PEMADE
PEMADE is a University of Santiago de Compostela technological platform, founded in 2008 in Lugo, Spain, operating an ENAC-accredited structural timber testing laboratory and providing TRABE calculation software, ROD-TCC hybrid timber-concrete systems, and professional training for the Spanish construction sector.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersLugo, Spain
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PEMADE does
PEMADE (Plataforma de Enxeñaría da Madeira Estrutural) is a university-affiliated technological platform of the University of Santiago de Compostela, founded in 2008 and based at the Polytechnic School of Engineering in Lugo, Galicia, Spain. The platform integrates applied research, specialized training, and technology transfer in structural timber engineering, operating an ENAC-accredited mechanical testing laboratory (Accreditation No. 1529/LE2806) under UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 with four testing frames (three 200 kN and one 600 kN), ARAMIS 3D Digital Image Correlation equipment, and non-destructive acoustic testing capabilities.
The platform's product and service portfolio comprises four main offerings: (1) the TRABE free web-based structural calculation tool for timber elements under the Spanish Technical Building Code, embedding data on five Galician timber species; (2) fee-based ENAC-accredited laboratory testing services for structural timber and wood-based panels; (3) the ROD-TCC family of four hybrid timber-concrete structural systems covering 4–18m spans, developed within the LIFE Timber for All project; and (4) a 100-hour specialized training course in timber structural design co-organized with XERA. Technical publications (CE Marking Guide, Green Chestnut Guide, Galician Architecture Guide) extend the dissemination footprint.
PEMADE is funded primarily through European Union LIFE Programme grants (cumulative ~€12.6M across six projects between 2016 and 2029) and multi-year collaboration agreements with the Galician Forest Industry Agency (XERA), with additional fee revenue from laboratory services and training. The organization serves construction sector professionals, timber manufacturers, public administration, and academic institutions across Spain, with primary operations in Galicia and replication activity in Andalusia.
PEMADE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PEMADE
- Legal name
- Plataforma de Enxeñaría da Madeira Estrutural (PEMADE)
- Website
- https://pemade.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- PEMADE is a University of Santiago de Compostela technological platform, founded in 2008 in Lugo, Spain, operating an ENAC-accredited structural timber testing laboratory and providing TRABE calculation software, ROD-TCC hybrid timber-concrete systems, and professional training for the Spanish construction sector.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PEMADE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Structural Timber Engineering Research and Testing
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wood Grading, Testing & Certification Services (IMAMABAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Log Quality Inspection & Defect Assessment Services (AFAMAIAH)
Keywords
Where PEMADE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lugo
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
PEMADE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Laboratory Testing Services: Fee-based mechanical testing services for timber and structural materials performed under ENAC accreditation. Laboratory offers standardized tests and customized tests for specific project needs.
- Training Programs: Specialized training courses on timber structural design (100 hours, 10 ECTS credits) in collaboration with XERA. Professional education for sector workers.
- EU Research Project Funding: Funding from European Union LIFE Programme and other research grants for collaborative R&D projects including LIFE Timber for All (€3.27M), LIFE Wood for Future (€2.9M), LIFE EcoTimberCell (€2M), LIFE Lugo+Biodinámico (€3.59M).
- Regional Government Collaboration Agreements: Collaboration agreements with XERA (Galician Forest Industry Agency) for research on local timber species and promotion of timber construction. Budget €517,000 (2019-2022), €351,653 (2023-2025).
- Technology Transfer and Licensing: Transfer of research outcomes and technical knowledge to construction sector through software tools (TRABE), technical guides, and consulting services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Laboratory Testing Services |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Professional Training Courses |
| Freemium | Monthly | TRABE Software Tool |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
PEMADE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PEMADE operates an ENAC-accredited mechanical testing laboratory for structural timber, develops the TRABE structural calculation software for timber design under Spanish CTE regulations, and conducts applied R&D on hybrid timber-concrete structural systems (ROD-TCC family). It provides fee-based testing services, professional training courses, technical guides, and collaborates on EU LIFE Programme research projects focused on sustainable timber construction and forest valorization.
Product overview
PEMADE is a Technological Platform of the University of Santiago de Compostela focused on structural timber engineering. The organization operates as a platform-plus-services model, combining its core TRABE structural calculation software with specialized laboratory testing services (ENAC accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2017), and research projects such as LIFE Timber for All that develop hybrid timber-concrete structural systems (ROD-TCC family). The product portfolio also includes technical publications (guides on green chestnut construction, CE marking implementation) and specialized training courses. TRABE serves as the primary software product for structural calculations of timber elements, while the laboratory provides mechanical testing and non-destructive evaluation services. The LIFE Timber for All project represents the main R&D initiative producing the ROD-TCC systems portfolio.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Trabe: A digital platform for the structural design of timber elements in floors and roofs according to the Spanish Technical Building Code (CTE), integrating information on Galician timber species including Pinus pinaster, Pinus radiata, Pinus sylvestris, Castanea sativa, and Eucalyptus globulus. Developed under the Madeira en Valor agreement between XERA and USC.
