Carbon Acquires Generative Design Software Maker ParaMatters

Today, additive manufacturing (AM) systems maker Carbon announces the acquisition of ParaMatters, which develops generative design (GD) software for AM-centric design projects. The transaction reveals what many believe to be the winning combo.

Phil DeSimone, a cofounder of Carbon, said, “Many design tools of yesterday are not optimized to take advantage of industry innovations, including advanced 3D printing materials and manufacturing processes. Both Carbon and ParaMatters have shared the same vision to provide modern tools to ensure product development teams can create better products in less time.” 

BREAKING NEWS! Carbon acquires ParaMatters - expanding the Carbon idea-to-production platform. ParaMatters is generative design software for additive manufacturing, and this expands Carbon’s current software capabilities to include topology optimization. https://t.co/wjJtIbTi72 pic.twitter.com/62ulh7jfan

— Carbon (@Carbon) August 24, 2022

"Carbon has its own design software that allows people to create complex lattice structures," said Hardik Kabaria, software engineer, Carbon. "With Paramatters' technology, we can go after industries like automotive, aerospace, defence, and medical devices where topology optimization is more important than lattices."

Carbon offers a cloud-based lattice generation software called Carbon Design Engine in three subscription tiers: Standard, Pro, and Enterprise. ParaMatters is a well-known brand that has made a name for itself; therefore, for the present, Carbon plans to keep the brand, according to Kabaria. 

Popular GD software makers have become attractive acquisition targets to established CAD software giants. PTC's 2018 acquisition of Frustum, Hexagon's 2019 acquisition of AMendate, and Altair's acquisition of Gen3D this year show the growing appetite for GD software, especially those aimed at creating 3D-printable designs. Materialise and NTopology are among the remaining handful of independent AM-centric GD software makers. 

AM system maker Desktop Metal developed its own GD software, called Live Parts, but many hardware makers rely on independent CAD software makers and software partners to fill the gap. With the acquisition of ParaMatters, Carbon will be able to synchronize R&D strategies and visions in both hardware and software, making the combo much more attractive.

“The ability to expand our offering as a part of Carbon’s idea-to-production platform will enable our customers to design and produce better products,” said Robert Yusin, Chairman & CEO at ParaMatters. 

ParaMatter's GD software is CogniCAD. Reviewing the software in 2019, DE contributor and simulation trainer Tony Abbey observed, "The ability to copy design studies within the cloud-based cabinet means that variations on VF, constraint type and so on were easily achieved. Once complete, each model can be reviewed independently within the cloud-based cabinet."