What Digital Way does

Digital Way, founded in 1992 and headquartered in Saint-Étienne, France, designs and manufactures power-based tool monitoring systems for the metal cutting industry. Its core technology uses proprietary shunt-resistance power sensing (replacing conventional Hall effect sensors) combined with patented signal processing algorithms — including a derivative algorithm capable of detecting individual tool breakage among multiple tools driven by a single motor — to monitor tool condition in real time at 50 kHz sampling with 16-bit resolution and 0.01% measurement accuracy. The product portfolio is organized around three families: WattPilote for cutting tool breakage and wear detection (available in single, dual, quad, rack, milling, turning, contact, transfer, and overdrive variants); SafePilote for machine crash protection and condition monitoring using 3-axis accelerometer sensors (CDL for collision damage limitation, MCM for predictive maintenance, HSM for holder seat monitoring); and CyberMachine, a DIN-rail IIoT module providing Industry 4.0 connectivity and full machining traceability.

The company operates a sales-led business model combining hardware sales, software licensing (WP Visu-C / WP Visu-CN-C), and professional services including on-site application studies conducted by the founder. Revenue is generated through direct sales offices in France, the USA (Tacoma and Troy), Germany, Italy, China, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand, supplemented by distributor networks in Spain, Poland, Mexico, Turkey, India, Canada, Malaysia, and Russia. Digital Way also supplies its systems as standard or optional equipment to machine tool builders including Comau (since 1996), Chiron, Grob, LiCON, Mauser, Samag, and Stama, creating a parallel OEM channel. The customer base spans automotive Tier 1s and OEMs (Renault, Peugeot, Citroen, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Bosch, Valeo, TRW, Delphi, MAGNA, Linamar), aerospace (Airbus, Aircelle, Eurocopter, SNECMA, Dassault, UTC Aerospace Systems), and general industrial manufacturers (SKF, Mecachrome), with 7,000+ systems installed worldwide since founding. The company is privately held under founder-president Alain Schweitzer, has no disclosed external funding, and maintains complete in-house manufacturing capability from electronics design through assembly and testing.

Name

Digital Way

Legal name

DIGITAL WAY GROUP

Website

https://digitalway.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Digital Way designs and manufactures proprietary shunt-resistance power monitoring systems (WattPilote) and accelerometer-based machine protection systems (SafePilote) for real-time tool breakage detection, wear monitoring, and crash protection on metal-cutting machines, serving automotive, aerospace, and industrial manufacturers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Tool Monitoring Systems

NAICS

Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing (333515), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

Metrology, Inspection & Machine Tool Accessories (CMMs, Probing, Gauging) (IMAHADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Condition Monitoring & Predictive Maintenance Instrumentation (Vibration/ultrasound, oil analysis sensors, IIoT monitoring) (IMAGAFAG), Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC)

Keywords

• Power monitoring systems
• Tool breakage detection
• Machine crash protection
• Cutting tool monitoring
• Metal cutting automation

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Etienne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Power Monitoring Hardware Systems: Sale of WattPilote and SafePilote monitoring systems including single-channel, multi-channel configurations (Dual, Quad, Rack), and sensor modules. Hardware includes proprietary shunt resistance sensors, 3-axis accelerometers, and control unit electronics mounted on DIN rails in electrical cabinets.
2. Software and Visualization Tools: WP Visu-C and WP Visu-CN-C software packages for system setup and process visualization, providing analysis of machining, parameter adaptation and backup, complete parameter sets can be loaded into other WattPilote units.
3. Professional Services: Installation, on-site testing, application studies, and technical support services. The company founder conducts application studies at customer facilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels18 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Digital Way designs, manufactures, and installs power-based tool monitoring and machine crash protection systems for the metal cutting industry. Its WattPilote systems use proprietary shunt-resistor power sensing and signal processing algorithms to detect tool breakage and tool wear in real time during machining, while its SafePilote 3-axis accelerometer systems protect machines against collisions and monitor machine condition. The company also offers multi-channel configurations, the CyberMachine IIoT connectivity module, and the WP Visu-C software for process visualization, serving automotive, aerospace, and general industrial manufacturers as well as machine tool OEMs.

