Hexagon completes $123M acquisition of Geomagic from 3D Systems, strengthening its 3D measurement software portfolio.
Completing the purchase of the Geomagic software business from 3D Systems for $123 million secures a commanding range of 3D measurement instruments for Hexagons Manufacturing Intelligence division.
The Swedish software developer’s latest move adds widely adopted solutions for handling 3D measurement data across product lifecycle and CAD workflows, complementing Hexagon’s existing presence across industries including mining and construction.
3D Systems anticipates nearly $100 million in net proceeds from the deal which will be directed towards enhancing its balance sheet and funding new growth initiatives. The US manufacturer of 3D printers will retain focus on their core software products, including 3D Sprint, 3DXpert, and the Oqton Industrial Manufacturing Operating System, which are vital components of the Company’s metal and polymer 3D printing business.
“We will continue to support all hardware and software partnerships for Geomagic customers,” said Josh Weiss, President at Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division. “We will invest in developing and supporting this software with our considerable expertise and IP to offer our portable metrology device users greater productivity and new capabilities.”
Also, Hexagon has pledged that customers from all over the world will still have access to the Geomagic software, including support for importing CAD and Product Manufacturing Information data from industry-standard tools like Dassault CATIA, PTC Creo, Autodesk Inventor, Siemens NX, and Dassault SOLIDWORKS.
Since its acquisition by 3D Systems in cash for $55 million, the Geomagic suite has undergone tremendous evolution. It began primarily as software for measurement and quality control; however, over time, it expanded to offer capabilities in mesh and surface model creation as well as parametric scan-to-CAD workflows.
The Geomagic suite has numerous components, but its highlight is Geomagic Design X. Design X features entire scan-to-CAD packages tailored for reverse engineering and digital documenting of tangible parts. Instructional workflows and automated mesh-to-surface processing make mold and die manufacturing much more accessible by streamlining intricate steps.
Another important tool in the portfolio, Geomagic Control X features powerful 3D scan-based inspection capabilities which have been validated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, and National Physical Laboratory. Hexagon intends to enhance this software with its Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing libraries.
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The efficiency improvements offered by these tools can be substantial. Hazim Abueideh, Quality Control Analyst at air up GmbH, noted: “Doing reports can be very painful, so I looked through the tools Geomagic Control X had to offer and discovered the reporting functionality. It reduced the time I spend on reporting by around 70%. Before I needed about eight hours to make the report, and with Geomagic Control X it takes just three.”
The package further comprises Geomagic for SOLIDWORKS, which allows users to handle scan data within the SOLIDWORKS interface, and Geomagic Wrap that efficiently constructs Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines surfaces from point clouds and meshes. Moreover, Geomagic Freeform provides proprietary design tools employed in custom healthcare, orthoses, prosthetics, and industrial design.
With the recent enhancements made to the CAD-bound metrology technology, Hexagon’s hardware clients will gain from the newer added automation features concerning reverse engineering. The automation features enable direct device scanning, including the SmartScan VR800, ATLASCAN Max, and MARVELSCAN.
This purchase goes on to further expand Hexagon’s software capabilities through strategic acquisitions. In 2023, the company purchased CADS Additive, a metal AM software company, integrating build preparation and slicing tools into his Manufacturing Intelligence Division. Earlier, Hexagon acquired the German software company AMendate to augment his Smart Factory solutions with generative design technologies.
With the incorporation of the Geomagic suite, Hexagon further bolsters its proprietary advanced manufacturing value chain spanning design, simulation, quality inspection, and production, by offering more integrated specialized software tools.
