CADS Global
CADS Global develops civil and structural engineering design, analysis, and detailing software (RebarCAD, SMART Scaffolder) and provides outsourced RC detailing and BIM modelling services to consulting engineers, contractors, builders, governments, and rebar fabricators across 70 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersNot specified, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What CADS Global does
CADS Global is a privately held, UK-headquartered engineering software and services company founded in 1977, specializing in civil, geotechnical, and structural engineering design, analysis, and detailing software for concrete, steel, timber, and composite structures. Its core products include RebarCAD (reinforcement detailing and bar listing), SMART Scaffolder (scaffolding design), and a broader portfolio of structural analysis software applications. The company operates a horizontal go-to-market model through four wholly-owned regional entities in the UK, UAE, USA, and India, serving consulting engineers, civil engineering contractors, builders, national and local governments, and structural steelwork and rebar fabricators. CADS reports more than 6,000 customers, 50,000+ installed software copies across 70 countries, and 500+ staff globally.
CADS operates a dual revenue model combining one-time software licensing for its design and detailing applications with a professional services arm delivered through its CADS Consulting subsidiary, providing outsourced structural analysis, RC detailing, design, and BIM modelling. The BIM services offering includes 3D modelling from 2D drawings and IFC files, clash detection, quantity take-offs, and cost estimates, supported by an India-based delivery team that provides cost flexibility. The company holds buildingSMART membership, Autodesk Authorised Developer status, and Microsoft Partner designation, which integrate its tools into mainstream BIM and AEC technology ecosystems. Revenue, headcount trend, ownership, and management team details are not disclosed in the source material, limiting visibility into financial scale and recent operating performance.
CADS Global firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CADS Global
- Legal name
- CADS
- Website
- https://cadsglobal.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- CADS Global develops civil and structural engineering design, analysis, and detailing software (RebarCAD, SMART Scaffolder) and provides outsourced RC detailing and BIM modelling services to consulting engineers, contractors, builders, governments, and rebar fabricators across 70 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CADS Global industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Structural Engineering Software
- NAICS
- Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Engineering Services (541330)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Construction Engineering & Constructability Consulting (BPAHAIAN)
Keywords
Where CADS Global is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Not specified
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
CADS Global business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Software Licensing: Sale and licensing of civil and structural engineering design, analysis and detailing software applications
- Professional Engineering Services: Outsourced structural analysis, RC detailing, design and BIM modelling services delivered with local project management
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
CADS Global product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CADS Global develops and sells proprietary civil, geotechnical and structural engineering design, analysis and detailing software (including RebarCAD for reinforcement detailing and bar listing, SMART Scaffolder for scaffolding, and structural analysis applications) for concrete, steel, timber and composite structures. Alongside its software portfolio, CADS provides outsourced professional services including RC detailing, structural design, and Revit-based BIM modelling (3D models from 2D drawings/IFC, clash detection, quantity take-offs and cost estimates), delivered through regional offices in the UK, UAE, USA and India.
Product overview
CADS Global offers a portfolio of specialized civil and structural engineering software products and professional services. The core product lineup includes RebarCAD for reinforcement detailing and bar listing, SMART Scaffolder for scaffolding design, and general structural analysis software for civil and geotechnical engineering. These applications are used by consulting engineers, contractors, fabricators, and government bodies worldwide. In addition to software, CADS provides professional services including RC detailing, structural analysis, and BIM modelling services. The company operates across UK, UAE, USA, and India markets with over 50,000 software installations serving more than 6,000 customers globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RebarCAD: Rebar detailing software, home of RebarCAD in the US market
- SMART Scaffolder
Companies that use CADS Global
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CADS Global technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
CADS Global partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- buildingSMARTcoreCADS is a buildingSMART member, participating in the international open BIM standard initiative for improved information exchange in the construction industry.
