MANUFAI
MANUFAI is a Mexico-based sole proprietorship that develops AI-powered software for welding sequence optimization, robotic offline programming, and shopfloor quality tracking, serving automotive, aerospace, and heavy-equipment manufacturers through integrations with Simufact Welding, FreeCAD, and RoboDK.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSan Nicolás De Los Garza, Mexico
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What MANUFAI does
MANUFAI is a Mexico-based sole proprietorship founded in June 2018 by Dr. Jesus Antonio Romero Hernandez, headquartered in San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León. The company develops AI-powered software and engineering services targeting welding-intensive manufacturers, with a primary focus on minimizing welding deformation and automating related shopfloor workflows. Its core technology stack centers on a Welding Sequence Optimizer (WSO) — proprietary machine-learning and optimization algorithms originally developed during the founder's Mechatronics PhD at Osaka University — delivered both as a standalone solution and as an AI plugin for Simufact Welding FEA software (Hexagon ecosystem). Complementary capabilities include a FreeCAD plugin for automatic weldable-edge recognition and welding trajectory export, RoboDK plugins for multi-robot simulation and offline programming, and integration with Kotem Smart Profile for GD&T assessment.
The product portfolio spans four software lines — MANUFAI Welding (Starter MX$2,700, Pro MX$16,186 per year), the Simufact AI Plugin (Nodelock MX$80,930, Floating MX$109,705 per year), Inspekten AI quality tracking (free Starter and $1,200 USD/year Pro tiers), and the Okyaku low-cost CRM (MX$900) — supplemented by engineering simulation services (structural, dynamic, thermal/CFD, welding, casting, failure analysis), NDT/SPC/Six Sigma/GD&T training, custom software and IoT development, and Mexican distribution of Cythero's Sprayverse and WeldVR industrial VR simulators. Revenue is generated through annual software subscriptions, per-project engineering services, training fees, and reseller margins on VR products. Distribution combines self-serve e-commerce for SMB tiers, direct quote-based enterprise sales for CAE plugins, embedded distribution through the RoboDK Add-in Marketplace and Simufact/Hexagon ecosystem, and a community-led motion via the open-source GitHub repository (jr23mx/MANUFAI_freecad_plugin). Customer segments are vertical in nature, spanning automotive, aerospace, construction, and heavy equipment manufacturers, with primary use cases in welding sequence optimization, robotic offline programming, and shopfloor quality data capture.
MANUFAI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MANUFAI
- Legal name
- Jesus Antonio Romero Hernández
- Website
- https://manufai.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- MANUFAI is a Mexico-based sole proprietorship that develops AI-powered software for welding sequence optimization, robotic offline programming, and shopfloor quality tracking, serving automotive, aerospace, and heavy-equipment manufacturers through integrations with Simufact Welding, FreeCAD, and RoboDK.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MANUFAI industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Manufacturing Software
- NAICS
- Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Industrial Design Services (541420)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian) (IMAHAHAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Robotic Welding & Welding Automation Programming Training (EDAOADAI)
Keywords
Where MANUFAI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Nicolás De Los Garza
- HQ country
- Mexico
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
MANUFAI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Software Licenses - Simufact AI Plugin: Annual leasing licenses for Simufact AI plugin CAE products sold in floating and nodelock variants with per-user pricing (MX$48K–MX$110K per license). Additional user seats available separately.
- Software Licenses - MANUFAI Welding (FreeCAD Plugin): Annual subscription licenses for MANUFAI Welding Starter (MX$2,700) and Pro (MX$16,186) tiers. Token-based consumption model where base tier includes 1 token/month for features like Shopfloor Sequencer and AI Advisor.
- Software Licenses - Inspekten (Quality Tracking): Tiered annual subscription for Inspekten quality tracking software: FREE (evaluation), Starter (MX$2,700 / $150 USD/year), and Pro (MX$21,581 / $1,200 USD/year). Cloud DB and IoT support in Pro tier.
- Software Licenses - Okyaku CRM: Low-cost CRM software sold at MX$900 per license with 30-day full free trial. Nodelock license with 1-year subscription.
- Engineering and Simulation Services: Professional engineering services including structural analysis, dynamic analysis, thermal & CFD analysis, welding simulation, casting simulation, CAD modeling, failure analysis, and training. Billed per project or engagement.
