DSD Automation

What DSD Automation does

DSD Automation GmbH is a German industrial automation specialist headquartered in Trier, founded in 1992 and operating since February 2023 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of DSD Steel Group GmbH (Saarlouis). The company delivers end-to-end automation solutions for heavy process industries—primarily iron and steel, foundry, non-ferrous metals, and energy/environment—spanning electrical planning, switchgear construction, process automation built on SIMATIC PCS 7, simulation-based virtual commissioning, and a proprietary Industry 4.0 software stack (iIM4, iIM-Sim, MetPC, IB-App, Gießrechner, Vision Systems). The platform architecture combines high-performance time-series and relational databases, OPC-based vendor-agnostic connectivity, and supports hybrid edge/on-premise/cloud deployment with integrations into SAP, AWS, Azure, GCP, and collaboration tools (MS Teams, Slack, WhatsApp, Trello).

The company operates a project-based B2B model with enterprise field sales, selling engineered solutions and services to large industrial plants globally from its Trier base. Revenue is generated through engineering and consulting services, process automation implementation (subscription/recurring for software, one-time for switchgear), licensing of Industry 4.0 solutions, and fixed-rate training courses on Siemens TIA and PCS 7. Named customers include voestalpine Stahl GmbH, ThyssenKrupp Europe Steel AG, Tata Iron Steel Co. Ltd., Arcelor Mittal Steel (Galati), Georgsmarienhütte, Daimler AG, Enakievo Iron and Steel Works, and Gienanth GmbH, with projects delivered across Germany, Austria, Romania, India, and Ukraine. The company is a certified Siemens Solution Partner and Wonderware partner, ISO 9001:2015 certified for switchgear construction, and GDPR compliant. It wholly owns Industream Sàrl, a subsidiary commercializing its AIoT/IIoT platform for steel-industry digital intelligence.

DSD Automation's competitive position rests on decades of metallurgical domain expertise, embedded customer relationships in the steel value chain, proprietary simulation and digital twin tools that can reportedly reduce commissioning time by up to 75%, and a vendor-independent integration layer that allows operation across Siemens, Rockwell, ABB, Schneider, and Wonderware environments. Management comprises Olaf Schneider, Friedhelm Bösche, and Fabrice Hansen. The company maintains a close cooperation with Küttner GmbH & Co. KG (Essen), which has pivoted toward EPCM project focus while DSD retains its automation specialization.

Name

DSD Automation

Legal name

DSD Automation GmbH

Website

https://dsd-automation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

DSD Automation GmbH is a German industrial automation specialist serving steel, foundry, and metals producers with proprietary Industry 4.0 software (iIM4, iIM-Sim), SIMATIC PCS 7 process automation, switchgear construction, and virtual commissioning, operating as a subsidiary of DSD Steel Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Services

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian) (IMAHAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Process Automation Instrumentation & Control (DCS, Valves, Actuators, Analyzers) (IMAHAHAM), Industrial Control Cabinets & Power Distribution (Panels, Switchgear for Automation) (IMAHAHAK), Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH)

Keywords

• Industrial automation systems
• Process automation services
• Switchgear construction
• Control systems engineering
• Industry 4.0 solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Trier

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering & Consulting Services: Technical development, engineering and consulting services for process automation and EMSR technology for industrial plants and special machines. Includes performance analysis, specifications, automation concepts, project management, network technology, and client/server applications.
2. Process Automation Systems: Process control technology, programming and configuration of process automation systems including SIMATIC PCS 7, F-systems with combustion technology, drives ES and Simocode. Software developed using prefabricated software components.
3. Switchgear Construction: Manufacturing and assembly of control cabinets, network/PC cabinets, distributions, terminal boxes, operator terminals, and special cabinets. Includes inspection, testing and commissioning services.
4. Industry 4.0 Solutions: Digital Operations, Level 2 systems, Industrial Information Management, Vision systems, and the Industream platform for AI-powered industrial solutions.
5. Training Services: Training courses for customers on automation systems including Siemens TIA and PCS7 for maintenance staff and electricians. Calculated according to fixed daily rates with individual scheduling.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

DSD Automation provides industrial and process automation solutions for the iron, steel, foundry and non-ferrous metal industries, including electrical planning, switchgear construction, process control engineering (SIMATIC PCS 7), simulation, and Industry 4.0 software platforms (iIM4 and Industream). The company delivers complete project lifecycles from conception through control system selection to staff training, complemented by proprietary digital platforms for production data management, virtual commissioning, and AI-powered process optimization.

