CONTACT Elements
Bremen platform that runs PLM, project management, MES and service lifecycle on one data model, on-premise or in the cloud
Quick Overview
| Company | CONTACT Software GmbH |
|---|---|
| Category | Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Software |
| Headquarters | Bremen, Germany |
| Founded | 1990 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Germany (EU) |
| Data Location | On-premise, or CONTACT Cloud (region not stated on the pages read) |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Yes - on-premise installation |
| Main Features | PLM, project management, MES/MOM, service lifecycle management, sustainability reporting, collaboration workspaces, Fourier AI, third-party integration |
| Pricing | Not published; free trial offered |
| Best For | Machinery, automotive, electronics and plant builders that want PLM and project control on one platform |
| Replaces | PTC Windchill, Arena PLM, Siemens-based PDM |
Detailed Review
CONTACT Software was founded in 1990 by Karl Heinz Zachries, who is still named as founder and CEO, and sits at Wiener Strasse 1-3 in Bremen (commercial register Bremen, HRB 39572). Its current product line is CONTACT Elements, a modular platform on which PLM, project management, MES, service lifecycle management and sustainability reporting are built.
The company mentions long-running deployments: BASF Polyurethanes has used CONTACT Elements as its PLM platform since 1994, and a 2026 announcement says Mercedes-Benz chose it as the open PLM platform for its PLM.AI programme.
One platform, several jobs
PLM is the starting point, bringing product data, processes and resources into one repository, and the same base then carries hybrid project management (traditional and agile), MES/MOM for production control and energy monitoring, and service lifecycle management with digital twins.
Third-party systems from ERP to engineering and software development tools are connected into the digital thread rather than replaced.
Cloud or on-premise
All CONTACT products are offered both on-premises and through CONTACT Cloud, where the vendor takes over infrastructure and platform operation. Customers can switch in either direction later.
The cloud PLM solution has passed the AWS Foundational Technical Review, which suggests AWS infrastructure behind it; the pages read do not state a hosting region, so ask for one in writing.
AI and entry path
Fourier AI is the vendor's layer for questions and automation across product lifecycle data. A free trial is advertised on the site, which is rare among engineering PLM suites; prices are not published.
Limitations to Consider
A platform that spans PLM, projects and MES brings an implementation project, and the website gives no price points or hosting region. Fit-for-purpose templates exist for machinery, automotive and electronics, but a fashion brand will find Delogue closer to its workflow.
Who Should Use CONTACT Elements
Mid-sized and large engineering companies in the DACH region and beyond that want an independent European PLM vendor and may need on-premise operation.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Independent German vendor since 1990
- On-premise and cloud, switchable
- PLM, projects and MES on one base
- Free trial available
- Industry templates for several sectors
Cons
- Pricing not published
- Cloud region not stated on pages read
- Implementation project needed
- Broad scope can be more than a small team needs
Alternatives to CONTACT Elements
Other European product lifecycle management (plm) software worth comparing before you decide:
Aletiq
France · Paris-built PLM, PDM and document control with fixed-price rollout
Delogue
Denmark · Copenhagen PLM for fashion, workwear and lifestyle brands
Sovelia Core
Sweden · Engineering-driven PLM from the Symetri group, born in Finland
SilkPLM
Poland · Krakow cloud PLM and PIM for fashion and home retail
See all European product lifecycle management (plm) software or compare them directly against PTC Windchill on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The vendor states that all its products are available on-premises and in the cloud, and that a customer can switch between the two operating models in either direction.
No pricing was visible on the pages read. The site offers a free trial and a demo route, and quotes follow from scope and users.
Project management, MES/MOM, service lifecycle management, sustainability reporting and a collaboration layer for sharing data across company boundaries, all described as solution areas of CONTACT Elements.