As industries undergo rapid digital transformation, strong leaders are essential for turning complex challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation. They combine technical knowledge with strategic planning to guide their teams through new technologies like CAD, BIM, and PLM, creating real benefits. Under such leadership, companies improve efficiency and achieve high standards in areas like construction and manufacturing.
At Contelos GmbH, Managing Directors Thomas Schimkewitsch and Frauke Castromonte have demonstrated this kind of leadership since they became co-CEOs in 2009. Contelos, an Autodesk Gold Partner located in Gehrden near Hannover, was founded in 1992. Under their guidance, the company has grown to become Europe’s leading Autodesk partner in consulting, training, and digital solutions. Their success includes receiving a notable award from Construction Tech Review. With a hands-on management style, they provide personalized support to clients in architecture, infrastructure, plant engineering, and product development, promoting long-term success without the complications of large corporate bureaucracy.
A Story of Transformation Through Focused Leadership
Contelos GmbH was established in 1992 by Manfred Mannitz and Hans Graubner, initially operating as a consulting and system house focused on CAD. Around the year 2000, the company began to specialize more in distributing and implementing Autodesk software, which set the foundation for its long-term focus on technology.
In 2009, Thomas Schimkewitsch and Frauke Castromonte acquired Contelos through a management buy-out and have since led the company as equal managing directors and shareholders. They share full responsibility for the company’s strategic direction and commercial success.
Ms. Frauke concentrates on market strategy, sales, and organizational development within the AEC and BIM sectors. Meanwhile, Mr. Thomas is responsible for technology strategy in mechanical engineering, including PLM, proprietary software products, and Autodesk Platform Services. This clear division of roles allows Contelos to effectively integrate both AEC and mechanical engineering under one organization.
Contelos: Key Stats
- Employees: 43
- Annual Growth: ~5%
- Cloud/Services/IP Share: ~30%
- Customers: ~900
- Coverage: DACH region
Turning BIM Data into Structured, Actionable Workflows
Contelos addresses a widespread challenge in the BIM industry: fragmented processes. Many clients use Autodesk Construction Cloud primarily to store models or track issues, while the actual resolution of these issues occurs outside of structured systems.
Under their joint leadership, Contelos developed proprietary APS-based connectors that integrate Autodesk Construction Cloud with other process management systems such as Fusion Manage and SharePoint. This integration enables issues to be handled through well-defined workflows and automatically synchronized back to Autodesk Construction Cloud. Furthermore, dashboards combine 3D model data with process and status information, providing enhanced visibility and control.
This combination of thorough process consulting, custom software development, and seamless platform integration clearly distinguishes Contelos from traditional partners who primarily focus on tools.
In addition, Contelos strictly adheres to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and all applicable data protection laws. The company implements clear cloud governance policies and carefully manages sensitive project and customer data. This commitment to data security is a fundamental aspect of all its BIM and platform-based solutions, particularly in cloud environments.
Taking Calculated Risks to Drive Future Growth
A significant leadership decision took place in 2025 when Contelos chose to broaden its focus to include proprietary products, automation, and Autodesk Platform Services (APS)-based solutions. This move was motivated by clear customer demand and a strategic goal to differentiate the company, achieve growth, and ensure long-term value.
This decision involved deliberate risks, such as investing in additional software developers, acquiring new skills in APS and AI-related areas, and developing products without guaranteed market success. As a result, the company’s leadership shifted toward a stronger focus on product development, longer-term planning, and the establishment of new roles and teams dedicated to scalability and platform solutions.
A Feedback-Driven Approach to Growth and Quality
Mr. Thomas and Ms. Frauke explain that customer feedback is collected through close collaboration during ongoing projects, supported by regular meetings. In recent years, Contelos has also created a dedicated customer success team to maintain organized communication with smaller clients.
Feedback and criticism are seen as valuable opportunities for improvement. Thanks to short decision-making processes, insights can be quickly integrated into both services and product development.
Contelos – Recognized Autodesk Leader
- Autodesk Gold Partner, Developer & Training Center
- Certified in: Building Architecture, Plant Design, Transportation Infrastructure, Design & Make, Manufacturing Cloud
- Autodesk Platform Services Certified Partner
- Awards: Sustainability Partner Award 2025; “Entrepreneur of the Future 2025/2026”
- Customers: Automotive suppliers, plant engineering, architectural & planning firms, general mechanical engineering
A Real-World Example of Structured BIM Workflows
In a large-scale infrastructure project, Contelos implemented a combined BIM and process solution. While 3D models were managed using Autodesk Construction Cloud, the process for resolving issues lacked structure and control.
Contelos positioned Autodesk Construction Cloud as the main platform for models and issue tracking, integrated Fusion Manage as the primary process management system, and added VR/XR technologies to support early issue detection and better decision-making. Issues were handled through defined workflows and automatically synchronized back to Autodesk Construction Cloud.
This approach resulted in much greater transparency, reduced coordination efforts, and faster resolution of issues, delivering clear operational and strategic benefits for the project leadership.
Focused Expansion and Product-Led Growth
Mr. Thomas and Ms. Frauke state that no new strategic partnerships are planned at this time. A major step in the company’s expansion is the opening of a new office in Frankfurt am Main, operated under Contelos-Seitz Consulting GmbH.
Future growth is expected to come mainly from proprietary software products, such as the 3D ModelInspector, supported by increased development resources and expanded functionality. Contelos also plans to distribute its own software solutions internationally.
Current Capabilities and the Road Ahead
Today, Contelos effectively uses Autodesk Construction Cloud and Fusion Manage, along with its own APS-based sales configurator that automatically creates 3D sales models and transfers them to Autodesk Inventor for further engineering work.
Future plans include developing a configurator for complete production lines in plant engineering and creating a BIM-based process control solution by closely integrating Autodesk Construction Cloud and Fusion Manage. XR technologies are already applied in selected cases, while AI is recognized as an important focus area, with specific efforts underway to build related capabilities.
Open Letter from the Leaders of Contelos GmbH
Dear Industry Colleagues, BIM Professionals, and Future Leaders,
As Managing Directors of Contelos GmbH, we write to share insights from over three decades of guiding our Autodesk Gold Partner through digital transformation in engineering, construction, and manufacturing.
Thomas Schimkewitsch:
I advise young BIM and PLM professionals to look beyond tools and grasp the underlying processes. Sustainable value arises when data flows meaningfully across the entire lifecycle.
Frauke Castromonte:
I encourage entrepreneurs and future leaders to prioritize clear strategy, continuous skill development, and close customer relationships. Long-term success stems from investing in people and know-how, not chasing short-term trends.
5 Key Takeaways from Thomas Schimkewitsch & Frauke Castromonte’s Impact in Digital Engineering
- Leadership beyond tools creates real value: Their approach focuses on improving processes and data flow, not just implementing software, which leads to lasting business benefits.
- Clear roles drive stronger execution: A well-defined split between market strategy and technology leadership enables faster decisions and balanced growth.
- Integrated platforms bring order to complexity: By connecting BIM, process systems, and custom software, fragmented workflows are transformed into structured, efficient operations.
- Calculated risks fuel long-term growth: Strategic investments in proprietary products, automation, and platform technologies strengthen scalability and future readiness.
- Customer feedback powers continuous improvement: Close collaboration and quick decision-making allow insights to be rapidly turned into better services and smarter products.