- Training Services: Paid training programs including NDT (Liquid Penetrant Inspection Level I & II with ASNT certification), SPC, Visual Inspection, Six Sigma, and GD&T courses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Simufact AI Plugin Floating License - Annual |
| Subscription | Annual | Simufact AI Plugin Nodelock License - Annual |
| Subscription | Annual | MANUFAI Welding Pro - Annual |
| Subscription | Annual | MANUFAI Welding Starter - Annual |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Inspekten FREE - Evaluation Tier |
| Subscription | Annual | Inspekten Starter - Affordable Tier |
| Subscription | Annual | Inspekten Pro - AI for Fabricators |
| Subscription | Annual | Inspekten Starter - MXN Pricing |
| Subscription | Annual | Okyaku CRM - Annual |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
MANUFAI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MANUFAI develops and sells AI-powered software for the welding and manufacturing industry, including the Welding Sequence Optimizer (WSO), a FreeCAD plugin, a Simufact Welding CAE plugin, the Inspekten shopfloor quality tracking system, and the Okyaku low-cost CRM. The company also delivers professional engineering simulation services (structural, dynamic, thermal/CFD, welding, casting) and training programs, with software products distributed through its own e-commerce store and enterprise direct sales in Mexico and Latin America.
Product overview
MANUFAI is an AI-focused manufacturing technology company offering a portfolio of software products and engineering services. The core product family includes MANUFAI Welding (with Starter and Pro tiers) featuring the Welding Sequence Optimizer (WSO) for AI-powered welding deformation minimization, and Inspekten (with Starter and Pro tiers) for AI-powered quality tracking that digitizes paper checklists. Additional products include the FreeCAD Plugin for automated welding workflows, the Simufact AI Plugin (available as Nodelock, Floating, and Additional User variants) for FEA simulation integration, the Okyaku low-cost CRM, and Custom Software & IoT development. The company also resells VR training simulators (WeldVR and Sprayverse) and provides engineering services including structural/dynamic/thermal analysis, welding simulation, casting simulation, CAD modeling, fixture design, metal fabrication, failure analysis, and professional training courses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MANUFAI Welding Software
Quantifiable outcome
- AI-based welding sequence optimization minimizes deformation without requiring full FEA simulation
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use MANUFAI
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
MANUFAI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability10 records
Feature8 records
MANUFAI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Simufact (Hexagon)coreMANUFAI develops a CAE AI plugin specifically for Simufact Welding software by Hexagon. This is the primary distribution channel for MANUFAI's welding sequence optimization technology in the enterprise CAE market. The plugin integrates with Simufact Welding FEA simulation for AI-guided welding sequence optimization.
- RoboDKcoreMANUFAI develops custom plugins for RoboDK including pick-and-place operations acceleration and welding trajectory integration. MANUFAI's Welding Sequence Optimizer manipulates RoboDK for virtual manufacturing cell simulation and multi-robot sequence optimization. Listed on RoboDK Add-in Marketplace.
- FreeCADcoreMANUFAI developed an open-source plugin for FreeCAD (available on GitHub) that provides welding-specific functionality: automatic weldable edges recognition, trajectory reports, cycle time calculation, welding sequence AI advisor, and RoboDK integration. This is the primary entry-point product for the standalone WSO offering.
- SprayverseminorMANUFAI is a distributor in Mexico for Sprayverse VR spray painting training simulator products, covering HVLP, airless, and sandblasting simulation applications.
- WeldVRminorMANUFAI is a distributor in Mexico for WeldVR welding simulator, which supports MIG, TIG, and stick welding training with post-session reporting on attack angle, stickout, and travel speed.
- CytherominorCythero is the company behind Sprayverse and WeldVR VR training products. MANUFAI distributes their VR solutions in Mexico as their Mexican channel partner.
- ITSC (Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Cintalapa)minorAcademic partnership for collaborative research in welding simulation, AI, machine learning, robotics, and manufacturing technologies.
- Tecnológico de CuliacánminorAcademic collaboration with university research center for human resources development and research in AI and manufacturing topics.
- TESVB (Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Valle de Bravo)minorAcademic partnership for collaborative research and development in manufacturing AI technologies.
- Programa DelfínminorCollaborative program for technology transfer and research collaboration with academic institutions.
- Tecnológico de ColimaminorAcademic partnership for research collaboration in manufacturing and AI technologies.
- Instituto Tecnológico de Nuevo León (ITNL)minorAcademic partnership for collaborative research and human resources development in manufacturing engineering.
- HUB UANLminorUANL Innovation Hub partnership for technology development and startup ecosystem engagement.
- NL40 (Nuevo León 4.0)minorNuevo León 4.0 initiative for Industry 4.0 technology adoption. MANUFAI participates as a technology provider in the AI innovation nodes.
