What ATD-MODELS does

ATD-MODELS GmbH is a specialized German engineering firm founded in 2009 and headquartered in Weißwasser, Sachsen. The company develops and licenses commercial finite element (FE) dummy models — Anthropometric Test Devices (ATDs) — used in crash test simulation and occupant protection analysis across the automotive and adjacent safety industries. Its portfolio spans THOR 50% Male variants (ATD-TH50, ATD-T350), a THOR 05% Female model under development (ATD-TF05), a reclining-seat variant (ATD-TH50-RS), the Hybrid III adult (ATD-H305, ATD-H350, ATD-H395) and child (ATD-H303, ATD-H306) families, pedestrian protection impactors (ATD-aPLI, ATD-Flex-PLI, ATD-PH35, ATD-PH45), side-crash dummies (ATD-SID2S), the FAA HIII-50M aviation variant (ATD-F350), a motorcycle/seating variant (ATD-M350), and the H-Point Manikin (ATD-HPM). Models are shipped in three explicit FE solvers — ABAQUS, LS-DYNA, and PAM-CRASH — using proprietary cross-code and cross-model techniques that keep numbering, nomenclature, and user workflows consistent across the catalog.

The firm's underlying process chain is single-vendor and end-to-end: physical dummy hardware is weighed, photo-documented, and measured via 3D laser scanning and computed tomography in ATD's in-house measuring workshop; geometries are CAD-reconstructed and reverse-engineered; and the resulting FE models go through documented validation loops against physical tests, including material characterization up to strain rates of 400 1/s. Product support is delivered directly by the model developers. The go-to-market is B2B and sales-led, with the company explicitly positioning itself as a "long-term neutral and independent partner" to automotive CAE teams; most geographies are covered directly, while regional channel partners — CDH Japan, CDH Detroit (USA/Canada), GNS China, GNS India, and Theme Engineering (South Korea) — handle local sales and support in their respective markets. Marketing is technical and high-touch: a comprehensive website catalog, LinkedIn presence, and expert-led consultation rather than performance or paid acquisition.

Commercially, ATD-MODELS generates revenue from one-time licenses for its commercial FE dummies, recurring product support contracts, and a professional services layer covering dummy modification, on-site project support, occupant simulation, component validation, and reverse engineering. Customers are primarily automotive OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and internal CAE occupant-protection teams, with secondary demand from regulatory testing organizations performing EuroNCAP and FAA certification work. The company is privately held, founder-led (Managing Directors Peter Schuster, Dipl.-Ing. (FH), and Dr. David Blauth, Dr. rer. nat., Dipl.-Phys.), has no institutional investors or parent company, operates from a single German site, and carries a tight core team of roughly six employees augmented by additional engineers and support staff.

Name

ATD-MODELS

Legal name

ATD-MODELS GmbH

Website

https://atd-models.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ATD-MODELS GmbH, founded in 2009 in Weißwasser, Germany, develops and licenses validated finite element dummy models for crash test simulation in ABAQUS, LS-DYNA, and PAM-CRASH, serving global automotive OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and regulatory testing organizations through direct sales and regional channel partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Safety Simulation Software

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Modeling, Simulation, Digital Twins & Mission Rehearsal Systems (IMABAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Functional Testing Prototypes (Mechanical/Thermal/Fluidic) (IMAAAFAG), Avionics Test, Simulation & Calibration Equipment (IMABAFAN)

Keywords

• Crash test dummy models
• Finite element simulation
• Automotive occupant safety
• Pedestrian protection models
• CAE occupant simulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Weißwasser

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Commercial FE Dummy Models: Sale of validated finite element dummy models for crash test simulations. Models are available in ABAQUS, LS-DYNA, and PAM-CRASH FE codes. Product support is provided directly from the developers.
2. CAE Occupant Protection Services: Services including dummy model development and maintenance, special dummy modifications, project support on-site, occupant simulation, and component validation. 3D laser scanning, computed tomography, CAD construction and reverse engineering services.
3. Product Support: Ongoing product support provided directly from developers for all commercial dummy models.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ATD-MODELS GmbH develops and sells commercial finite element (FE) dummy models for crash test simulation in vehicle development, including THOR, Hybrid III adult and child, side-impact, pedestrian protection, and H-Point-Manikin variants available in ABAQUS, LS-DYNA, and PAM-CRASH codes. The company complements these licensed FE models with CAE occupant protection services such as dummy development and maintenance, special dummy modifications, on-site project support, occupant simulation, component validation, 3D laser scanning, computed tomography, CAD construction, and reverse engineering, with ongoing product support delivered directly by the developers.

