What visTABLE does

visTABLE is the factory planning software product of plavis GmbH, a privately held German software company headquartered in Chemnitz, Germany, founded in 2006. The product targets manufacturing companies seeking to design factory layouts and analyze material flows without relying on complex CAD systems or paper-based planning workshops. Its core value proposition is replacing dependent CAD expertise with a domain-specific planning tool featuring a curated 3D model library of 3,000+ pre-built factory equipment objects, enabling production planners to author and iterate layouts directly.

The technical platform is a modular Windows desktop application suite consisting of visTABLEtouch (layout design and material flow definition), visTABLE 3D View (3D visualization with VR export to HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Microsoft HoloLens), visTABLElogix (value stream mapping and lead time analysis), the Object Manager (3D model library curation), and the License Manager. It supports import of standard CAD and BIM formats including STL, DAE, 3DS, WRL, STP, IGS, DXF, DWG, OBJ, JT, and IFC, and outputs layouts in a proprietary .vtlx format. The free visTABLE Viewer enables license-free stakeholder consumption of layouts, which is leveraged as a viral adoption mechanism within customer organizations.

The company operates a hybrid go-to-market: sales-led enterprise direct sales with a dedicated inside and field sales team supplemented by product-led growth via a 14-day free trial and free viewer download. Revenue is generated through a mix of perpetual node-locked and network licenses and subscription licensing, with quote-based pricing that is not publicly disclosed. Additional revenue streams include technical support and the free Student License program, which seeds future commercial pipeline through academic adoption. The customer base spans enterprise manufacturers across automotive, mechanical engineering, agricultural machinery, electronics, audio equipment, industrial instrumentation, material handling, and food/meal kit sectors, with named reference customers including Fendt/AGCO, Weidmüller, d&b audiotechnik, ElringKlinger, DEHN, SAMSON, Jungheinrich, and HelloFresh. Founded as a 2006 partnership between Dr.-Ing. Uwe Günther, André Heller, and Jan Schiller, the company remains privately held with no external funding rounds disclosed and is actively pursuing international expansion through dedicated sales hiring and multi-language localization.

Name

visTABLE

Legal name

plavis GmbH

Website

https://vistable.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

visTABLE is desktop factory planning software from Chemnitz-based plavis GmbH that helps manufacturing companies design 2D/3D factory layouts and analyze material flows without CAD expertise, serving enterprise industrial customers across automotive, mechanical engineering, and adjacent sectors via a modular Windows application and free viewer distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chemnitz

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses: Perpetual node-locked licenses and network/floating licenses for enterprise deployment. Single-user and multi-user configurations available with license borrowing capability (up to 60 days).
2. Subscription Licensing: Subscription-based licenses accessible via email login with periodic internet validation.
3. Student Licenses: Free time-limited licenses for students working on thesis projects, creating future customer pipeline and academic adoption.
4. Support Services: Technical support and customer success services included with license or as separate offering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

visTABLE® is factory planning software that enables manufacturing companies to design 2D and 3D factory layouts, conduct material flow analysis, and create value stream maps without requiring CAD expertise. It ships with a 3D model library of 3,000+ factory objects, built-in Sankey and spaghetti diagrams, VR visualization, and a free Viewer for stakeholder collaboration. The platform is sold via perpetual and subscription licenses, with a free 14-day trial and free student license program.

