What INTES does

INTES France SARL is the French operating subsidiary of INTES Group (INTES GmbH, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany), founded in 1984. The company develops, distributes, and supports PERMAS, a proprietary finite element analysis (FEA) software suite used for multi-physics structural simulation. The solver addresses thermo-mechanics, vibro-acoustics, electro-magnetics, contact analysis, fluid-structure coupling, rotor dynamics, and structural optimization, with specialized modules for fatigue (Rainflow, critical plane, damage accumulation), progressive bolt loosening with incompatible meshes, brake squealing (complex eigenvalue), non-linear vibration isolation (INCAS), and SIMP-based topology and multi-modal optimization. The product suite comprises the PERMAS solver, VisPER graphical model editor (Python-scriptable automation), PCGen component generator for quasi-axisymmetric structures, and PERMAS4EDU, a free academic version. The technology supports Linux and Windows 64-bit platforms with parallelization and GPU acceleration for industrial-scale models (documented at up to 7.9 million nodes).

INTES serves enterprise customers concentrated in three primary verticals: aerospace and space (ArianeGroup, Airbus Defence and Space, Safran Helicopter Engines), automotive (Valeo), and defense, with secondary exposure to naval/maritime, energy, mechanical engineering, and academia/research. Revenue is generated through four streams: annual subscription software licenses for the PERMAS suite, recurring software support and maintenance contracts, customized training programs delivered under the PERMAS Institute brand (standard 3-day introductory course plus 1-2 day topical sessions), and fee-for-service engineering studies performed by INTES experts on a turnkey basis. Go-to-market is consultative enterprise field sales led by named representatives engaging engineering departments at trade shows (Eurosatory, Paris Space Week, SIAE Bourget, NAFEMS events, NVH congresses), the biennial PERMAS User Conferences (18th edition in Tübingen, April 2026), and direct technical meetings supported by a centralized [email protected] channel.

INTES France is registered as a SARL (Société à Responsabilité Limitée) with €15,000 share capital, classified as a small team (with three interns onboarded in 2025). The subsidiary operates from Rambouillet (1 Rue de Clairefontaine) and maintains active memberships in NAFEMS, ASTE (joined May 2026), ASTech Paris-Région, and Systematic Paris-Région competitiveness clusters. Ownership is wholly held by INTES Group, with Jacques Marchesini serving as publication manager (Responsable de publication) and Reinhard Helfrich as the legal representative. No external funding rounds, private equity involvement, or ownership changes are evident in the available data.

Name

INTES

Legal name

SARL INTES France

Website

https://permas.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

INTES France SARL, founded 1984 and operating from Rambouillet, is the French subsidiary of INTES Group, developing and distributing the PERMAS finite element analysis software suite for multi-physics structural simulation serving aerospace, automotive, and defense enterprise customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engineering Simulation Software

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Engineering & Simulation (CFD/FEA, Digital Twins, Model-Based Engineering) (IMAJAGAL)

Keywords

• Finite element analysis software
• Multi-physics simulation
• Structural analysis software
• Vibro-acoustic simulation
• Engineering simulation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rambouillet

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses (PERMAS Suite): PERMAS finite element software licenses sold to engineering companies and research institutions. Supports Linux and Windows (64-bit) platforms. Includes main solver, VisPER, and PCGen modules.
2. Software Support and Maintenance: Ongoing technical support, software updates, and customer assistance for optimal utilization of PERMAS solution. Includes deployment support within customer IT infrastructure.
3. Training and Education Services: Customized training programs delivered by expert users. Standard 3-day introductory course plus additional 1-2 day sessions on specific topics. PERMAS Institute branded training.
4. Engineering Studies: Simulation studies performed by INTES experts for occasional customer needs across all PERMAS application domains. Turnkey project delivery without requiring customers to purchase licenses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

INTES develops and distributes the proprietary PERMAS finite element analysis (FEA) software suite for industrial multi-physics simulation. The offering includes the PERMAS solver for structural, thermal, vibro-acoustic, electro-magnetic, and contact analysis, complemented by VisPER (graphical model editor) and PCGen (specialized quasi-axisymmetric structure modeler). The company also provides training, technical support, and outsourced engineering simulation studies.

