Frequently asked questions

Visual Components is a Finnish software company that develops 3D manufacturing simulation and robot offline programming solutions used for designing, validating, and optimizing production systems.

The company was founded in 1999 and is one of the pioneers of 3D manufacturing simulation, helping production teams move from concept to reality faster on a powerful, flexible and easy-to-use platform.

Visual Components offers simulation tools for manufacturing layout design, 3D modeling, robot offline programming (OLP), virtual commissioning, and factory visualization. It is one integrated platform with three main product areas:

• Manufacturing simulation for layout and process design, 
• Robot offline programming (OLP) for fast, easy and safe robot programming and
• the Experience products for sharing simulations through web, mobile, VR and interactive presentations.

The platform also includes a large component library with thousands of robot models, conveyors, machines, fixtures, and equipment.

Visual Components is built for manufacturing professionals who design, sell, or operate production systems. Visual Components supports more than 2400 manufacturing companies worldwide. The industries include, for example, automotive, machinery, welding, logistics, consumer goods, electronics, and general fabrication.

Typical users include manufacturers, system integrators, machine builders, platform partners and academic institutions who need to design factory layouts, simulate production, commission virtually and program robots.

Visual Components is certified according to ISO 9001:2015 for its quality management system, with a scope that specifically covers software for 3D simulation of factories. The certificate is valid through 2027 and underlines that the company’s processes for developing and maintaining its simulation software are audited against an international standard.

Visual Components is a global leader in manufacturing simulation and a trusted technology partner for leading industrial brands. The company has over 25 years of experience in 3D manufacturing simulation and the digital transformation of factory design, simulation and offline robot programming.

Visual Components is known for its ease of use, fast learning curve, accurate robot simulation, strong OLP capabilities, and flexible component library.

Traditional factory planning relies heavily on 2D drawings, spreadsheets and late-stage physical testing, which makes decisions slow, risky and difficult to communicate.

With Visual Components you can design layouts, simulate production flows, validate automation concepts and program robots in a virtual environment before investing in equipment or floor space

This reduces risk, speeds up decision-making and improves collaboration between engineering, operations and management.

Visual Components makes advanced simulation accessible to a broader group of users, not only simulation specialists.

The platform is open and inclusive, designed for fast collaboration, and backed by a very large component library that includes thousands of ready-made CAD components and robot models from dozens of brands.

Users can design layouts, simulate processes, and program robots without switching between multiple tools.

Manufacturers choose Visual Components because it brings simulation, layout design, and robot offline programming into one workflow. This reduces the number of tools teams need, speeds up engineering work, and helps different roles collaborate more easily.

Customers also value the accuracy, the large library of robot models, and the ability to standardize best practices across production lines and plants.

Visual Components is designed to be fast to learn and open for all types of users, not only simulation specialists or robot programmers.

Visual Components eCatalog offers over 3,500 pre-defined and ready-to-use components. Visual Components 5.0 provides post-processors supporting 22 robot brands, works across different automation processes, and provides a common model-based workflow for simulation, validation, and programming.

Teams can move from layout concepts to accurate robot programs without switching tools, which improves consistency and reduces downtime.

Key benefits include faster engineering, fewer design errors, shorter commissioning times, reduced robot downtime, more consistent robot programs, and better communication across teams. Customers also use the software to support sales proposals, training, and continuous improvement.

With Visual Components, customers can boost the efficiency of their manufacturing operations by up to 30 percent and save project costs by up to 15 percent.

Customers can also reduce robot programming time by up to 80 percent and increase robot utilization up to 95 percent through offline programming and better planning.

Visual Components combines an extensive built-in eCatalog with access to millions of vendor-verified CAD models through its partnership with CADENAS 3Dfindit. In practice, users can drag manufacturer-approved components directly into their simulations.

The platform offers open interfaces and APIs that supports customization and extensions, which makes it easier to connect with PLCs, robot controllers and other factory systems, and it remains hardware-neutral even though the company is owned by KUKA.

We collaborate closely with the industry including but not limited to integrators, research and technology partners.

Visual Components offers one platform that covers factory layout design, manufacturing simulation, virtual commissioning and robot offline programming, which reduces the need for separate tools and data silos.

The combination of proven impact, global leadership, certified quality, strong ecosystem and structured learning resources makes it a solid long-term partner for companies that want to scale digital manufacturing and automation year after year.

You can simulate a wide range of manufacturing operations such as material handling, assembly, welding, cutting, painting, packaging, palletizing, intralogistics, machine tending, and full production line layouts. The platform supports both single cells and large, multi-robot systems.

Yes. Many integrators and manufacturers use Visual Components in sales discussions to show how an automation concept looks and performs. The 3D simulation makes it easy to communicate the idea, and the statistics help demonstrate feasibility, cycle times, and expected performance in a clear and visual way.

Visual Components uses real robot kinematics, validated component behavior, and accurate physics where needed. This makes it reliable for feasibility checks, cycle time estimation, reachability analysis, layout validation, and robot offline programming. Accuracy depends on the level of detail provided in the model, but customers use it confidently for both planning and execution.

Visual Components OLP 5.0 supports 22 robot brands and handles complex tasks such as from welding, cutting to spraying and also multi-robot coordination, jigless setups, and positioner programming.

With OLP, teams can create accurate robot programs directly on the model without stopping production. The software helps avoid collisions, automatically checks reachability, and enables reusable process templates for consistent quality.

With Visual Components, programming happens in the office instead of on the shop floor. You can build paths, check collisions, solve robot motion automatically, and reuse process templates.

This reduces downtime, avoids manual trial-and-error, and makes multi-robot or complex cell programming much more efficient.

Visual Components OLP 5.0 offers robot post-processors support for 22 globally recognized robotics brands and 40+ robot controllers from traditional legacy robots to the latest models.

Full list of robot post-processors: ABB, CLOOS, Comau, Denso, Doosan, FANUC, Hyundai Robotics, IGM, Kawasaki, KUKA, Mitsubishi MELFA, Nachi, OMRON, OTC Daihen, Panasonic, Reis Robotics, Siasun, Stäubli, Techman, Universal Robots, Yamaha, Yaskawa.

Our eCatalog provides over 3,000 ready-to-use components, including 1,900+ robots from 60+ robot brands.

Yes. Many teams use Visual Components because its offline programming tools are visual and easy to follow. You don’t need coding skills to create paths, generate programs, or validate robot motion. The software also helps standardize workflows so that teams can build on shared templates and best practices.

The software allows you to store robot paths, welding parameters, and process templates in a reusable database. This helps ensure consistency between parts, cells, and plants. Teams can reuse proven programs, apply standard practices, and reduce the time spent reprogramming similar tasks.

A typical customership starts with an online demo or discovery discussion to clarify goals, use cases and integration needs.

From there, prospects typically start with a 14-day trial to explore the software hands-on. We recommend using the trial together with our Academy learning resources. In some cases, we may also provide a short layout configuration or a brief onboarding session, depending on the specific situation.

Over time customers expand their use of Visual Components for sales acceleration, manufacturing design, virtual commissioning and training, supported by case studies, best practices and partner services.

Customers have access to Visual Components Academy with courses, learning paths and webinars for roles like simulation engineers, sales engineers and production planners.

In addition there is an online forum, a knowledge base, events, eBooks and product update information that help teams stay current as the platform evolves from releases like 4.10 to the next-generation 5.0.

Yes. The Visual Components Academy offers structured courses, guided exercises, and videos for all experience levels. Additional onboarding sessions can be arranged depending on the project requirements.