What PCE does

PCE (Process Control Engineers GmbH) is a German engineering services firm specializing in electrical, measurement, and control (EMSR) technology for industrial process plants. Founded in 1990 by Detlef Hölzel and incorporated as a GmbH in 2005, the company serves chemical, petrochemical, and refinery operators across Bavaria and Germany. Its service portfolio covers twelve interconnected modules spanning instrumentation, electrical engineering, process analysis, PLC systems, functional safety (SIL), pipeline projects, and shutdown planning, executed at both its Eichstätt headquarters and on customer sites including refineries in Ingolstadt and industrial parks in Münchsmünster.

The firm differentiates through proprietary software tools (Planerboxen), SIL calculation software, and extensive specification templates developed over more than 35 years of operational history. It maintains DIN/ISO 9001 and SCC certifications, applies PMI-standard project management with PMP-certified staff, and adheres to DIN/IEC 61508/61511 functional safety standards. The company has received recognition as a top-quality service provider for four consecutive years and holds EcoVadis sustainability assessment credentials.

Revenue is generated through custom, project-based engineering contracts with industrial clients. The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales targeting chemical, petrochemical, refinery, pipeline, and building automation segments. Pricing is quote-based per project scope, with multi-year contracts typical. The company employs 11–50 staff and serves named enterprise clients including Bayernoil, LyondellBasell, Clariant, Solvay, Continental, Gunvor, and Progas.

Name

PCE

Legal name

Process Control Engineers GmbH

Website

https://pce-ei.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PCE is a German EMSR (electrical, measurement, and control technology) engineering services firm serving chemical, petrochemical, and refinery operators in Bavaria through proprietary planning software, certified project management, and 35+ years of industrial plant expertise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Engineering Services

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Instrumentation & Control (I&C) Integration & Commissioning Support (EUAKAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Construction Management & Delivery (EPCM/CMAR/Design-Build Oversight) (EUANALAE)

Keywords

• EMSR engineering services
• Process instrumentation planning
• Industrial plant construction
• Functional safety SIL
• Process automation engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Eichstätt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering Services: Custom project-based engineering services for electrical, measurement and control technology. Services include planning, coordination, supervision, and commissioning support. Revenue generated through consulting fees and project contracts with industrial clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

PCE delivers custom engineering services in electrical, measurement, and control (EMSR) technology for industrial plant construction, serving chemical, petrochemical, refinery and pipeline operators. Services span the full project lifecycle from studies, specifications and detailed planning through construction and assembly supervision to commissioning coordination and shutdown planning, supported by proprietary Planerboxen software tools and extensive specification templates. The firm combines PMP-certified project management under PMI standards with DIN/IEC 61508/61511 functional safety expertise and manufacturer-independent equipment specification.

