Acad
Acad group GmbH is a German engineering and plastics injection molding company that delivers express prototypes, small-series parts, and product development services to automotive, medical technology, and industrial customers using its proprietary Rapid Moulding System.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersHeilsbronn, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Acad does
Acad group GmbH is a privately held German engineering and plastics injection molding company headquartered in Heilsbronn, Bavaria, founded in 1991 and operating from a single consolidated site. The company serves approximately 300 active customers across automotive, medical technology, industrial/consumer goods, and aerospace verticals, with a workforce of approximately 500 full-time employees and annual production capacity on the order of 450,000 parts. Its service offering is structured around three divisions: acad prototyping (express injection molding of prototypes, pre-series, and small-series parts), acad engineering (product development, CAD design using Dassault Systèmes CATIA and Siemens NX, FEM structural analysis, and rheological simulation via CADMOULD), and acad systems (exclusive housing solutions for the medical technology sector, supported by a partner network for electronics, embedded software, and regulatory consulting).
The company's core technical differentiator is its proprietary Rapid Moulding System (RMS), a self-developed aluminum tooling platform that delivers mold-falling injection-molded parts in 5-15 working days, with the RMS variant guaranteeing 2,000 shots and the RMS-E variant extending guaranteed output to up to 30,000 shots. Combined with an in-house ERP system, in-house toolmaking, CNC machining (3-axis and 5-axis), injection molding machines ranging from 50t to 350t clamping force, and GOM ATOS optical 3D measurement, the company delivers a single-source development-to-production capability. Materials processed include 800+ thermoplastics, high-temperature plastics, and hybrid/multi-component materials, with part sizes up to 600mm and weights up to 700g.
Acad generates revenue through project-based, quote-driven contracts rather than disclosed pricing tiers, with services structured around multi-year project lifecycles and a 5-phase development methodology. GTM is sales-led enterprise B2B with dedicated account managers providing technical support, supplemented by participation in industry trade shows (KPA, Formnext, Fakuma, KUTENO, MedtecLIVE) and direct engagement through LinkedIn, XING, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Named enterprise customers include Daimler (via F.S. Fehrer Kitzingen GmbH for S-Class armrest programs), Hilti (DTS 20 CA diamond wall saw housing), Brainlab (Softtouch Pointer), PIUR Imaging (tUS tomographic imaging device housing), Sentinum (Apollon-Q level sensor housing), and DEZIMAL/ACMIT (RALV housing assembly). The company holds DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 certification across all operations.
Acad firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Acad
- Legal name
- acad group GmbH
- Website
- https://acad-group.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Acad group GmbH is a German engineering and plastics injection molding company that delivers express prototypes, small-series parts, and product development services to automotive, medical technology, and industrial customers using its proprietary Rapid Moulding System.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Acad industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Plastic Injection Molding and Prototyping Services
- NAICS
- Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261)
- SIC
- Plastics Products, Nec (3089)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Custom Injection Molding & Contract Manufacturing (Job Shops/CMs) (IMANAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Automotive & Transportation Injection Molded Parts (IMANAFAB), Medical & Life Sciences Injection Molding (Devices, Diagnostics, Cleanroom) (IMANAFAC), Industrial & Machinery Injection Molded Components (Gears, Wear Parts) (IMANAFAF)
Keywords
Where Acad is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Heilsbronn
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Acad business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Plastic Injection Molding Services: Production of prototypes, pre-series and small series injection-molded plastic parts using proprietary Rapid Moulding System. Revenue generated from part production, tooling, and material costs.
- Engineering and Product Development Services: Product development, concept engineering, and construction services from concept to market-ready product, including CAD design, simulation, and testing.
- Medical Device Housing Development: Exclusive housing solutions for medical technology sector, including development, validation, and small series production.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based custom pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Acad product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Acad group GmbH manufactures plastic prototypes, pre-series, and small-series injection-molded parts in 5–15 working days using its proprietary Rapid Moulding System, and provides accompanying product development, CAD engineering, and medical device housing services from a single site in Heilsbronn, Germany. The company serves automotive, medical technology, industrial, aerospace, and consumer customers with quantities from 50 to 50,000 parts across an 800-material portfolio.
Product overview
Acad group GmbH is a German engineering and plastics injection molding company founded in 1991, operating three specialized divisions from a single location: acad prototyping (express injection molding for prototypes and small series using proprietary Rapid Moulding System), acad engineering (product development with CAD systems Dassault CATIA and Siemens NX), and acad systems (medical device housing development). The portfolio includes in-house toolmaking, CNC machining, FEM analysis, CADMOULD rheological simulation, and GOM ATOS optical measurement services. The company delivers 5-15 working day turnaround for express injection molding projects with 2,000 to 30,000 unit guaranteed outputs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- acad prototyping: Manufacturing of prototypes, pre-series and small series from plastic in series quality. Rapid injection molding services using proprietary Rapid Moulding System (RMS).
- acad engineering
- acad systems
Products and services
- acad prototyping Express injection molding manufacturing of plastic prototypes, pre-series, and small series using the proprietary Rapid Moulding System. Produces mold-resistant injection-molded parts in 5-15 working days from original thermoplastics with guaranteed output quantities from 2,000 to 30,000 rounds. Targeted at automotive, medical technology, industrial, and consumer customers.
