MPDV, iTAC Software, and New MES Vendors Look to Make North America Excessively Competitive

While several notable Manufacturing Execution System (MES) solution providers attended IMTS 2026, including Siemens, Infor, and Tulip Interfaces, MPDV (special attention should be paid to MPDV), and iTAC Software. The former appeared as part of an effort to bolster existing U.S. presence, while the latter marked its first attendance at IMTS. Why? Both are seasoned, established European Union (EU)-based MES vendors that are looking to the United States for revenue growth, and they are not alone.

The U.S. MES market is over twice as large as its European counterpart. In 2026 alone, North America will see roughly US$8.5 billion in MES revenue, whereas the entire Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) regions will see less than US$6 billion. North America is also projected to have a higher overall Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for revenue, new deployments, and the installed software base. No matter how you look at it, North America—led by the United States—has more dollars to capture, and multiple MES vendors are emerging to vie for the expansion.

Both MPDV and iTAC Software already have business in the United States. Still, each has also expressed clear interest in expanding, citing the obvious Return on Investment (ROI) potential as the main driver. They are not alone. European MES “newcomer” Elisa Industriq aims to increase the footprint of its solution portfolio, which includes camLine, in North America. Actual newcomers Fuuz, Epsilon3, First Resonance, Pico, and Manufacturo were all founded in the United States within the past 10 years. In addition, the newly minted Velotic (anchored in MES through the former GE Proficy) has reorganized itself to be a powerful new form of MES competition.

Despite the U.S. market’s larger size, existing U.S.-based MES providers, such as Rockwell Automation, Parsec Automation, and iBase-t, should watch this sudden influx of MES competition. The market is already evolving as manufacturers demand composable, flexible platforms over traditionally monolithic solutions. The very definition of MES is expanding and distorting to allow broader-scope solutions and include providers that previously did not consider themselves MES vendors (Tulip Interfaces is the biggest example here). Regional disruption would continue this evolution, and established companies cannot count on past dominance to guarantee future competitive success.

This begins with greater emphasis on product differentiation and leveraging prior client relationships. Marketing and positioning in the United States are different from those in the EU. MPDV, for instance, places a strong emphasis on a complete, proper MES solution that follows the VDI-5600 standard. German audiences are very receptive to the value of such a platform, whereas the U.S. market is less receptive. For context, the Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association (MESA) ceased operations in 2026, showing just how little value the North American market placed on such standards and regulations.

Newcomers to the North American market, whether from Europe or from startup status, must find meaningful value stories that communicate their product’s potential to manufacturers, many of whom likely already have relationships with U.S. companies active in the region for decades. The value comes not from meeting established MES norms but from telling a new story, one that emphasizes results. The rise of Tulip Interfaces should serve as a blueprint for new MES vendors to highlight exactly how their technology can aid their customers.