Product overview

ATD-MODELS GmbH offers commercial finite element (FE) dummy models for crash test simulation in vehicle development. The product portfolio includes THOR models (ATD-TH50, ATD-T350, ATD-TF05, ATD-TH50-RS), Hybrid III Adult models (ATD-H305, ATD-H350, ATD-H395), Hybrid III Children models (ATD-H303, ATD-H306), Pedestrian Protection models (ATD-aPLI, ATD-Flex-PLI, ATD-PH35, ATD-PH45), Side Crash models (ATD-SID2S), Hybrid III Variants (ATD-M350, ATD-F350), and the H-Point-Manikin (ATD-HPM). These models are available in the explicit FE codes ABAQUS, LS-DYNA, and PAM-CRASH, with cross-code and cross-model modelling techniques ensuring consistent numbering, nomenclature, and user-friendliness across the portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ATD-TH50 Finite element model of the THOR 50% Male Dummy based on the NHTSA drawing set, incorporating experience from ATD-H3 model development for familiar structure and system usage; sold to automotive CAE teams for virtual crash simulation.
• ATD-T350 THOR 50% Male Dummy model with Hybrid III legs (ATD-H350 lower legs and knee slider), used in EuroNCAP testing and sold to automotive OEMs and suppliers for occupant crash simulation.
• ATD-TF05 Simulation model of the THOR 05% Female Dummy based on NHTSA drawings, currently under development, intended for virtual crash and occupant safety simulation.
• ATD-TH50-RS Modified ATD-TH50 with reclining modkit, featuring modified thighs, pelvis, abdomen and spine for varied positioning including reclined positions; sold for advanced occupant seating simulations.
• ATD-H305 Finite element model of Hybrid III 5% Female Dummy using proven modelling techniques from the ATD-H350 relationship, with CT-scan geometry mapping; sold to automotive safety simulation teams.
• ATD-H350 High-quality Hybrid III 50% Male dummy FE model with realistic representation based on proprietary modelling technology; widely used automotive safety simulation model.
• ATD-H395 Hybrid III 95% Male Dummy FE model with the same numbering as the ATD-H3 family, enabling demanding load cases for heavy occupants including knee mapping; sold for large occupant crash simulations.
• ATD-H306 Hybrid III 6-year-old child dummy FE model from the Hybrid III family; sold to vehicle safety teams for child occupant simulation.
• ATD-H303 Hybrid III 3-year-old child dummy FE model developed with the same proven techniques as the HIII-5%, -50%, -95% models, featuring CT-scan foam and vinyl geometry; sold for child occupant safety simulation.
• ATD-aPLI Advanced Pedestrian Legform Impactor simulation model developed in coordination with Cellbond-ATD, featuring pretensioning in flesh and neoprene; sold to automotive and regulatory customers for pedestrian protection simulation.
• ATD-Flex-PLI (ATD-fPLI) Simulation model of Flex-PLI for pedestrian protection with thigh, knee and lower leg replicas, derived from ATD-aPLI with analogue structure and numbering; sold for flexible-leg pedestrian impact simulation.
• ATD-PH35 Child/Small Adult 3.5-kg spherical headform impactor FE model for pedestrian protection tests per EEVC WG17 (EuroNCAP); sold to automotive and regulatory test labs.
• ATD-PH45 Adult 4.5-kg spherical headform impactor FE model for pedestrian protection tests per EEVC WG17 (EuroNCAP), designed for launch devices with magnetic or mechanical attachment; sold for adult headform pedestrian testing.
• ATD-SID2S Side crash dummy FE model with realistic representation, available in both right-hand and left-hand drive positions; sold to vehicle safety teams for side-impact occupant simulation.
• ATD-M350 Modified ATD-H350 variant for pedestrian protection and seating positions (e.g., motorcycles) with 90-degree pelvis adjustment and asymmetrical femur components; sold for specialized seating and pedestrian simulations.
• ATD-F350 FAA HIII-50M modified Hybrid III 50% dummy FE model for aviation safety testing with optimized lumbar spine, pelvis and legs, featuring chest jacket pretensioning; sold to aviation safety testing organizations.
• ATD-HPM SAE J826 H-Point-Manikin measuring instrument FE model for finite element simulations to determine seat settings and dummy positions, available with white or red shells; sold to vehicle interior engineering teams.
• CAE Occupant Protection Services Professional services including dummy model development and maintenance, special dummy modifications, project support on-site, occupant simulation, component validation, 3D laser scanning, computed tomography, CAD construction, and reverse engineering; sold to automotive OEMs and suppliers needing specialized CAE support.
• Product Support Recurring product support provided directly from the developers for all commercial FE dummy models; sold as a subscription-style ongoing service to licensed customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Material tests up to strain rates of 400 1/s for validation

