Together towards a Digital Future
Planets Software is a rapidly growing company based in Dortmund, developing leading software solutions for industrial-technical applications. Our experts possess unique expertise derived from extensive insights across various industries, including petrochemicals, chemistry, and construction. This comprehensive know-how spans all phases of the software lifecycle, ensuring that we deliver the best possible project results to our customers worldwide.
Our Vision and Mission
Aligned with our vision "Together towards a digital future", we significantly contribute to digital transformation by developing cutting-edge IT products and services. Our successful CAE products Planeds, PipeDoc, and Vespland symbolize progress and innovation, assisting our customers in making their work processes more efficient and digital. They serve as a foundation for technically and economically optimal project execution and operations management, having been a driving force behind our customers' success for over 20 years.
Explore new digital possibilities with us and embark on the journey into the digital future together.
Our History
Explore the history of Planets Software GmbH, which illustrates how innovation and continuity in software development open new perspectives. Values such as responsibility, solution orientation, and shared success are at the core of our company.
These principles form the framework of Planets Software's corporate history. From the beginnings of contract development for CAE tools to the introduction of Vespland, they are reflected in every phase.
Development of HW-PLAN (1987-1992)
The origins of Planets Software date back to October 13, 1987, when Bayer AG commissioned mbp GmbH in Dortmund to create a specification sheet for a CAE tool. mbp GmbH, also known as "Mathematischer Beratungs- und Programmierungsdienst," was the first software company in Europe. Founded on February 26, 1957, in Dortmund, the company's headquarters from 1987 to 1998 were located at Semerteichstraße 47-49 in Dortmund.
The development of the CAE tool marked the birth of HW-PLAN, the precursor to Planeds, which began in 1988. Just one year later, in 1989, version 1.0 of HW-PLAN was delivered. Continuous developments over the following years expanded the functionality of HW-PLAN. A milestone was reached in 1990 with the development of a measuring point sheet, followed by maintenance planning in 1991. The crucial step towards productive use of HW-PLAN also occurred in 1991 with the introduction of version 2.0 at Bayer AG.
Sale to EDS (1992-1998)
In 1992, the parent company Hoesch sold mbp GmbH to the American IT consulting and services company EDS, which at the time employed around 100,000 employees worldwide. With the transition to EDS, the product name changed from HWPLAN to planEDS, along with the slogan "Take advantage of change."
Transition to Cimware GmbH & Co. KG (1998-2002)
On January 1, 1998, the product planEDS was spun off from EDS. The development department and the product planEDS were sold to Cimware GmbH & Co KG. In this process, Cimware gradually took over 10 employees from EDS, bringing the total workforce to about 20 employees. With the transition, the company also relocated to Planetenfeldstraße 97 in Dortmund.
Foundation of Planets Software GmbH (2002-2016)
This background ultimately led to the founding of Planets Software GmbH on August 26, 2002, with subsequent entry into the commercial register on September 27, 2002. Planets Software acquired the planEDS tool and the employees of Cimware during 2002. With this acquisition, there was a slight change in the name of the CAE tool from planEDS to Planeds.
The founding of Planets Software marked a significant turning point with the development of various new features and enhancements. In 2004, essential functions such as version control and electrical engineering functionalities like connection attributes, potentials, and contact mirrors were first implemented. The following year, 2005, saw the introduction of the Planeds Explorer as a web viewer for Planeds. The year 2007 celebrated the 20th anniversary of the commissioning of the CAE system HW-PLAN by Bayer AG. Subsequent years were also characterized by continuous innovations such as single-line extensions and the addition of network plans in 2015.
In addition to the development of the in-house CAE tool, various solutions for industries such as petrochemicals, chemistry, and construction were realized. This included contract development for quality control for seawater filters in 2012. Additionally, a web viewer was provided for the company Envia. In 2016, a tool for data consolidation was created for Merck. Finally, in 2017, a maintenance program for highway sections was developed for Eiffage Infra-Bau SE.
Transfer of Ownership (2016-2024)
In 2016, Björn Winkler gradually acquired the shares of Planets Software GmbH and took over management. As part of this process, the company relocated to Wandweg 3 in Dortmund Oespel.
In 2018, the development of the Ex(i) proof tool named Vesta began. The development was completed in 2019 and introduced to various clients in 2020. In the same year, 2020, the pipeline database PipeDoc was also transferred to Planets Software. Subsequently, adjustments were made for various types of inspections and various other customer-specific enhancements. The tool has also been continuously developed since 2020.
Starting in 2020, the development of the new platform Vespland began. Vespland combines several domains as a modular equipment management tool to efficiently map and digitize work processes in the process industry. In 2021, the first stage of developing a module for functional safety in version 1.0 was completed and delivered in 2022. Subsequently, the integration of the Ex(i) proof tool Vesta was started. Then, modules for lifecycle tracking, asset inventory, and a mobile application were initiated. These modules were delivered with the next major version 2.0 in 2022.