Autodesk Agrees to Acquire Blue Ridge Numerics, Inc.

By DE Editors

Autodesk, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Blue Ridge Numerics, Inc., a provider of simulation software, for approximately $39 million in cash.

Charlottesville, VA-based Blue Ridge Numerics’ CFdesign technology will be an addition to the Autodesk simulation software portfolio for manufacturers, which currently includes Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Algor Simulation and Autodesk Moldflow. It will broaden the Autodesk solution for digital prototyping to provide customers with a spectrum of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) capabilities that help automate fluid flow and thermal simulation decision-making for designs, while eliminating costly physical prototyping cycles.

“Simulation represents a significant growth area for Autodesk, and we are focused on strengthening our portfolio in this area both organically and through acquisitions,” says Robert “Buzz” Kross, senior vice president of the Manufacturing Industry Group at Autodesk. “The acquisition of Blue Ridge Numerics will add important new simulation capabilities to virtually test and predict how a product or building design will work, allowing our customers to compete more effectively at every step of the design process.”

Blue Ridge Numerics’ CFdesign software allows mechanical and building system engineers to virtually test and predict real-world behavior of new and existing designs. Its CFD software allows engineers to make up-front decisions about air flow, fluid flow or electronics cooling to help design and manufacture safer, quality products or construct more energy efficient buildings.

Upon completion of the acquisition, Autodesk's intent is to integrate Blue Ridge Numerics into its Manufacturing Industry Group and to continue developing and selling Blue Ridge Numerics CFdesign products, supporting Blue Ridge Numerics customers and integrating them into the Autodesk Manufacturing Community. Autodesk says it is also committed to continue developing the Blue Ridge Numerics products with a multi-CAD approach, allowing direct data exchange between CFdesign products and multiple computer aided design software offerings.

For more information, visit Blue Ridge Numerics, Inc. and Autodesk, Inc.

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