- AutodeskcoreCADS is an Autodesk Authorised Developer, creating software integrations with Autodesk products including Revit for BIM workflows.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CADS Global competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Trimble (Tekla Structures): Tekla Structures is a leading BIM-based structural detailing software for steel and concrete, directly overlapping with CADS' RC detailing and structural analysis offerings. Trimble also operates a much broader AEC portfolio, making it a broad incumbent that competes head-on with CADS in detailing workflows.
- Autodesk (Revit / AutoCAD): Autodesk's Revit and AutoCAD are dominant platforms in structural BIM and 2D drafting; CADS is an Autodesk Authorised Developer integrating with Revit for BIM workflows. Autodesk competes broadly across the same consulting engineer and contractor customer base CADS serves.
- Bentley Systems: Bentley provides structural analysis (STAAD.Pro), BIM and infrastructure design software widely used by the same consulting engineers and government bodies that CADS targets. Comparable as a broad incumbent with structural engineering as one of several verticals.
- Nemetschek Group (Allplan): Allplan is a structural engineering and BIM platform with strong European market share among consulting engineers and rebar detailers, making it a direct competitor to CADS' design and detailing suite. Nemetschek group is a broader AEC incumbent.
- AVEVA (E3D / Bocad): AVEVA's structural offerings (including legacy Bocad steel detailing) compete with CADS' steelwork detailing and BIM modelling services for industrial and infrastructure customers. Comparable as a broad incumbent with structural steel detailing as a vertical.
Direct peers
- SCIA Engineer (Nemetschek): SCIA Engineer is a structural analysis software for buildings, bridges and industrial structures used by the same consulting engineer segment as CADS' structural analysis product. It is one of the closest direct peers in the design and analysis layer.
- Dlubal Software: Dlubal offers structural analysis and design software (RSTAB, RFEM) for steel, concrete, timber and membrane structures. It directly competes with CADS' structural analysis offerings for consulting engineers and smaller structural design firms.
- IDEA StatiCa: IDEA StatiCa provides structural design and connection design software for steel and concrete, targeting consulting engineers similar to CADS. Comparable as a focused direct peer in the structural analysis and detailing space.
- RISA Technologies: RISA develops structural analysis and design software (RISA-3D, RISAFoundation) widely used by US consulting engineers — directly comparable to CADS' structural analysis product and overlapping with CADS USA's North American customer base.
- CSC (Orion, Tedds): CSC provides structural analysis and design software (Orion, Tedds, Fastrak) widely used by consulting engineers and steel detailers. Directly comparable to CADS' structural analysis suite in functionality and target customer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CADS Global social profiles
Digital presenceCADS Global financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CADS Global leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
CADS Global subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
CADS Global funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CADS Global 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 CADS Global
What does CADS Global do?
CADS Global develops and sells proprietary civil, geotechnical and structural engineering design, analysis and detailing software (including RebarCAD for reinforcement detailing and bar listing, SMART Scaffolder for scaffolding, and structural analysis applications) for concrete, steel, timber and composite structures. Alongside its software portfolio, CADS provides outsourced professional services including RC detailing, structural design, and Revit-based BIM modelling (3D models from 2D drawings/IFC, clash detection, quantity take-offs and cost estimates), delivered through regional offices in the UK, UAE, USA and India.
Is CADS Global a public or private company?
CADS Global is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was CADS Global founded?
CADS Global was founded in 1977.
Where is CADS Global based?
CADS Global is headquartered in Not specified, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does CADS Global make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Software Licensing is the primary driver. The others are professional Engineering Services.
Who are CADS Global's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Trimble (Tekla Structures), Autodesk (Revit / AutoCAD), Bentley Systems, Nemetschek Group (Allplan) and AVEVA (E3D / Bocad). Direct peers are SCIA Engineer (Nemetschek), Dlubal Software, IDEA StatiCa, RISA Technologies and CSC (Orion, Tedds).
Does CADS Global have an API?
No public API is recorded for CADS Global.
What industry is CADS Global in?
CADS Global's product category is Structural Engineering Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAIAA, Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting, with a secondary code of BPAHAIAN, Construction Engineering & Constructability Consulting. Its NAICS code is 5413 and its SIC code is 8711.