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Digital Engineering April 2026
In the latest issue of Digital Engineering, we take a look at the latest innovations in design for additive manufacturing, including the use of natural language inputs, social media cosplayers, and AI integration. The issue also includes a feature…
January Special Focus Issue: Design for Additive
In this Special Focus Issue of Digital Engineering, learn about the latest advancements in design for additive manufacturing, including new software tools, additive in automotive, custom medical devices, and more.
Hexagon AB has completed the acquisition of CADS Additive GmbH, a provider of specialized software that helps companies prepare designs for metal additive manufacturing (AM).
CADS Additive simplifies the process of 3D printing on powder bed fusion (PBF) machines. The software guides users through the build preparation, helping companies turn design files into printer instructions and improve their manufacturing productivity, the company reports.
CADS Additive has been a partner of Hexagon since 2021, integrating its build preparation and support structure creation capabilities with Hexagon's Simufact Additive process simulation software. Shared development roadmaps can improve workflows, allowing users to adjust the orientation and support structure of their 3D prints.
The AM Studio software from CADS Additive is already connected to Hexagon's Nexus digital reality platform. The software will complete Hexagon's Nexus-enabled AM workflow, applying its technology portfolio to computer-aided design (CAD) model preparation, build preparation, simulation-based optimizations, quality and production intelligence, and the automation of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) to finish parts.
"Our investments reflect the growing importance of additive manufacturing, which has huge potential but has been held back by a fragmented ecosystem that means manufacturers are not getting the results they need fast enough. The acquisition of CADS Additive enables us to provide our customers with integrated tools that empower manufacturing teams to reduce waste and increase efficiency as they move from prototyping to production," says Hexagon President and CEO Paolo Guglielmini. "Opening up the Nexus platform to our ecosystem partners and providing building blocks like CADS Additive helps customers improve their processes throughout the manufacturing value chain and realise the potential of industrial additive manufacturing."
Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Perg, Austria, CADS Additive GmbH has 21 employees serving 150 customers in 25 countries through 19 resellers. The company will operate as part of Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division. The acquisition has no significant impact on Hexagon's earnings.
Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.
Hexagon is considered a global leader in measurement technologies. The company aims to bridge the physical and digital worlds with solutions in discrete manufacturing, reality capture, and positioning solutions.
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