Product overview

PCE (Process Control Engineers GmbH) is an engineering consultancy offering a portfolio of services in electrical, measurement, and control (EMSR) technology for industrial plant construction. The core offering consists of 12 interconnected service modules: Instrumentierung (instrumentation planning), Elektrotechnik (electrical engineering), Analysentechnik (process analysis technology), PLS/SPS-Systeme (process control/PLC systems), Sicherheitssysteme (safety systems), Montageplanung (assembly planning), Projektmanagement (project management), Funktionale Sicherheit – SIL (functional safety), Pipelineprojekte (pipeline projects), Stillstandsplanung (shutdown planning), Integration der Planungssoftware (planning software integration), and Schulungen (training). These services are provided across the project lifecycle from studies and specifications through detailed planning, construction supervision, and commissioning support. PCE also develops proprietary software tools called 'Planerboxen' (planner boxes) to support their planning processes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Instrumentierung (Instrumentation) Planning and specification services for measurement and control equipment in process plants, including R&I-schemes, control concepts, instrument lists, and device specifications, for chemical, petrochemical, and refinery operators.
• Elektrotechnik (Electrical Engineering) Planning services for transformer systems, switchgear, power distribution, emergency power systems, lighting, lightning protection, and communication facilities for industrial plants.
• Analysentechnik (Process Analysis Technology) Specification, selection, and integration of online process analysis systems including sample preparation, calibration facilities, and complete analysis houses for process industry clients.
• PLS/SPS-Systeme (Process Control / PLC Systems) Planning services for process control systems including software planning for PLC programming, hardware planning, system wiring, and network configuration for industrial plants.
• Sicherheitssysteme (Safety Systems) Planning services for fire alarm systems, gas warning systems, flame detection, smoke aspiration systems, and alarm visualization for personnel and plant protection.
• Montageplanung (Assembly/Mounting Planning) Assembly planning services including creation of mounting documentation, 3D-CAD assembly drawings with material extraction, and coordination of loop tests and commissioning.
• Projektmanagement (Project Management) Project management services following PMI standards including integration, scope, time, cost, quality, HR, communication, risk, and procurement management for industrial plant projects.
• Funktionale Sicherheit – SIL (Functional Safety) Functional safety services following DIN/IEC 61508 and 61511 standards, including lifecycle management of safety-related instrumentation from selection through to recurring inspections.
• Pipelineprojekte (Pipeline Projects) Specialized instrumentation planning for pipeline construction and operation including measurement systems for leak detection, pressure surge monitoring, and corrosion protection.
• Stillstandsplanung (Shutdown Planning) Planning and coordination of shutdown maintenance work including material procurement, coordination of trades, work preparation, and complete system exchange.
• Integration der Planungssoftware (Planning Software Integration) Analysis, specification, selection, and implementation of planning software systems including data migration, validation, system integration, and user training for engineering design systems.
• Schulungen (Training) Training services in software applications (e.g., MSR-Office), project management (PMI workshops), and instrumentation including device selection and SIL requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Improved production performance and energy savings achieved in Münchsmünster industrial park project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Exyte: German high-tech facility and process plant engineering firm providing automation, instrumentation and plant construction services. Overlaps with PCE in process-industry client base and EMSR scope, though Exyte operates globally and at significantly larger project size.
• Emerson: US-headquartered process automation and software company serving chemical, refining and process industries with measurement, control and project services—comparable customer base and overlapping scope with PCE in industrial EMSR and process control.
• Worley: Global energy and chemical engineering services firm delivering project management, automation and EMSR-related engineering across refining, petrochemicals and energy transition projects. Overlaps with PCE's process-industry client base and instrumentation/control scope.
• Honeywell: Global performance materials and technologies company whose Process Solutions division provides automation control, instrumentation and engineering services to refineries and chemical plants—directly overlapping PCE's petrochemical/refinery client base and EMSR scope.
• Linde Engineering: German process plant engineering and EPC contractor serving chemical, refining and hydrogen projects with deep instrumentation and automation scope. Comparable German Mittelstand heritage and process-industry client base, though much larger in scale and project size.
• Bilfinger: Large German industrial services provider with a significant petrochemical/refining EMSR, instrumentation and plant maintenance business—directly comparable in client base and service scope to PCE, though operating at materially larger scale across a wider portfolio.
• ABB: Global electrification, motion and process automation company whose Industrial Automation business delivers instrumentation, control system integration and project services—directly overlapping PCE's instrumentation and process control scope in chemical and refining clients.
• Schneider Electric: French industrial automation and energy management company whose Process Automation business provides control systems, instrumentation and project engineering services. Competes with PCE in industrial EMSR and process control system integration across chemical and refining customers.
• Siemens: Global automation and digitalization leader whose Process Industries & Drives division provides EMSR engineering services, automation hardware and process control systems. Competes with PCE across process-industry EMSR via vertically integrated automation offerings.

Emerging players

• io consult: German engineering consultancy serving process and industrial clients with plant planning, production and engineering services—comparable in boutique Mittelstand character and German industrial client base, though io consult focuses more on factory/logistics planning than EMSR specifically.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pce-process-control-engineers-gmbh

Compliance6 records

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 PCE