ISG

What ISG does

ISG Industrielle Steuerungstechnik GmbH is a privately held German software company headquartered in Stuttgart that develops and sells software and hardware for industrial control, simulation, and virtual commissioning. Founded in 1987 and operating for more than 35 years, the company serves manufacturers and machine builders across packaging, automotive, robotics, and broader industrial automation verticals.

Its product platform is anchored by four branded product lines. ISG-kernel is a software core providing CNC, robotics, and motion control functionality, including a comprehensive NC programming language with PLCopen constructs. ISG-virtuos is the flagship simulation platform that supports the full virtual commissioning workflow from Model-in-the-Loop (MiLS) through Software-in-the-Loop (SiLS) to Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiLS) simulation, with deterministic real-time execution on dedicated fieldbus hardware. ISG-dirigent is a model-based test automation tool for automated testing of simulation models and PLC/CNC control software. TwinStore is an online marketplace that connects component suppliers with simulation users by hosting vendor-supplied digital twin catalogs. ISG complements this software portfolio with the ISG-Real-Time-Target industrial PC (including a Powerlink variant for B&R controllers) and the ISG-Workstation turnkey commissioning bundle.

ISG monetizes through one-time software licenses across multiple license packages, hardware sales of real-time targets and workstations, professional services (Academy training, project planning, process optimization), and emerging marketplace commissions from TwinStore. The go-to-market is consultative and direct, supported by an Academy training program (basic and 2-day implementation workshops), participation in trade fairs such as SPS, and a co-development partner network that includes BMW AG, SICK AG, Fraunhofer IWU, the Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA), and multiple German universities. The company has no external funding, no parent company, and operates as an independent GmbH.

Name

ISG

Legal name

ISG Industrielle Steuerungstechnik GmbH

Website

https://isg-stuttgart.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ISG Industrielle Steuerungstechnik GmbH is a Stuttgart-based German software company that delivers virtual commissioning, simulation, and control software for industrial automation. It serves machine builders and manufacturers in packaging, automotive, and robotics via the ISG-virtuos, ISG-kernel, ISG-dirigent, and TwinStore product lines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Software

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (334118)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Test, Measurement & Calibration Equipment Manufacturing Services (ATE, DAQ, metrology electronics) (IMAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Application Maintenance & Support (AMS) (BPAEAFAC)

Keywords

• Virtual commissioning software
• Industrial automation software
• CNC control software
• Digital twin platform
• Simulation software

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses: ISG generates revenue through sale of software licenses for ISG-kernel, ISG-virtuos, ISG-dirigent, and TwinStore. The software is offered in different license packages such as Twin, PLC and CNC licenses for ISG-dirigent.
2. Hardware Products: Sale of specialized hardware including ISG-Real-Time-Target, ISG-Real-Time-Target Powerlink, and ISG-Workstation for virtual commissioning.
3. Professional Services: Services including Academy training, project planning and application support, process optimization, and ongoing service support for implementation of simulation and automation projects.
4. TwinStore Digital Twin Marketplace: Component suppliers provide virtual component models (digital twins) through the TwinStore platform for use in virtual commissioning simulations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ISG develops and sells software and hardware products for industrial control and simulation technology. Its core software products — ISG-virtuos (virtual commissioning simulation platform supporting MiLS, SiLS, and HiLS), ISG-kernel (software core for CNC, robotics, and motion control), and ISG-dirigent (test automation for PLC/CNC control software) — are complemented by the TwinStore online exchange platform for digital twin components. ISG also sells supporting hardware including ISG-Real-Time-Target, ISG-Real-Time-Target Powerlink, and the ISG-Workstation turnkey solution for real-time physics simulation on industrial fieldbuses.

Product overview

ISG Industrielle Steuerungstechnik GmbH offers a modular software platform for automation and simulation technology. The core product is ISG-virtuos, a simulation platform for virtual commissioning supporting MiLS, SiLS, and HiLS simulation workflows. ISG-kernel serves as the software core providing CNC, robotics, and motion control capabilities. Test automation is handled by ISG-dirigent, which enables automated testing of simulation models and control software. TwinStore complements the portfolio as an online exchange platform connecting component manufacturers with simulation users through digital twin catalogs. Hardware products include ISG-Real-Time-Target and ISG-Real-Time-Target Powerlink for deterministic real-time simulation, and ISG-Workstation as a complete turnkey solution. The portfolio is designed for virtual commissioning, simulation-based engineering, and control software testing across industries including packaging, automotive, and robotics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ISG-virtuos: The simulation platform for virtual commissioning
• ISG-kernel
• ISG-dirigent
• TwinStore
• ISG-Real-Time-Target
• ISG-Real-Time-Target Powerlink
• ISG-Workstation

