UGS Corp.

UGS Corp. was an American enterprise software company focused on product lifecycle management (PLM), computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), computer-aided engineering (CAE), and related engineering collaboration technologies. Its roots reached back to United Computing, a software company founded in 1963 in Torrance, California. United Computing developed UNIAPT, released in 1969 and described as one of the earliest commercial end-user CAM products. It later acquired the ADAM drafting and machining code from MGS, using that technology as a foundation for UNI-GRAPHICS and the commercial Unigraphics product introduced in 1975. The business became part of McDonnell Douglas in 1976. Within the aerospace group, it was organized as the Unigraphics Group and expanded its CAD/CAM activities. The Unigraphics product evolved into a three-dimensional modeling platform, with a significant release in 1980. In 1991, the relevant McDonnell Douglas systems-integration activities were acquired by EDS, which operated the business first as EDS Unigraphics and later as Unigraphics Solutions. EDS established Unigraphics Solutions as a wholly owned subsidiary in 1997 and took it public while retaining majority control. During the EDS period, the company broadened its portfolio and corporate scope. It acquired Engineering Animation, a visualization software company, and acquired Applicon in 1999. In 2001, Unigraphics Solutions was renamed UGS. EDS subsequently repurchased the outstanding shares and acquired SDRC, a major former competitor, combining the two businesses into EDS PLM Solutions. This combination expanded UGS beyond its traditional CAD/CAM base into a broader product development and lifecycle-management platform. EDS sold EDS PLM Solutions in 2004 to a private-equity consortium comprising Bain Capital, Silver Lake Partners, and Warburg Pincus. Following the transaction, the business resumed operation under the UGS name and operated as an independent PLM software company. In 2005, UGS acquired Tecnomatix Technologies, strengthening its manufacturing-process planning and digital manufacturing capabilities. UGS's principal offerings included NX, a CAD/CAM/CAE suite, and Teamcenter, an integrated PLM and collaboration environment. Its wider portfolio included NX I-deas, NX Nastran, Solid Edge, Imageware, Tecnomatix, Jack, Femap, D-Cubed, JT, PLM Vis, PLM XML, and Parasolid. These products served engineering, manufacturing, product-data management, simulation, visualization, factory planning, and collaboration requirements across industrial sectors. On January 24, 2007, Siemens AG announced that it would acquire UGS for US$3.5 billion. Siemens completed the acquisition on May 7, 2007, and incorporated UGS's operations into its automation and industrial software activities. The business initially operated as the UGS PLM Software division within Siemens Automation & Drives and was later integrated into the Siemens Digital Industries Software organization. UGS therefore ceased to operate as an independent company, although its technologies and product lines continued within Siemens's industrial software portfolio.

UGS developed from United Computing, a software company founded in 1963 in Torrance, California. Its first commercial product was UNIAPT, released in 1969 as an early end-user computer-aided manufacturing system. In 1973, United Computing acquired the ADAM automated drafting and machining code from MGS. That technology became the basis for UNI-GRAPHICS, which was commercialized as Unigraphics in 1975. McDonnell Douglas acquired United Computing in 1976 and created CAD/CAM-oriented divisions, including the Unigraphics Group. The organization expanded in St. Louis and released Unigraphics in 1980 as a major three-dimensional modeling hardware and software offering. In 1991, EDS acquired the relevant McDonnell Douglas systems-integration operations. EDS initially used the EDS Unigraphics name and later established Unigraphics Solutions as a wholly owned subsidiary in 1997. The company went public during this period, although EDS continued to hold majority control. Unigraphics Solutions expanded through acquisitions, including Engineering Animation and Applicon, acquired in 1999. In 2001, the company adopted the UGS name. EDS later repurchased the remaining publicly held shares and acquired SDRC, a competing CAD and PLM provider. The two businesses were consolidated as EDS PLM Solutions, creating a broader product lifecycle management operation. EDS sold EDS PLM Solutions in 2004 to Bain Capital, Silver Lake Partners, and Warburg Pincus. The business again operated under the UGS name as an independent software company. Its portfolio combined CAD/CAM/CAE applications, PLM and collaboration tools, simulation, visualization, manufacturing planning, and engineering infrastructure technologies. The 2005 acquisition of Tecnomatix further strengthened its manufacturing software capabilities. Siemens AG announced the acquisition of UGS on January 24, 2007, for US$3.5 billion. Completion took place on May 7, 2007. UGS was placed within Siemens's Automation & Drives activities as the UGS PLM Software division and was later integrated into Siemens Digital Industries Software. The independent UGS corporate entity consequently became defunct, while key product technologies such as NX and Teamcenter continued under Siemens.

1. 2007Siemens completes the acquisition

   Siemens completed its US$3.5 billion acquisition of UGS on May 7, 2007.

   Source
2. 2005Tecnomatix is acquired

   UGS acquired Tecnomatix Technologies, expanding its digital manufacturing portfolio.

   Source
3. 2004EDS sells its PLM business

   EDS sold EDS PLM Solutions to Bain Capital, Silver Lake Partners, and Warburg Pincus.

   Source
4. 2001The company adopts the UGS name

   Unigraphics Solutions was renamed UGS. EDS also combined the business with acquired SDRC operations as EDS PLM Solutions.

