20th anniversary of SimPlan: from a two-man-company to an international business venture
When the company founders Sven Spieckermann and Dirk Wortmann ran the first virtual cars on the screens of their simulation computers in 1992, this technology was still under development. The software and hardware technology set limits to simulations. Since then, the technology and SimPlan have made a remarkable development. Today the company can look back on an impressive project history and is one of the leading service providers in the field of process simulation in Europe. SimPlan has six offices in Germany, one representative in Slovakia and one in Austria as well as one subsidiary in Shanghai. The opening of the SimPlan representation in Dubai is the latest expansion step and is not likely to be the last.
After an initially strong focus on the automotive industry, SimPlan now serves customers in almost all industries. Wherever the optimization of existing or planned complex production and logistics processes is concerned, the simulation service provider supports its customers in the determination of the most economical solution for them.
The simulation helps to identify potential bottlenecks early on and evaluate process alternatives before it is implemented This not only accelerates the start-up of production and logistics systems, but also provides objective decision-making on planned investments.
Already early on, the founders of the company recognized the need to engage in research and teaching in this area. Collaborations with universities and colleges, lectures, active participation in associations such as the ASIM (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Simulation) or the GOR (Society for Operations Research), as well as the participation in national and international research projects, create innovations with which SimPlan opens up further market potentials. A representative example of this is the development of a simulation solution for the logistics planning of large construction sites.
“Today there is no process that we cannot simulate. Limits are set only by the availability of reliable data,” states Sven Spieckermann about the situation. The fact that the technology combined with the experience of the SimPlan consultants is of great benefit to the customer is confirmed again and again. Numerous success stories as well as the continuous growth of clients are proof of this. “This is why we look to the future with great confidence and have set ambitious development targets,” says Dirk Wortmann on the company’s prospects.
Picture: the SimPlan team in 2011