Product overview

Digital Way offers a unified portfolio of power monitoring and machine condition monitoring products centered on two core product families: WattPilote for cutting tool monitoring and SafePilote for machine protection. WattPilote is a power-based tool monitoring system using proprietary shunt-resistor technology to detect tool breakage and wear in real-time during machining operations, available in variants ranging from single-motor to eight-channel configurations for multi-spindle machines. SafePilote provides crash protection and machine condition monitoring using 3-axis accelerometer sensors, offered in three functional modes: CDL for collision damage limitation, MCM for predictive machine maintenance, and HSM for detecting chips in spindle cones. The CyberMachine IIoT module connects WattPilote and SafePilote data to factory networks for Industry 4.0 traceability and real-time statistical analysis. The product portfolio serves automotive, aerospace, and general industrial manufacturing applications with solutions for machining centers, turning machines, grinding machines, transfer lines, and multi-spindle heads.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WattPilote: Power-based tool monitoring system for metal cutting — detects tool breakage and measures tool wear on all types of metal-removal machines.
• SafePilote
• CyberMachine

Products and services

• WattPilote Power-based tool monitoring system product line for the metal cutting industry, using proprietary shunt-resistor power sensing technology and signal processing algorithms to detect tool breakage and measure tool wear in-process on all types of metal-removal machines.
• WattPilote Single Single-motor monitoring system for machining centers. Monitors one motor (spindle or axis), supports one CNC interface, stores data for up to 120 different tools, with reaction speed of 0.005 seconds and minimum control time of 0.07 seconds.
• WattPilote Transfer Single-motor monitoring system designed for transfer line stations or machines with few tools to monitor. Supports one CNC interface with up to 15 controlled machining operations.
• WattPilote Contact Specialized system for precise detection of tool/workpiece contact point, designed for grinding gap elimination, crankshaft balancing machines, and other applications requiring accurate contact detection. Includes overload protection, tool breakage detection, and WP_VISU_C software interface.
• WattPilote Dual Two-motor monitoring system for dual-spindle machining centers. Monitors two motors independently with two separate CNC interfaces, and can be networked for production line management.
• WattPilote Turning Three-channel monitoring system designed for turning machines that independently monitors spindle motor and two feed axes to handle cases where spindle acceleration can mask the cutting signal during turning operations.
• WattPilote Quad Four-channel monitoring system for quad-spindle machining centers. Four channels can monitor motors simultaneously or independently, and can be networked for full production line monitoring.
• WattPilote Rack Solution Multi-channel rack system for machines requiring monitoring of multiple motors, such as rotary transfer lines. Available with 2 to 8 channels per rack; multiple racks can be networked to monitor machines with more than 8 motors.
• WattPilote Milling Specialized system combining power measurement with 3D accelerometer sensing to provide tool breakage detection and protection for long milling operations such as die and mould machining.
• WattPilote Overdrive Specialized system for adaptive control applications. Allows programming of desired power consumption levels; the system modulates feed rate to maintain constant power value during machining operations.
• SafePilote CDL Collision Damage Limitation system using a 3-axis accelerometer sensor with approximately 0.5ms response time to detect crashes and excessive vibrations, stopping machine movement rapidly to minimize collision damage. Can be used on machining centers, turning machines, grinding machines, and robot applications.
• SafePilote MCM Machine Condition Monitoring system using a 3-axis digital vibration sensor mounted on spindle to automatically analyze machine condition through daily monitoring of critical machine assemblies including spindles, axes, ball screws, and bearings. Enables predictive maintenance and tracks wear trends over time.
• SafePilote HSM Holder Seat Monitoring system that detects chips or debris between tool holder and spindle based on imbalance detection. Checks during tool positioning phase after each tool change, can detect chips as small as 0.01mm in approximately 0.4 seconds at rated spindle speed. Particularly useful for processes using minimal quantity lubrication.
• CyberMachine Industry 4.0 IIoT box mounted on DIN rail, powered by 24 VDC, connected to machine network and factory network. Reads machining data from WattPilote, SafePilote, and CNC PLC-connected sensors to ensure complete machining traceability including workpiece QR code, spindle and feed values, coolant flow and pressure, power and machining vibrations. Provides real-time statistics on tools, machine condition, and monitoring status.
• WP Visu-C and WP Visu-CN-C Software PC-based software packages for system setup, parameter storage and retrieval, machining curve analysis, and process visualization for WattPilote systems. Connects locally to WattPilote units via USB or Ethernet.
• Professional Installation and Application Study Services Installation, on-site testing, application studies, and technical support services. The company founder conducts application studies at customer facilities to demonstrate ROI and validate the monitoring configuration before deployment.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 96% reduction in scrap part production on torque converter housing line
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers29 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

