept; provides industrial and process CFD services with overlap in water/process-fluid applications.
• Hydrotec GmbH: German engineering consultancy applying hydraulic and hydrodynamic modeling (including 1D/2D/3D simulations) to urban water management, flood protection and wastewater networks. Direct competitor in the DACH water-modeling consulting market.
• KWR Watercycle Research Institute: Dutch water research institute conducting applied research and consulting for water utilities on treatment optimization, hydraulics and process innovation. Comparable to FlowConcept in combining academic-grade research with industrial water-sector consulting.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/flowconcept-gmbh

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 FlowConcept