Product overview

INTES offers a unified simulation software suite centered on the PERMAS finite element analysis (FEA) solver. The core offering consists of the PERMAS solver, complemented by VisPER as its graphical model-editing interface (with Python automation support), and PCGen as a specialized module for rapid quasi-axisymmetric structure modeling embedded within VisPER. PERMAS4EDU provides a free educational version of the suite. The company also delivers associated services including technical support, training (standard 3-day introductory course plus custom sessions), and engineering studies (outsourced simulation services).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PERMAS Core proprietary finite element analysis (FEA) solver developed by INTES Group, enabling structural simulations including thermomechanics, vibro-acoustics, electromagnetism, contact analysis, fluid-structure coupling, rotor dynamics, and multi-physics optimization. Targets engineering departments in aerospace, automotive, defense, naval, and energy sectors on Linux and Windows 64-bit platforms.
• VisPER (Visual PERMAS) Graphical model editor for PERMAS that uses Python scripting for automation, enabling model completion, verification, and post-processing. Bridges the gap between standard mesh generators (such as Medina) and the PERMAS solver for industrial engineering teams.
• PCGen (PERMAS Component Generator) Specialized modeler integrated within VisPER for quasi-axisymmetric structures such as fluid reservoirs with complex physics (fluid-structure coupling, contact, viscoelasticity). Enables rapid design and sizing without deep solver knowledge.
• PERMAS4EDU Free academic and self-training version of PERMAS and VisPER for students, educators, and universities for non-commercial educational use only.
• Training and Education Services (PERMAS Institute) Customized training programs delivered by expert users, including a standard 3-day introductory course plus additional 1-2 day sessions on specific topics. Branded under PERMAS Institute for engineering teams adopting PERMAS.
• Engineering Simulation Studies Turnkey simulation studies performed by INTES experts for occasional customer needs across all PERMAS application domains, delivered as outsourced projects without requiring customers to purchase software licenses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Optimization convergence in 32 iterations for complex satellite structure with 54,000 design variables in 2.1 hours on standard laptop
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ASTE (Association pour le développement des Sciences et Techniques de l'Environnement)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026French association for simulation and testing professionals. INTES France became official member in 2026, joining collaborative projects and participating in ASTE technical days and conferences.
• NAFEMScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational association for the engineering simulation community. INTES maintains active membership and participates in NAFEMS conferences and events as exhibitor and presenter.
• ASTech Paris RégionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCompetitiveness cluster for aerospace and defense in Paris region. INTES participates in ASD Alliance events organized by the cluster.
• Systematic Paris-RégionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrench competitiveness cluster for digital trust and software. INTES maintains membership for networking in French tech ecosystem.
• ArianeGroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnd-user partner in INCAS project for vibration isolation of space launcher payloads. ArianeGroup provided use case requirements and validation testing for PERMAS-based damping simulation solutions.
• Safran Helicopter EnginescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnd-user partner in INCAS project for engine vibration isolation. Partnered on non-linear damping solutions using PERMAS simulation.
• Airbus Defence and SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in INCAS project contributing expertise on payload comfort and existing isolation solutions. Key reference for aerospace applications.
• AVNIR EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject management company handling INCAS project coordination and consortium management for INTES and industrial partners.
• FCBA (Institut Technologique)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFrench technological institute conducting validation testing for INCAS project at their Bordeaux facility, correlating PERMAS simulations with physical tests.

Scale indicators3 records

Direct peers

• ESI Group: ESI Group is a France-headquartered virtual prototyping software vendor with comparable size, focus on industrial simulation (manufacturing, crash, NVH), and similar European customer base. Both compete in automotive and aerospace for OEM simulation budgets.
• Dassault Systèmes (SIMULIA / Abaqus): Dassault's SIMULIA brand markets Abaqus, one of the most widely deployed nonlinear and multi-physics FEA solvers globally, directly competing with PERMAS in structural, contact, and fatigue analysis. Both target aerospace, automotive, and industrial customers with comparable solver-level capabilities.
• ADINA R&D: ADINA is a smaller, independent FEA solver with strong nonlinear and multi-physics capabilities, positioned similarly to PERMAS as a specialist alternative to ANSYS/Abaqus. It competes for accounts where PERMAS' nonlinear and contact features are evaluated.
• MSC Software (Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence): MSC's Marc and Nastran solvers are direct, long-standing FEA competitors to PERMAS, especially for nonlinear structural, contact, and rotor dynamics. PERMAS' specialty modules (bolt loosening, brake squealing) explicitly overlap with MSC's traditional strength areas.
• COMSOL: COMSOL's multiphysics simulation platform overlaps directly with PERMAS' thermo-mechanical, vibro-acoustic, and electromagnetic coupling capabilities. COMSOL is the most credible direct comparison for INTES' multi-physics integration thesis and competes in academic and industrial accounts.

Broad incumbents

• ANSYS: ANSYS is the largest independent CAE platform, with Mechanical (structural/FEA), Fluent (CFD), and electromagnetics products covering much of PERMAS' functional scope. It is the dominant incumbent that enterprise customers compare against PERMAS in platform-vs-specialty evaluations.
• Altair Engineering: Altair's HyperWorks suite includes OptiStruct (topology optimization heritage) and Radioss, directly adjacent to PERMAS' structural optimization and NVH offerings. Altair competes for automotive lightweighting and aerospace structural budgets where PERMAS also plays.
• Siemens Digital Industries Software (Simcenter / NX Nastran): Siemens sells Simcenter and NX Nastran, combining FEA (Nastran heritage) with broader PLM, CAD, and manufacturing offerings. PERMAS competes with Siemens in European automotive and aerospace accounts where Siemens' bundle is favored for platform consolidation.

Others

• BETA CAE Systems: BETA CAE provides pre- and post-processing suites (ANSA, META) widely used alongside PERMAS and competing solvers. It is an ecosystem partner/adjacent player rather than a direct solver competitor, but its bundling decisions affect PERMAS' reach in European OEM toolchains.

Emerging players

• NUMECA: NUMECA specializes in CFD and multiphysics simulation with a niche, specialty positioning analogous to INTES. While primarily CFD-focused, it competes for the same European industrial simulation budget pool and shares INTES' mid-size, specialist profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqGBBN90sG_05aFte1HFcQA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/intes-france

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 INTES