Autodesk Acquires PlassoTech

By DE Editors

August 28, 2007 — Autodesk, Inc. (San Rafael, CA) announced yesterday it had acquired PlassoTech, an analysis and simulation software supplier to the mechanical design market. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

In making the announcement, Autodesk says the acquisition will enable it to enhance the simulation and optimization capabilities found in Autodesk Inventor with the aim of making it easier for customers to simulate, optimize, and validate a complete digital prototype.

Autodesk says it plans to integrate PlassoTech technology into the Inventor product family, augmenting existing finite element analysis (FEA) tools. According to Autodesk, the technology will enable the Inventor product line to perform analyses on entire assemblies, as well as individual parts; perform analyses based on real-world structural and thermal conditions; and advances its ease-of use and performance by tying it to a fully integrated simulation solution.

Specifically, PlassoTech technology allows FEA calculations in categories such as linear static stress, steady state thermal, thermal stress, modal and frequency analysis, optimization, and buckling. It also includes advanced functionalities to test dynamic stress, transient thermal, and large deformation analysis of solid and shell models with various contact conditions.

“Our goal is to provide the most comprehensive and easy-to-use digital prototyping solution on the market,” said Robert “Buzz” Kross, senior vice president of Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions. “The acquisition of PlassoTech will provide our customers with integrated simulation tools and sophisticated analysis functionality that complements their Digital Prototyping workflows.”

For more information, visit autodesk.com.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.