FACE TO FACE
In the SPI Data Editor, the values used for calculating sheet metal unfolding are clearly organised in relation to materials, tool properties and machines. SPI add-ins expand the sheet metal capabilities of the standard CAD software.
using the standard unfolding tools provided with most standard CAD programs. This insight led to one of our key innovations, which remains at the core of our software: a robust sheet metal unfolding system capable of handling even poorly constructed parts.
At the same time, we recognised that customers want to remain in their existing CAD environment— they don’ t want to manage separate systems. Therefore, we have focused on a fully integrated add-in approach to create a seamless user experience. We have consistently evolved with the market, focusing on CAD systems with the greatest penetration in the sheet metal processing industry. Currently, these are SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor.
ISMR: In view of current geopolitical tensions and conflicts, what are your views on the global business climate for sheetmetal professionals in 2025? What do you project for 2026?
JR: We’ re seeing quite mixed conditions in the sheet metal industry right now, at least here in Germany. While some of our customers are
Our strategic focus centres on staying very close to our customers’ evolving needs, expanding internationally and growing our partner network
struggling with issues such as supply chain disruptions and economic uncertainty, others have more orders than they can handle. It largely comes down to which end markets these fabricators are serving.
For 2026, I’ m cautiously optimistic. The current disruptions are accelerating necessary changes: supply chain diversification, automation adoption and operational efficiency improvements, to name a few examples. Companies that can adapt quickly to new requirements, respond flexibly to customer demands and maintain efficiency across varying order volumes will certainly capture the opportunities.
ISMR: What is your strategic and technical focus for the company? How do you aim to achieve this?
JR: Our strategic focus centres on staying very close to our customers’ evolving needs, expanding internationally and growing our partner network. Our approach also adapts to how customer information behaviour has changed— we continue to provide personal contacts where direct interaction is desired, but we’ re also increasingly offering digital content that allows prospects to inform themselves according to their own needs.
Technically, our focus remains on manufacturing-oriented solutions that give fabricators maximum flexibility in their machine choices. We enable our customers to work seamlessly with mixed machine parks, eliminating the need to manually adapt sheetmetal parts for different machines. Beyond this flexibility, we continue to expand our automation solutions to even better address the skilled labour shortage by outsourcing repetitive tasks to software, allowing designers and work preparation staff to concentrate on problems requiring creative, individual solutions.
ISMR: As a mid-sized company competing against larger software providers, which benefits do you offer your customers?
“ Even highly complex designs can be easily unfolded using the SPI software,” said the company.
JR: I see our size as one of our greatest competitive advantages. With 40 employees, we’ re large enough to deliver robust, enterprise-quality solutions, yet small enough to maintain direct market connection that larger companies often lose. Companies of increasing size tend to become preoccupied with themselves— that’ s certainly not intentional, it just happens. At SPI, we can’ t afford that luxury. Here, everyone wants and must act in the customer’ s interest. We must earn our place in the‘ relevant set’ by proving our competence through results.
This makes it possible to achieve a level of
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