ANSYS buys 3D modelling firm SpaceClaim

ANSYS says the deal will enable it to expand into new markets and compliment existing ones, including its roadmap and long term vision for Simulation Driven Product Development (SDPD). In a blog post on the company's website, Josh Fredberg, vice president of marketing, commented: "By adding SpaceClaim into our portfolio, ANSYS will provide users with a powerful and intuitive 3D direct modelling solution to author new concepts and then leverage the power of simulation to rapidly iterate on these designs to drive innovation. "The broad appeal of the SpaceClaim technology can help ANSYS deliver simulation tools to any engineer in any industry – at the earliest stages of the design cycle." ANSYS has always been an open platform, and SpaceClaim's offerings are also CAD-agnostic. This means that, going forward, users will be able to modify geometries regardless of the system in which they were created. "We understand that customers with legacy CAD systems and geometry files may want to import those designs into our flagship solutions — and we intend to remain an open platform," Fredberg added. Looking ahead, SpaceClaim says it will continue to develop, support and innovate for SpaceClaim Engineer and its modules. "In fact, with ANSYS's resources behind us, we will be better positioned to deliver industry changing products faster than we have been before," noted Danny Dean, the company's senior vice president of R&D.