Ansoft's APT Solutions Acquires SIMEC GmbH: Strengthens Offering to Automotive Design Services Market
17 January 2001
Ansoft's APT Solutions Acquires SIMEC GmbH: Strengthens Offering to Automotive Design Services Market
Industry Veteran Joins APT Solutions as Technical Lead
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 17 Ansoft Corporation
announced today that it is acquiring SIMEC GmbH & Co KG and has recruited
Mark Markel of General Motors to be Technical Lead for APT Solutions. These
announcements signal Ansoft's aggressive moves to tackle the automotive design
services market through APT Solutions. Financial terms of the agreement were
not disclosed. The acquisition is expected to be completed in February 2001.
APT Solutions targets the growing demands from the automotive industry for
electronic engineering project and design services by providing analysis and
design services, turnkey project services, and technology implementation &
customization of Ansoft's software.
Mark Markel is a twelve-year veteran of General Motors specializing in
electromagnetic, electromechanical and electronic designs. Most recently, he
chaired GM's Corporate Committee on Electromagnetics (CCOE). "The big three
in automotive have moved away from engineering in favor of system
integration," says Mark Markel. "The combination of Ansoft's best-in-class
electromagnetic software coupled with SIMEC's mixed-signal system simulation
technology, positions Ansoft favorably as an outsourced system integrator as
well as component technologist."
SIMEC's President, Uwe Knorr, said, "SIMPLORER(R) is ideally suited to
solve the mixed-technology designs prevalent in the automotive industry."
These designs consist of complex electromechanical systems and sub-systems
that include electronic, electromagnetic, and mechanical components. These
systems include drive by wire, brake by wire, ABS, adaptive cruise control,
and other advanced automotive technologies. "SIMPLORER's powerful schematic
capture, fast and stable simulation algorithms and an extensive library of
basic and advanced components easily simulate complex automotive systems,"
stated Mr. Knorr.
SIMPLORER's simulation capability includes model libraries for power
electronics, semiconductor, mechanical and hydraulic libraries that can be
used to create complex electromechanical systems. Coupling with Maxwell(R)
and SIMEC's latest VHDL-AMS simulation technology allows automotive component
designers of actuators and sensors to optimize designs and examine the dynamic
interaction of components operating within the system environment using
SIMPLORER. Combining this powerful software solution with the expertise and
technology implementation focus of APT Solutions will be welcomed by both the
automotive OEM's and their suppliers because it delivers a complete solution
to their demand for integrating more and more electronic technology and
features into vehicles faster.
About APT Solutions and Ansoft
Ansoft's latest business venture, Automotive Product & Technology (APT)
Solutions addresses the growing demands from the automotive industry for
engineering project and design services. APT Solutions specializes in
electronic design and targets key electronic and electromechanical systems
including 42 Volt Systems, EMI/EMC, x-by-wire, Electric and Hybrid Vehicles.
APT Solutions provides analysis and design services, turnkey project services,
and technology implementation & customization of Ansoft's software.
Ansoft is a leading developer of high performance EDA software. Ansoft
products are used by engineers to design high performance electrical devices
and systems, such as cellular phones, internet networks, satellites, computer
chips, circuit boards, electronic sensors, and motors. Ansoft markets its
products worldwide through its direct sales force and provides comprehensive
customer support and training. For more information, please visit
http://www.ansoft.com.
About SIMEC
The SIMEC product SIMPLORER offers an all-in-one system simulation
solution and a VHDL-AMS environment. Its unique multi-language/multi-domain
technology allows fast and efficient model generation for complex problems
common to the automotive marketplace. Heterogeneous systems are easy to
describe using a combination of electric circuits, block diagrams, and state
machines. SIMPLORER is well-suited to model complex drive technology
applications such as vector control, power generation, electric vehicle, motor
and medical equipment design. Power electronic circuits, driver circuits,
power supplies, closed loop control systems, and mechanical couplings are
easily and accurately included.