Products and services

• ISG-virtuos Simulation platform enabling consistent development and use of digital twins from model-in-the-loop (MiLS) through software-in-the-loop (SiLS) to hardware-in-the-loop (HiLS) simulation for virtual commissioning of machines and plants.
• ISG-kernel Software core providing CNC, robotics, and motion control functionality with comprehensive NC programming (G/M functions, additional #.. functions, PLCopen), axis control, and programming variables for industrial control applications.
• ISG-dirigent Model-based test automation tool for automated testing of simulation models and PLC/CNC control software with block libraries, graphical modeling without programming, and audit-proof test documentation.
• TwinStore Online exchange platform for digital twins and component models, providing virtual product catalogs from manufacturers for virtual commissioning, training, and service.
• ISG-Real-Time-Target Ultra-compact control cabinet industrial PC for loss-free real-time physics simulation on fieldbus, supporting multiple controllers via 3 or 7 fieldbus interfaces (CANopen, EtherCAT, Profinet, Ethernet IP, Profibus including PROFIsafe and TwinSAFE).
• ISG-Real-Time-Target Powerlink Real-time target specifically designed for B&R controllers enabling lossless, clock-synchronous real-time physics simulation via POWERLINK including POWERLINK Safety.
• ISG-Workstation Complete turnkey solution for virtual commissioning comprising a project planning PC optimized for modeling and 3D visualization, a real-time target, and peripherals including screen, keyboard, mouse, and 3D mouse.
• ISG Academy Training and Professional Services Academy training (basic workshop and 2-day implementation workshop), project planning and application support, process optimization, and ongoing service support for implementation of simulation and automation projects.

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• KRUPS Automation GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwinStore community partner providing digital twin components for virtual commissioning in automation applications.
• Murrelektronik GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwinStore community partner supplying automation components with digital representations.
• BMW AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor automotive manufacturer as TwinStore community partner for digital twin ecosystem.
• ISW Universität StuttgartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity research partner contributing to TwinStore community with academic expertise.
• WEISS GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwinStore community partner for automation technology components.
• Industrial Digital Twin Association e.V. (IDTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for digital twin standards, supporting TwinStore ecosystem with standardization.
• J. Schmalz GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwinStore community partner providing handling technology components with digital twins.
• HEITEC AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwinStore community partner for automation solutions.
• ARENA2036 e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch association partner in TwinStore community for future production research.
• Fraunhofer Institut für Werkzeugmaschinen und Umformtechnik IWUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading research institute partner for machine tool research contributing to TwinStore.
• Campus SchwarzwaldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigitalization research partner in TwinStore community.
• KEB Automation KGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwinStore community partner for drive technology components.
• SICK AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor sensor manufacturer as TwinStore community partner providing digital sensor models.
• Hochschule KemptenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner contributing to TwinStore community for education and research.
• Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Amberg-WeidenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner in TwinStore community for education and research.
• Hochschule PforzheimminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner in TwinStore community for education and research.
• ZIMMER Group GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwinStore community partner providing handling technology components.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FANUC: FANUC's ROBOGUIDE and CNC simulation tools compete directly with ISG-kernel and ISG-dirigent for CNC control testing and virtual commissioning in machine tool and robotics applications.
• ABB Robotics: ABB's RobotStudio is the dominant robotics simulation and offline programming suite, directly competing with ISG-virtuos and ISG-kernel in the robotics vertical where ISG lists motion control and robot validation as core use cases.
• B&R Industrial Automation (ABB): B&R's Automation Studio is integrated into ISG's POWERLINK real-time target; the controller platform and its simulation tooling represent both partnership and competitive overlap in machine automation.
• dSPACE: dSPACE provides hardware-in-the-loop simulation platforms and controller testing tools widely used in industrial automation and automotive - a direct peer for ISG-Real-Time-Target and ISG-virtuos HiLS workflows.
• Beckhoff Automation: Beckhoff's TwinCAT 3 includes simulation capabilities and ISG-dirigent specifically targets Beckhoff PLC test cases; Beckhoff is both an integration partner and competing automation platform vendor.
• KUKA Roboter: KUKA offers KUKA.Sim for offline robot simulation and integrates with ISG-virtuos via OfficeLite, representing both a customer/integration partner and a competitor for CNC/robotics simulation.

Broad incumbents

• MathWorks: MathWorks' Simulink and Simscape are widely used for industrial control modeling and Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation, sitting upstream/downstream of ISG's offerings in many customer engineering workflows.
• Dassault Systèmes: Dassault's 3DEXPERIENCE platform delivers industrial digital twin, virtual commissioning, and multi-physics simulation, competing for the same industrial customers with deep enterprise and PLM footprint.
• Rockwell Automation: Rockwell's Emulate3D provides dynamic digital twin and virtual commissioning for industrial automation, directly overlapping ISG-virtuos' HiLS/SiLS value proposition for factory and process automation customers.
• Siemens Digital Industries Software: Siemens offers Tecnomatix (Plant Simulation, Robcad) and SIMIT for virtual commissioning and digital twins, targeting the same automotive, manufacturing, and process customers as ISG with a much broader portfolio and bundled controller sales.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/isgstuttgart
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/isg-industrielle-steuerungstechnik-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 ISG