- acad engineering Product development, conception, and construction services for plastic products and assemblies from concept to series production. Uses Dassault Systemes CATIA and Siemens NX CAD systems and a 5-phase development methodology (concept, detailed, functional sample, elaboration, drafting) with supporting FEM analysis, CADMOULD rheological simulation, and GOM ATOS optical measurement. Targeted at automotive, industry, and consumer customers.
- acad systems Exclusive housing solution development for the medical technology sector. Manages projects from construction to validation, part production, and assembly, with a partner network for electronics and software development. Targeted at medical device OEMs requiring validated, small-series production of plastic device enclosures.
- Rapid Moulding System (RMS / RMS-E) Tooling Proprietary aluminum-based flexible tool system for rapid injection molding. RMS provides 2,000 guaranteed shots; RMS-E provides up to 30,000 shots. Allows quick tool manufacturing, modification, and economical production for prototypes and small series, underpinning the 5-15 working day turnaround.
- Insert and 2K (Multi-Component) Molding Insert molding and multi-component (2K) injection molding service enabling complex hybrid components with overmolded soft elements for sealing applications. Processes thermoplastics, high-temperature plastics, and hybrid/multi-component materials with part sizes up to 600mm and weights up to 700g.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5-15 working days from data to mold-ready injection-molded parts
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Acad
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Acad technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Acad partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- mdeg GmbHcoreSoftware partner for acad systems medical device development. Provides project/product development, system architecture, and embedded system development expertise for medical technology applications.
- MEDTECH360coreProject management partner for medical device development. Provides project management, system architecture, and embedded system development services as part of the 5-phase development process.
- Reputation-EngineeringcoreElectronics development partner for medical device housings. Specializes in development of medical device electronics, safety-related system architecture, and regulatory consulting.
- Bayern InnovativminorInnovation network providing joint exhibition space at trade shows including Formnext and Fakuma. Acad Group participates at Bayern Innovativ pavilion.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Acad competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Fictiv: Fictiv is a digital manufacturing platform that provides instant quoting and managed production for injection molded and CNC parts, directly competing with Acad's rapid-turnaround prototype service for hardware startups and enterprise R&D teams.
- Xometry: Xometry operates a digital on-demand manufacturing marketplace that connects buyers with injection molding, CNC, and 3D printing suppliers—competing with Acad for rapid prototype and low-volume plastic part orders, especially from North American customers.
- Hubs (Protolabs): Hubs, now part of Protolabs, is an online manufacturing platform offering CNC machining, injection molding, and 3D printing with automated quoting and European manufacturing partners—overlapping Acad's European rapid-prototype customer base.
- RapidWerks: RapidWerks is a US-based rapid injection molding service specializing in quick-turn prototype and low-volume plastic parts with aluminum tooling, closely mirroring Acad's RMS value proposition for North American customers.
Direct peers
- Protolabs: Protolabs is the most direct competitor to Acad, offering on-demand injection molding, CNC machining, and 3D printing with rapid lead times for prototypes and low-volume production—mirroring Acad's core prototyping and small-series value proposition.
Broad incumbents
- Stratasys: Stratasys is a global leader in 3D printing and additive manufacturing systems and services, competing with Acad for prototype and design-validation work where customers may choose 3D printing over rapid injection molding.
- ARBURG: ARBURG is a German injection molding machine manufacturer that also offers molding services and customer support; it competes with Acad in the high-quality German plastics processing market with broader equipment and automation capabilities.
- Materialise: Materialise offers industrial 3D printing and manufacturing services with strong European presence, overlapping with Acad in rapid prototyping for automotive and medical customers, though its primary focus is additive rather than injection molding.
- Engel Austria: Engel is a major Austrian/German injection molding machine manufacturer with technical centers and customer services; it overlaps with Acad in automotive and medical plastics processing for European industrial customers.
Others
- Plastikon Industries: Plastikon is a contract plastics manufacturer offering injection molding, assembly, and packaging services for medical, automotive, and consumer customers—adjacent to Acad in custom plastics contract manufacturing but with a different scale and geographic footprint.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Acad social profiles
Digital presenceAcad compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Acad financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Acad leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Acad funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Acad M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Acad
What does Acad do?
Acad group GmbH manufactures plastic prototypes, pre-series, and small-series injection-molded parts in 5–15 working days using its proprietary Rapid Moulding System, and provides accompanying product development, CAD engineering, and medical device housing services from a single site in Heilsbronn, Germany. The company serves automotive, medical technology, industrial, aerospace, and consumer customers with quantities from 50 to 50,000 parts across an 800-material portfolio.
Is Acad a public or private company?
Acad is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Acad founded?
Acad was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Acad based?
Acad is headquartered in Heilsbronn, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Acad make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Plastic Injection Molding Services are the primary driver. The others are engineering and Product Development Services and medical Device Housing Development.
Who are Acad's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Fictiv, Xometry, Hubs (Protolabs) and RapidWerks. Protolabs is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Stratasys, ARBURG, Materialise and Engel Austria. Plastikon Industries is listed as an others.
Does Acad have an API?
No public API is recorded for Acad.
What industry is Acad in?
Acad's product category is Plastic Injection Molding and Prototyping Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMANAFAJ, Custom Injection Molding & Contract Manufacturing (Job Shops/CMs), with a secondary code of IMANAFAB, Automotive & Transportation Injection Molded Parts. Its NAICS code is 3261 and its SIC code is 3089.