   Source
5. 1999Applicon is acquired

   Unigraphics Solutions acquired Applicon, an established electronic design automation company.

   Source
6. 1997Unigraphics Solutions becomes an EDS subsidiary

   EDS established its Unigraphics division as a wholly owned subsidiary called Unigraphics Solutions and took it public while retaining majority control.

   Source
7. 1991EDS acquires the Unigraphics operations

   EDS acquired the relevant McDonnell Douglas systems-integration groups, including Unigraphics.

   Source
8. 1980Unigraphics becomes a 3D modeling offering

   The Unigraphics Group released a major three-dimensional modeling hardware and software offering.

   Source
9. 1976McDonnell Douglas acquires United Computing

   McDonnell Douglas acquired United Computing and organized the business within its Unigraphics Group.

   Source
10. 1975Unigraphics is commercialized

    The UNI-GRAPHICS technology was commercially released under the Unigraphics name.

    Source
11. 1973ADAM code is acquired

    United Computing acquired the ADAM drafting and machining software code from MGS.

    Source
12. 1969UNIAPT is released

    United Computing released UNIAPT, an early commercial end-user computer-aided manufacturing product.

    Source
13. 1963United Computing is founded

    United Computing, the predecessor of UGS, was founded in Torrance, California.

    Source

Enterprise-grade CAD, CAM, CAE, digital manufacturing, and product lifecycle management software for engineering and industrial organizations.

• NXCAD/CAM/CAE software suite

  NX was UGS's flagship engineering software suite, combining computer-aided design, manufacturing, and engineering functions. It represented the continuation and expansion of the Unigraphics product family and supported the development, modeling, analysis, and manufacture of engineered products. The suite was positioned for industrial organizations requiring integrated digital product-development workflows.

• TeamcenterProduct lifecycle management software

  Teamcenter was UGS's principal product lifecycle management and collaboration platform. It provided an integrated environment for managing product information, engineering data, development processes, and collaboration across the product lifecycle. Teamcenter complemented NX by connecting product design and engineering work with broader enterprise PLM processes.

• TecnomatixDigital manufacturing software

  Tecnomatix was a manufacturing software portfolio acquired by UGS in 2005. It added capabilities related to manufacturing-process planning, factory operations, and digital production modeling, helping extend UGS's offering from product engineering into manufacturing execution and industrial process design.

• NX NastranEngineering simulation software

  NX Nastran was part of UGS's engineering analysis portfolio. It provided numerical simulation capabilities for evaluating the behavior and performance of engineered products and complemented the company's CAD and product lifecycle management tools.

• FemapFinite-element analysis and pre/post-processing software

  Femap was included in UGS's simulation and engineering software portfolio. It supported finite-element analysis workflows and helped engineers prepare, inspect, and interpret simulation models and results.

• Solid EdgeMechanical CAD software

  Solid Edge was a mechanical computer-aided design product in UGS's portfolio. It addressed three-dimensional product design and engineering requirements and complemented the higher-end NX product family within UGS's broader CAD offering.

• ParasolidGeometric modeling kernel

  Parasolid was a geometric modeling technology in the UGS portfolio. As an underlying modeling technology, it supported the creation and manipulation of three-dimensional solid and surface geometry and was relevant to CAD application development and interoperability.

• JT3D data format and visualization technology

  JT was part of UGS's product visualization and data-exchange technologies. It supported the representation and sharing of three-dimensional product information in engineering and PLM workflows.

• 2007Siemens acquires UGSM&A

  UGS had developed from a CAD/CAM supplier into a broad PLM software company with engineering, simulation, collaboration, and digital manufacturing products. Siemens sought to expand its industrial automation and engineering software activities.

  What changed. Siemens AG announced the acquisition on January 24, 2007, for US$3.5 billion and completed the transaction on May 7, 2007.

  Aftermath. UGS's operations were incorporated into Siemens's Automation & Drives organization as UGS PLM Software and later became part of Siemens Digital Industries Software.

  Acquisition price. US$3.5 billion (Announced January 24, 2007; completed May 7, 2007)

  Source
• 2005UGS acquires Tecnomatix TechnologiesM&A

  UGS sought to broaden its PLM and engineering portfolio into manufacturing-process planning and digital manufacturing.

  What changed. UGS purchased Tecnomatix Technologies Ltd.

  Aftermath. Tecnomatix became part of UGS's manufacturing software portfolio.

  Source

• 2007Siemens announces agreement to acquire UGS

  Siemens AG announced a US$3.5 billion agreement to acquire UGS, intending to add the PLM software company to its industrial automation and engineering software activities.

  M&A
  Source
• 2007Siemens completes acquisition of UGS

  The acquisition of UGS was completed on May 7, 2007. UGS's operations were transferred into Siemens's industrial software organization.

  M&A
  Source
• 2005UGS acquires Tecnomatix Technologies

  UGS purchased Tecnomatix Technologies, adding manufacturing-process planning and digital manufacturing capabilities to its PLM portfolio.

  M&A
  Source
• 2001EDS combines Unigraphics and SDRC into EDS PLM Solutions

  After repurchasing Unigraphics-related outstanding stock and acquiring SDRC, EDS combined the businesses into a single PLM line of business.

  M&A
  Source

1. UGS Corp.