Product overview

visTABLE® is a unified, desktop-based factory planning software platform developed by plavis GmbH (Chemnitz, Germany). The platform consists of a suite of integrated applications: visTABLE®touch serves as the primary layout design and planning workspace; visTABLE® 3D View provides three-dimensional visualization and VR export; visTABLE®logix handles value stream and lead time analysis; visTABLE® Object Manager manages the 3D model library (comprising 3,000+ objects); and visTABLE® License Manager handles licensing and activation. The software supports the planning disciplines of factory layout design, material flow analysis, assembly planning, digital factory planning, and value stream mapping. A free visTABLE® Viewer allows license-free layout viewing, and a dedicated VR application extends 3D immersive experiences. A free student license program is also available. The platform operates in English and German, supports import of standard CAD formats (DWG, DXF, STL, IFC, and others), and exports layouts as .vtlx files or 3D scenes for VR environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• visTABLE® Factory Planning Software Unified desktop-based factory planning software platform for manufacturing companies, enabling 2D and 3D factory layout design, material flow analysis, assembly planning, digital factory planning, and value stream mapping without requiring CAD expertise. Includes a 3D model library of 3,000+ items, multi-format CAD/BIM import, VR export, and built-in Sankey/DI/spaghetti diagrams.
• visTABLE® Viewer Free, license-free application for viewing layouts created with visTABLE. Users can walk through layouts in 3D, measure distances, perform material flow analyses, and access object properties without purchasing a commercial license. Enables broad stakeholder adoption across the organization.
• visTABLE® VR Application Virtual reality visualization capability that exports visTABLE layouts for immersive walkthroughs using HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, or Microsoft HoloLens headsets, supporting management and international stakeholder presentations.
• visTABLE® Student License Free, full-featured license program for students working on theses and academic projects in factory planning, including bachelor, master, and diploma projects. Includes full functionality for the duration of the student's work, with support provided, creating an academic adoption channel and future customer pipeline.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4-5 workdays saved per project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ASSTECminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2008Partnership established in 2008 with ASSTEC based in Rottweil. ASSTEC acts as a distribution or reseller partner for visTABLE software in certain regions or customer segments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FlexSim: FlexSim builds 3D simulation software for manufacturing, material handling, and logistics planning, overlapping with visTABLE's factory planning and material flow analysis capabilities. It is a direct competitor for planners who need simulation-driven layout decisions.
• Siemens Digital Industries (Tecnomatix / Plant Simulation): Siemens' Tecnomatix portfolio, including Plant Simulation, is the dominant PLM/CAD-adjacent factory planning and discrete-event simulation suite for manufacturing. It competes head-to-head with visTABLE on factory layout, material flow, and digital factory positioning, especially with automotive and mechanical engineering customers.
• Dassault Systèmes (DELMIA / 3DEXPERIENCE): DELMIA on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform provides digital manufacturing, factory layout, and process simulation capabilities directly comparable to visTABLE. Dassault's reach across automotive, aerospace, and industrial equipment overlaps visTABLE's core verticals and bundles factory planning with broader CAD/PLM seats.
• ESI Group (IC.IDO): ESI's IC.IDO delivers immersive VR-based virtual factory review and collaboration, directly comparable to visTABLE's VR export workflow (HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, HoloLens). Both target manufacturers seeking immersive layout walkthroughs for stakeholder engagement.
• Visual Components: Visual Components provides 3D manufacturing simulation and factory layout software with a built-in component library and material flow analysis, closely paralleling visTABLE's value proposition. Targets discrete manufacturing customers with a comparable PLG + enterprise sales motion.
• Autodesk (Factory Design Utilities): Autodesk Factory Design Utilities integrates factory layout and equipment design with AutoCAD and Revit, directly addressing the same factory planning workflow visTABLE serves. Autodesk's installed CAD base is a major competitive threat to a standalone factory planning tool.

Broad incumbents

• PTC (Arena Solutions): PTC's Arena cloud PLM and broader manufacturing software portfolio addresses parts, quality, and product realization for discrete manufacturers. It is an adjacent incumbent that can extend into factory planning and compete for the same manufacturing IT budget as visTABLE.
• Hexagon (Asset Lifecycle Intelligence / PPM): Hexagon's ALI / PPM solutions span digital factory, asset lifecycle, and capital project planning in industrial settings, with capabilities adjacent to visTABLE's factory planning focus. As a much larger incumbent, Hexagon can bundle factory planning into multi-product enterprise deals.

Emerging players

• Tulip Interfaces: Tulip is a frontline operations and connected worker platform used by manufacturers to digitize production processes. It represents an emerging cloud-native approach to factory digitalization that competes for the same digital factory budget visTABLE serves, though from a different functional angle.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQdXvQNwUA9V4z_f8SKTjAg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plavis

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 visTABLE