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CDH JapancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCDH Japan serves as the sales partner for ATD-Models in Japan, handling local customer support and distribution of dummy models.
• CDH DetroitcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCDH Detroit serves as the sales partner for ATD-Models in USA and Canada, handling local customer support and distribution of dummy models.
• GNS ChinacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGNS China serves as the sales partner for ATD-Models in China, handling local customer support and distribution of dummy models.
• GNS IndiacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGNS India serves as the sales partner for ATD-Models in India, handling local customer support and distribution of dummy models.
• Theme EngineeringcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTheme Engineering serves as the sales partner for ATD-Models in South Korea, handling local customer support and distribution of dummy models.
• Cellbond-ATDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCellbond-ATD is the hardware developer and manufacturer with whom ATD-Models developed the ATD-aPLI simulation model in close coordination. This represents a co-development partnership for the aPLI pedestrian legform impactor.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ANSYS: Major simulation platform vendor serving automotive crash and safety workflows; comparable downstream role as a CAE platform provider feeding the same OEM simulation toolchains that consume ATD-Models' FE dummy models.
• ESI Group: Provider of virtual prototyping software including crash and occupant safety simulation (PAM-CRASH is one of ATD-Models' supported codes); overlapping CAE platform play with broader portfolio in manufacturing and virtual engineering.
• Applus+ IDIADA: Independent automotive testing and engineering services provider covering crash, passive safety, and certification; broader scope than ATD-Models but comparable EuroNCAP-aligned customer base.
• Dassault Systèmes (SIMULIA): Owner of Abaqus, one of the three explicit FE codes ATD-Models targets; broad CAE incumbent whose platform integrates or competes with third-party FE dummy content used by OEMs.
• Bertrandt AG: Large German automotive engineering services provider with a safety/CAE practice; broader portfolio but a meaningful competitor for occupant simulation and CAE support budgets at the same OEMs.
• TASS International (Siemens Industry Software): Pre-crash and crash simulation software/services for automotive safety, now part of Siemens; broad CAE incumbent whose Madymo active human body model competes with ATD-Models' FE dummies in occupant simulation workflows.

Direct peers

• Humanetics Innovative Solutions: Global leader in physical crash test dummies (ATDs) and safety sensors; the most direct competitor and partner in the occupant safety simulation ecosystem, overlapping with ATD-Models in the FE/CAE layer of virtual crash testing.
• Cellbond (Cellbond-ATD): Hardware manufacturer of dynamic test fixtures and ATD components, and ATD-Models' co-development partner on the ATD-aPLI pedestrian legform impactor; directly comparable in the ATD product family and customer base.
• FTSS (Friedrichshafen Test and Simulation Service): German automotive testing and simulation services firm closely matching ATD-Models' customer base (German OEMs), capability set (crash and safety), and business model (CAE services plus tooling).
• DYNAmore GmbH: German LS-DYNA distributor and FE simulation services firm closely aligned to the same CAE user base and operating from a similar niche engineering footprint; comparable on customer overlap and cross-code FE expertise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atd-models

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

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 ATD-MODELS