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• Peugeot S.A.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004WattPilote has been the standard system used by multinational automobile and motorcycle manufacturer Peugeot S.A. since 2004, indicating a strategic supplier relationship for quality control.
• ComaucoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 1996Digital Way's WattPilote has been the standard tool monitoring solution supplied by machine builder Comau since 1996, making it a long-standing OEM partnership for automated manufacturing systems.
• ChironmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMachine tool builder installing Digital Way products as standard or optional equipment.
• GrobmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMachine tool builder installing Digital Way products as standard or optional equipment.
• LiCONmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMachine tool builder installing Digital Way products as standard or optional equipment.
• MausermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMachine tool builder installing Digital Way products as standard or optional equipment.
• SamagmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMachine tool builder installing Digital Way products as standard or optional equipment.
• StamamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMachine tool builder installing Digital Way products as standard or optional equipment.
• MAGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMachine tool builder installing Digital Way products as standard or optional equipment.
• K-TechminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Digital Way products in South Korea.
• DanfforminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Digital Way products in Spain.
• RoboteckminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Digital Way products in Mexico.
• ZPTminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Digital Way products in Poland.
• Precision Tooling Services Co., LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Digital Way products in Thailand.
• Tezmaksan MakinaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Digital Way products in Turkey.
• M2NXT Solutions Private LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Digital Way products in India.
• MSC Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Digital Way products in Canada.
• HSC SystemminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Digital Way products in Malaysia.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Marposs: Italian-headquartered global leader in precision measurement, gauges, and process-control/monitoring equipment for metal cutting. Marposs's tool-monitoring and crash-protection modules (now including the former Artis product line) directly overlap Digital Way's WattPilote and SafePilote offerings into the same automotive and aerospace end markets.
• Promess: German supplier of force/displacement monitoring systems for assembly and metal-cutting presses. Like Digital Way, Promess instruments low-power sensor signals in real time to detect process anomalies, serving similar Tier-1 automotive customers on both sides of the Atlantic.
• Renishaw: UK-based leader in machine-tool probing, tool-length/breakage detection, and on-machine measurement. Renishaw's OMP60 probes and Equator gauges compete for the same tool-monitoring and part-measurement budget that WattPilote targets, particularly on high-end machining centers and aerospace supply chains.
• Artis (CTE Digital / Marposs Group): German specialist in process monitoring for CNC machining (tool breakage, wear, collision) — now within the Marposs ecosystem after the 2023 acquisition. Artis's MARLUTION platform is a near-overlap to WattPilote in automotive transfer lines and aerospace drilling.
• Blum-Novotest: German manufacturer of in-process measuring systems, tool-touch probes, and machine-condition monitoring (laser and vibration-based crash protection) for CNC machine tools. Both companies sell to German machine-tool builders and Tier-1 automotive suppliers, and compete for the same OEM 'standard equipment' slot on transfer lines and machining centers.
• ZettMess: German niche supplier of tool-monitoring and process-monitoring equipment for turning and grinding, with comparable automotive customer references. Direct overlap with WattPilote's WattPilote Contact and Turning variants in mid-volume European manufacturing.
• Kistler Group: Swiss-headquartered specialist in piezoelectric sensors, dynamometers, and process-monitoring systems for cutting operations. Kistler competes head-to-head with Digital Way in power- and force-based tool-condition monitoring — including monitoring subsystems that get embedded into machine builders' standard offerings.
• Walter Maschinenbau (UNITED GRINDING): Producer of tool-measuring machines and laser-based tool-setting/breakage-detection solutions for grinding and machining lines. Walter's measuring products compete directly with WattPilote's Contact-series application in presetting and contact-detection on grinding and turning operations.

Broad incumbents

• Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence: Division of Hexagon AB providing a broad portfolio of metrology, CMM, in-process measurement, and productivity software solutions for discrete manufacturing. Adjacent to Digital Way's on-machine tool monitoring via shared customers and overlapping technology roadmaps, but operates at significantly larger scale and a much wider product breadth.
• ZEISS Industrial Metrology: Broad industrial-metrology player covering CMMs, optical systems, CT scanning, and in-line production measurement. Overlaps with Digital Way at the boundary of in-process tool monitoring vs. post-process part measurement, and shares several Tier-1 automotive and aerospace accounts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Digitalwaywattpilote

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 Digital Way