Mert Bilgi İşlem Ltd., the developer of cofaso, is a specialized software house headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey, with a significant presence in the German and European engineering markets. Founded in 1994, the company has dedicated itself to the development of Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) tools for industrial automation over the past three decades. The company's vision is to provide high-end engineering software that remains accessible and 'wieldy' for the average engineer, avoiding the over-complexity often associated with enterprise CAD systems. Mert Bilgi İşlem has successfully positioned cofaso as a global brand, serving over 2,600 professional engineering users across diverse sectors like automotive, energy, and maritime. Their strategic focus on multilingual support and international standards has allowed them to capture market share in both Western Europe and the Middle East, establishing them as a reliable alternative to major global ECAD players.
cofaso was born out of the technical expertise of its founders at Mert Bilgi İşlem in 1994. The company was established in Istanbul during a period of rapid industrial modernization in Turkey. The founders, led by engineering visionaries who recognized the inefficiencies in manual electrical drafting, sought to create a tool that combined the precision of German engineering standards with a modern, Windows-based user interface. In its early years, cofaso evolved from a basic 2D drafting aid into a fully logic-aware CAE system. The pivotal development of cofaso version 6 and subsequently version 7 marked the company's transition from a local provider to an international software vendor, as they began localized versions for the German and Global markets, eventually leading to their current status as a key partner for major European component manufacturers.
Mert Bilgi İşlem is a privately held company that has historically followed a bootstrapped growth model, a common strategy for specialized engineering software firms that prioritize technical excellence and long-term stability over rapid, VC-driven expansion. While there are no public records of major external venture capital rounds, the company has maintained steady growth through direct software sales, perpetual licensing revenue, and high-value consulting services for industrial clients. Their financial stability is underscored by their 30-year history and their ability to continuously reinvest in R&D, as seen in the recent launches of their cloud-based services and specialized eSchematic modules. Their independence allows them to maintain a customer-centric roadmap without the pressure of external shareholder demands for aggressive monetization.
The cofaso product ecosystem is centered around 'cofaso 7', its flagship Electrical CAD/CAE platform. This core offering is complemented by several specialized modules and editions: 'cofaso eSchematic' provides a configuration-based automation tool for generating schematics from predefined rules; 'cofaso IO-Link' is a dedicated solution for decentralized automation planning; and 'cofaso for Students' offers a free academic pathway into the industry. Additionally, the company provides a vast 'Parts and Macro Library' containing thousands of pre-configured components from manufacturers like Siemens and ABB. For larger organizations, they offer a Server Edition that supports multi-user collaboration and centralized project management, ensuring that all team members are working from the most up-to-date engineering database.
Since its inception in Istanbul, cofaso has aggressively expanded its geographic footprint, particularly into Western Europe and the Middle East. Germany has become a primary market for the company, resulting in the establishment of regional operations to support the DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) engineering sector. The software's availability in 13 languages—including English, German, Turkish, Arabic, and Chinese—is a testament to its global strategy. In the GCC region, cofaso has gained traction among panel builders and oil & gas engineering firms due to its support for both European (IEC) and American (UL) standards. The company regularly participates in international trade fairs like Hannover Messe, further solidifying its presence as a global competitor in the industrial automation landscape.
In the last 18 months, cofaso has introduced several significant updates to version 7.x, focusing on digitalization and connectivity. Major additions include enhanced '3D Cabinet Design' capabilities, allowing for more realistic visualization and collision detection during panel building. They have also improved their 'Excel Integration', enabling engineers to import part lists directly into schematics for faster project initialization. The 'cofaso eSchematic' module has seen updates in its logic engine, allowing for even more complex automation of 3-line diagrams. Furthermore, the company has focused on 'Digital Twin' capabilities, improving the data exchange between cofaso and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) to ensure that the digital design perfectly matches the physical build on the factory floor.
The culture at Mert Bilgi İşlem is deeply rooted in engineering precision and a customer-first philosophy. As a medium-sized enterprise, the company fosters a collaborative environment where technical support and product development teams work closely together. They emphasize 'continuous learning,' which is reflected in their extensive training programs and their commitment to providing free tools for the next generation of engineers. The workplace is characterized by a high degree of technical expertise, with many employees coming from electrical or automation backgrounds. This domain knowledge ensures that the company understands the practical challenges faced by its users, leading to a product roadmap that prioritizes functional utility over flashy but unnecessary features.
cofaso has cultivated a dedicated community of users through multiple channels. Their YouTube channel serves as a central learning hub, offering hundreds of tutorials ranging from basic schematic design to complex PLC integration. On LinkedIn, the cofaso user community regularly shares project insights and best practices. The company also hosts webinars and 'Expert Sessions' where users can interact directly with the development team to discuss feature requests or technical hurdles. Furthermore, through their 'cofaso for Students' program, they have built a global network of future engineers in universities and technical colleges, ensuring that the software remains a staple in engineering education and that professional certification programs add value to their users' careers.