- LIFE Timber for All
Products and services
- TRABE Free, web-based structural calculation platform for timber elements in floors and roofs, based on the Spanish Technical Building Code (CTE) and European standards. Integrates technical data on five main Galician timber species (Pinus pinaster, Pinus radiata, Pinus sylvestris, Castanea sativa, Eucalyptus globulus) and serves architects and structural engineers for design decisions.
- PEMADE Laboratory Testing Services ENAC-accredited mechanical testing laboratory (Accreditation No. 1529/LE2806) under UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017, performing standardized and custom mechanical tests on sawn timber, glued laminated timber, wood-based panels, and cross-laminated timber. Uses four testing frames (three 200 kN, one 600 kN), ARAMIS 3D Digital Image Correlation, and non-destructive acoustic techniques (ultrasound, stress waves, vibration analysis).
- Specialized Training Course: Design of Timber Structures 100-hour specialized training course (10 ECTS credits) combining theoretical and practical instruction, laboratory work, and industry site visits on timber structural design, calculation, and testing. Co-funded by XERA and offered to professionals and students annually.
- ROD-TCC Hybrid Timber-Concrete Structural Systems Family of four hybrid timber-concrete composite structural systems (Rod-Compact, Rod-Alveo, Rod-Box, Rod-BoxTens) covering spans of 4 to 18 meters for sustainable industrialized construction. Developed to balance concrete and timber use while storing carbon long-term.
- Technical Guide: Green Chestnut in Construction Technical guide providing practical information on using green chestnut wood in structural applications, including connection design and timber-concrete composite systems. Developed under the Madeira en Valor II agreement between XERA and USC-PEMADE.
- Guide to CE Marking Implementation for Wood Products in Construction 96-page implementation guide on the CE marking process for wood products used in construction, based on EU Regulation 305/2011, providing practical guidance for manufacturers and specifiers in the timber construction sector.
Quantifiable outcome
- LIFE Timber for All project developing 4 ROD-TCC systems and 1 IB-Compact replication covering spans 4-18 meters
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use PEMADE
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PEMADE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
PEMADE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Universidade de Santiago de CompostelacoreParent institution providing institutional backing, integrated in RIAIDT research infrastructure area and Uxafores environmental and forest management unit. Hosts PEMADE laboratory and research facilities.
- XERA (Axencia Galega da Industria Forestal)coreRegional government agency providing funding and collaboration on multiple projects including Madeira en Valor (€517,000), Madeira en Valor II (€351,653), and co-funding for training courses and technical guides.
- RodiñascoreTimber and engineering company participating in LIFE Timber for All consortium. Involved in hybrid timber-concrete structural solutions and demonstration building implementation.
- XilonorcoreCompany partner in LIFE Timber for All focused on timber construction solutions. Participates in working groups on carbon credit methodology for timber construction.
- Universidad de GranadacoreAcademic partner in LIFE Timber for All and LIFE Wood for Future (as coordinator) projects. Collaborates on research activities and technology transfer.
- ITeC (Institut de Tecnologia de la Construcció de Catalunya)coreConstruction technology institute providing technical expertise on certification, EAD development, and CE marking for ROD-TCC structural systems.
- IAAC (Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia)coreAdvanced architecture institute coordinating New European Bauhaus (NEB) methodology application and facilitating stakeholder engagement workshops within LIFE Timber for All.
- Clúster da Madeira e Deseño de Galicia (CMD)coreRegional wood and design cluster representing timber industry stakeholders. Participates in LIFE Timber for All and contributes to sector networking and dissemination.
- Fundación Galicia ConstrúecoreConstruction cluster foundation participating in LIFE Timber for All consortium, representing construction sector companies and promoting timber construction adoption.
- 3edatacoreEnvironmental engineering company providing technical-administrative coordination in multiple LIFE projects (EcoTimberCell, Lugo+Biodinámico, Wood for Future, Timber for All).
- CETEMAS (Centro Tecnolóxico e Forestal da Madeira)coreWood technology center collaborating in EcoTimberCell project and LIFE Timber for All WP3 activities on concrete formulation development.
- Betanzos HBminorCompany partner in EcoTimberCell project contributing to development of cellular structural systems using certified local timber.
