Ansys pays $5 million for software firm

An Ansys product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jan 6, 2005

Ansys buys provider of simulation software for solving linear, nonlinear, explicit and multi-body hydro-dynamics problems for $5 million in cash

Ansys has acquired Century Dynamics, a provider of simulation software for solving linear, nonlinear, explicit and multi-body hydro-dynamics problems.

The up-front purchase price of $5 million will be paid in cash.

The agreement provides for future payments contingent upon the attainment of certain performance criteria.

Excluding the effects of acquisition-related amortisation and any one-time deal related charges, the acquisition is expected to be slightly accretive to earnings within fiscal year 2005.

"Century Dynamics' focus on ease-of-use is very much aligned with our focus, only in a completely parallel technology", said Jim Cashman, President and CEO at Ansys.

"This acquisition is attractive to customers, stockholders and employees for its advanced technology, growth potential and market presence".

"We believe that by aligning our global sales and marketing resources with Century Dynamics' outstanding technology, we will continue to deliver a more complete and comprehensive service to our customers".

Century Dynamics' main product, Autodyn, can solve many types of problems using its library of computational structural dynamics finite elements (FEs), finite volumes for fluid dynamics (CFD), mesh-free particles for high velocity, large deformation and fragmentation problems (SPH), and multi-coupling for multi-physics including coupling between FE, CFD and SPH methods.

"We are constantly looking to strengthen our product offering so we can address a larger percentage of the overall simulation needs of a virtual product development process", said Mike Wheeler, VP and General Manager of the Mechanical Business Unit at Ansys.

"Our immediate goal with Century Dynamics is to begin technology-sharing projects and have products embedded into the Ansys Workbench later this year".

The acquisition of Century Dynamics will support Ansys' continued global expansion and will provide opportunities for both organisations to develop breakthrough and innovative CAD and CAE products that accelerate the application of CAE simulation results to design decisions.

Century Dynamics will continue to operate as a separate subsidiary, maintaining its products, sales channels and other partner relationships.

"Century Dynamics offers strong capabilities in structural and fluid dynamics problems and is a leading innovator in techniques for fluid-structure interaction which will enhance current Ansys technology", said Naury Birnbaum, a founder of Century Dynamics "Plus, our strengths in the government, military and offshore fields are a natural complement to the Ansys product line".

"Customers and partners of Century Dynamics will directly benefit from this acquisition by working with an innovative company such as Ansys that is truly leading the advancement in simulation technology".