Product overview

DSD Automation offers a unified platform-plus-modules architecture centered on iIM4 (industrial Information Management System), which combines high-performance time-series and relational databases for manufacturing operations. The core iIM4 platform is complemented by specialized modules including iIM-Sim (dynamic process simulation), MetPC (metallurgical desulfurization optimization), Lifecycle App (mobile commissioning tools), Vision Systems for quality control, Production Planning 4.0 for digital twin-based planning, Energy Management for consumption optimization, and Level 2 systems like the Casting Computer. The Industream AIoT platform (developed by subsidiary Industream Sàrl) extends capabilities into AI-powered IIoT solutions for the steel industry. Services include SIMATIC PCS 7 implementation, virtual commissioning, and practical training courses. The company also provides complete electrical construction services spanning electrical planning, switchgear construction, industrial automation, and process automation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iIM: Industrial Information Management system - production management system with branch-independent core modules and industry-specific extension modules
• iIM-Sim
• iIM4
• MetPC
• IB-App
• Digital Operations

Products and services

• iIM4 Industrial Information Management System Production management system with modular architecture combining high-performance time-series and relational databases, enabling operational transparency, SOP digitization, AI-powered process optimization, and hybrid cloud/edge deployment for manufacturing operations in steel, iron, and foundry plants.
• Industream AIoT Platform Edge-to-cloud AIoT/IIoT platform developed by subsidiary Industream Sàrl providing digital intelligence solutions including tuyère cameras, EAF optimization, energy monitoring, predictive maintenance, and virtual commissioning for the steel industry.
• SIMATIC PCS 7 Process Automation Services Process control engineering and integration services including PCS 7 CPU 410-5H implementation, Drives ES APL and Simocode integration, OS server virtualization, and migration of older PCS 7 versions and Teleperm M systems for industrial plants.
• Training Services Practical-oriented training courses for maintenance staff and electricians on Siemens TIA and PCS 7 automation systems, conducted with maximum six participants and detailed course materials, priced at fixed daily rates.
• Switchgear Construction Manufacturing and assembly of control cabinets, network/PC cabinets, distributions, terminal boxes, operator terminals, and special cabinets, including inspection, testing and commissioning services under ISO 9001:2015 quality management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 75% time savings during commissioning through virtual commissioning approach
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut GmbH (BFI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Groundbreaking strategic partnership in the field of Blast Furnace and Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) optimization. The integration of BFI's state-of-the-art blast furnace and EAF process models into the Industream platform will fundamentally change how steelmakers work in these strategic, environmentally relevant areas. The partnership combines process expertise with automation systems and AI-powered digital solutions.
• Küttner GmbH & Co. KGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinued close cooperation with Küttner GmbH & Co. KG from Essen. Küttner will focus more on EPCM (Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management) projects while DSD Automation continues its automation focus.
• Industream SàrlcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerIndustream Sàrl is a subsidiary of DSD Automation GmbH based in Trier. It develops the Industream platform - an open Edge-to-Cloud AIoT and IIoT platform that seamlessly integrates into existing automation landscapes. The platform provides industrial data intelligence while DSD Automation provides automation and integration.
• DSD Steel Group GmbHcoreOthersSince February 2023, DSD Automation became a 100% subsidiary of DSD Steel Group GmbH based in Saarlouis. DSD Steel Group is a consortium of medium-sized companies with entrepreneurially independent units having many years of experience in national and international markets.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SMS group: Germany-based metallurgical plant and rolling mill equipment provider with a substantial process automation and digitalization division serving the same iron, steel, and non-ferrous customer base globally. Directly comparable in vertical specialization and project-based delivery model.
• ANDRITZ Automation: Part of Austrian ANDRITZ Group, ANDRITZ Automation delivers process automation, electrical engineering, and digital industrial solutions for metals processing, pulp & paper, and energy — overlapping significantly with DSD's process automation and switchgear business.
• Primetals Technologies: Headquartered in the UK/Austria, Primetals supplies integrated metallurgical plant solutions including Level 1/Level 2 automation, process optimization, and digitalization for steelworks. Closely comparable end-market, customer profile, and technology stack to DSD.
• Küttner GmbH & Co. KG: EPCM-focused engineering firm and long-standing partner of DSD Automation (formerly Küttner Automation). Operates in adjacent steel and metallurgy EPCM scope and is a natural strategic counterparty or potential acquirer of DSD's automation business.

Broad incumbents

• Honeywell Process Solutions: Global incumbent in process automation (Experion, Forge) with significant metals and minerals vertical presence. Represents the kind of large-scale platform vendor that competes for large greenfield metallurgical projects.
• ABB Process Automation: ABB delivers DCS, process control, and digital solutions across metals, mining, and process industries. Competes with DSD for plant-level automation contracts at large steel producers such as those in DSD's customer list.
• Siemens Digital Industries: Global leader in industrial automation including SIMATIC PCS 7, TIA Portal, and MindSphere; DSD is a certified Siemens Solution Partner, making Siemens the dominant incumbent whose strategy directly shapes DSD's market.
• Rockwell Automation: Major industrial automation vendor whose Allen-Bradley / ControlLogix platforms and FactoryTalk software compete for switchgear, PLC, and SCADA scope that DSD addresses in its industrial automation offering.
• Schneider Electric Process Automation: Global process automation and energy management vendor (AVEVA, EcoStruxure) competing for metallurgical plant modernization projects and providing one of the multi-vendor integration targets DSD claims to support.

Emerging players

• PSI Software AG: German software specialist providing process control, production management, and energy management systems (PSIpenta, PSImetal) for metals, logistics, and infrastructure. Direct overlap with DSD's iIM4 platform in metallurgical Level 2 systems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 DSD Automation