- COSE (Confederación de Organizacións de Selvicultores de España)minorSpanish forestry organizations confederation participating in LIFE Wood for Future project for poplar grove restoration and carbon sequestration.
- FORET (Association of Forest Owners)minorForest owner association participating in REVIERTE project for integrated forest and hydrological management in Granada.
- PEFC ESPAÑAminorSpanish forest certification organization participating in REVIERTE project for sustainable forest management and timber valorization.
- IGME-CSICminorGeological and Mining Institute participating in REVIERTE project for integrated forest-water management approach.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
PEMADE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- EMPA: Swiss federal materials science and technology research institution with significant activity in structural timber, composites, and construction materials. A broader incumbent whose scope is wider than PEMADE's but whose accredited testing and hybrid timber-concrete research overlap directly.
- Tecnalia: Spanish applied research center with construction, materials, and sustainability divisions including timber-related testing and certification services. A broader incumbent in the same ecosystem, with overlapping laboratory and construction-engineering capabilities.
- Forest Products Laboratory (USDA FPL): U.S. national timber research laboratory conducting mechanical testing of wood and engineered wood products and developing design standards. A large, established incumbent with substantial overlap to PEMADE's core accredited testing and engineered wood research mission.
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's applied research organization with deep expertise in wood-based building products, engineered timber, and construction certification. A broader incumbent that shares PEMADE's testing + R&D + technology-transfer model at significantly larger scale.
Direct peers
- AIDIMME: Spanish technological institute serving wood, furniture, packaging and related industries with testing labs, R&D, and technology transfer. Closely comparable to PEMADE in combining accredited testing services with applied research and industry-focused technology dissemination.
- Holzforschung Austria: Austrian wood research and testing institute serving the timber construction sector with accredited mechanical testing, certification support, and applied research on engineered wood products. A direct peer sharing the testing + research + technology-transfer positioning in a closely related Alpine/Iberian timber-construction context.
- Fraunhofer WKI: Germany's flagship applied research institute for wood research, offering mechanical/physical testing, process development, and certification support. A larger, more established direct peer operating the same combination of accredited timber testing plus engineered wood and composite system development.
- CETEMAS (Centro Tecnológico y Forestal de la Madera): Spanish wood technology center in Asturias providing applied research, testing, and innovation services to the timber industry. A direct functional peer, also listed as a partner in LIFE Timber for All (WP3 on concrete formulation), sharing PEMADE's combined R&D + testing + technology-transfer model.
- ITeC (Institut de Tecnologia de la Construcció de Catalunya): Catalan construction technology institute providing testing, certification (including EAD/ETA), and digital tools for the building sector. Listed as a core PEMADE partner on EAD development and CE marking for ROD-TCC, and a structural analog combining accredited lab services with standards/certification work.
Regional players
- LNEC (Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil): Portugal's national civil engineering research and testing laboratory with structural materials testing and timber-related research activity. A regionally adjacent public-sector peer operating in the Iberian market with comparable accredited testing and standards work.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PEMADE social profiles
Digital presencePEMADE compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
PEMADE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PEMADE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
PEMADE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PEMADE 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 PEMADE
What does PEMADE do?
PEMADE operates an ENAC-accredited mechanical testing laboratory for structural timber, develops the TRABE structural calculation software for timber design under Spanish CTE regulations, and conducts applied R&D on hybrid timber-concrete structural systems (ROD-TCC family). It provides fee-based testing services, professional training courses, technical guides, and collaborates on EU LIFE Programme research projects focused on sustainable timber construction and forest valorization.
Is PEMADE a public or private company?
PEMADE is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was PEMADE founded?
PEMADE was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is PEMADE based?
PEMADE is headquartered in Lugo, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does PEMADE make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Laboratory Testing Services are the primary driver. The others are training Programs, EU Research Project Funding, regional Government Collaboration Agreements and technology Transfer and Licensing.
Who are PEMADE's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are EMPA, Tecnalia, Forest Products Laboratory (USDA FPL) and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. Direct peers are AIDIMME, Holzforschung Austria, Fraunhofer WKI, CETEMAS (Centro Tecnológico y Forestal de la Madera) and ITeC (Institut de Tecnologia de la Construcció de Catalunya). LNEC (Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil) is listed as a regional player.
Does PEMADE have an API?
No public API is recorded for PEMADE.
What industry is PEMADE in?
PEMADE's product category is Structural Timber Engineering Research and Testing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMABAK, Wood Grading, Testing & Certification Services, with a secondary code of AFAMAIAH, Log Quality Inspection & Defect Assessment Services. Its NAICS code is 54138 and its SIC code is 8734.