Dassault Systèmes at the Forefront of Next-Generation PLM Composites Solutions

Reinforcing Composites Leadership with Acquisition of Simulayt Limited

VÉLIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, France — October 4, 2011 — Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, announced today the acquisition of leading composites simulation and advanced draping simulation technology provider Simulayt Limited. This acquisition reinforces Dassault Systèmes longstanding leadership in providing PLM composites solutions for sustainable innovation, addressing a key challenge facing manufacturers in industries ranging from aerospace and automotive to consumer goods and energy ─ how to predict and optimize the behavior of materials, minimizing their weight while increasing their performance.

For industrials to take full advantage of composites lightweight and performance properties, requires harmonization of processes, methods, and solutions to support an end-to-end process that spans design, simulation and manufacturing within a single environment, while providing a compelling user experience.

Dassault Systèmes has long been collaborating closely with major industry leaders to provide the only integrated end-to-end PLM composites solution addressing these requirements.

Simulayt’s technology and expertise were essential to the efficient integration of CATIA Composites with BMW’s existing analysis processes, as well as to make advanced fiber simulation accessible to designers.

From fibers to zero default built products
CATIA Version 6 and CATIA Version 5 composite solutions allow users to virtually design, experience and manufacture any composites products. Simulayt adds the proven manufacturability simulation technologies needed to better understand and accurately predict materials behavior, assess manufacturability, and optimize manufacturing processes.

“As the only credible PLM vendor with a thorough understanding of the composites market and the most complete composites end-to-end solution, Dassault Systèmes was clearly a natural choice for us,” commented John Klintworth, CEO, Simulayt Limited. “I am very excited to actively contribute to Dassault Systèmes’ leadership in this market, and to focus my efforts on further advancing the next-generation PLM design to simulation to manufacturing composites solutions.”

Dominique Florack, Senior Executive Vice President, Products, R&D, Dassault Systèmes added: “Simulayt’s strong technical expertise is widely recognized and its manufacturability simulation technology is systematically winning in all benchmarks. The ability to further integrate this technology within our Version 6 platform is critical in addressing the composites materials and processes of tomorrow, with lifelike modeling and product/production simulation experiences.”

Version 6 multi-process and multi-industry 
Leveraging its Version 6 platform, Dassault Systèmes combines unique design-to-manufacturing user experiences such as composites, sheet metal, and assembly fasteners design and simulation, spanning many industries – such as automotive body-in-black, aero structures and engines, wind turbine blades, medical devices, construction and sports & leisure.

Core technology and research investment 
As research advances, the complexity of composites materials increases. In turn, processing technologies, from manual to automated, become more sophisticated.
Dassault Systèmes is committed to continually invest in forefront technologies to addressing these growing requirements.

Building strong partnerships with leading composites academic institutions, research centers, and industry clusters worldwide is also a key focus for Dassault Systèmes to remain at the leading edge of technological innovation and constantly reinvent the PLM solutions of the future. John Klintworth’s extensive network and wide recognition in the global composites community will be instrumental in reinforcing Dassault Systèmes thought leadership and targeted partnerships. 

Version 6 openness – early adoption of standards and long-term archiving
Dassault Systèmes’ PLM composites solution is unique on the market today, delivering comprehensive support of composites digital assets in the standard STEP format, for exchange and long-term archiving, a major industry requirement, especially in the aerospace sector. Dassault Systèmes has been leading the industry by adopting these standards ─ another prime example of the leadership that provides Dassault Systèmes’ customers with a strategic competitive advantage.