- BIND 4.0minorBIND 4.0 is an acceleration program in Nuevo León for technology startups. MANUFAI was a finalist twice (2020 and 2022), gaining visibility, mentorship, and potential investor connections through the program.
- Jóvenes Construyendo el FuturominorMANUFAI participates in the Mexican government program 'Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro' (Youth Building the Future) which provides job training opportunities for young people who neither work nor study.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
MANUFAI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ANSYS: Dominant CAE/FEA vendor whose multiphysics solvers (including thermal-structural) are used for welding simulation. A broad incumbent comparable to MANUFAI's enterprise CAE buyer persona but at vastly greater scale.
- ESI Group: Global provider of welding and manufacturing simulation software (ESI Welding) used in automotive and aerospace. Comparable to MANUFAI as a welding simulation vendor serving industrial engineers with deformation and distortion prediction.
- Lincoln Electric: Global welding equipment, consumables, and welding training provider (Lincoln Electric Welding School). Comparable to MANUFAI in the welding vertical, particularly relevant given MANUFAI's training services and welding simulation portfolio.
- Siemens Digital Industries Software (Simcenter): Siemens' Simcenter portfolio includes welding simulation, structural analysis, and CAE tools. As a broad incumbent in industrial simulation, it competes with MANUFAI's CAE plugin approach while serving overlapping automotive/aerospace customers.
- Dassault Systèmes (3DEXPERIENCE): Provider of CATIA and SIMULIA platforms that compete with FreeCAD + Simufact workflows. Comparable as a broad incumbent in industrial CAD/CAE serving MANUFAI's target manufacturing customers.
- Simufact (Hexagon): Hexagon's Simufact Welding is the leading FEA-based welding simulation suite and MANUFAI's primary enterprise distribution channel via its AI plugin. Hexagon is a broad incumbent in manufacturing CAE that could either partner with or compete against MANUFAI's optimization layer.
Emerging players
- Tulip Interfaces: Frontline operations and quality platform combining IoT, no-code apps, and analytics for manufacturers. Comparable to MANUFAI's Inspekten and IoT offerings as an emerging player in shopfloor digitalization.
- Instrumental: AI-powered manufacturing quality and inspection platform serving electronics and hardware manufacturers. Comparable to MANUFAI's Inspekten as an emerging AI quality-tracking vendor for the factory floor.
Direct peers
- Visual Components: Manufacturing process simulation software for designing and validating robotic cells, including welding cells. Directly comparable to MANUFAI's robotic simulation and offline programming offerings.
- RoboDK: Robotic simulation and offline programming software widely used in welding cells. MANUFAI builds plugins that integrate with RoboDK and is listed on the RoboDK Add-in Marketplace, making it a direct peer in welding robotics simulation.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
MANUFAI social profiles
Digital presenceMANUFAI compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
MANUFAI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MANUFAI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
MANUFAI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MANUFAI 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 MANUFAI
What does MANUFAI do?
MANUFAI develops and sells AI-powered software for the welding and manufacturing industry, including the Welding Sequence Optimizer (WSO), a FreeCAD plugin, a Simufact Welding CAE plugin, the Inspekten shopfloor quality tracking system, and the Okyaku low-cost CRM. The company also delivers professional engineering simulation services (structural, dynamic, thermal/CFD, welding, casting) and training programs, with software products distributed through its own e-commerce store and enterprise direct sales in Mexico and Latin America.
Is MANUFAI a public or private company?
MANUFAI is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was MANUFAI founded?
MANUFAI was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is MANUFAI based?
MANUFAI is headquartered in San Nicolás De Los Garza, Mexico, in the Latin America region.
How does MANUFAI make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Software Licenses - Simufact AI Plugin is the primary driver. The others are software Licenses - MANUFAI Welding (FreeCAD Plugin), software Licenses - Inspekten (Quality Tracking), software Licenses - Okyaku CRM, engineering and Simulation Services and training Services.
Who are MANUFAI's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ANSYS, ESI Group, Lincoln Electric, Siemens Digital Industries Software (Simcenter), Dassault Systèmes (3DEXPERIENCE) and Simufact (Hexagon). Emerging players are Tulip Interfaces and Instrumental. Direct peers are Visual Components and RoboDK.
Does MANUFAI have an API?
No public API is recorded for MANUFAI.
What industry is MANUFAI in?
MANUFAI's product category is Manufacturing Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAHAJ, Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian), with a secondary code of EDAOADAI, Robotic Welding & Welding Automation Programming Training. Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 7371.