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issue #558 : : may 6, 2008 |
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In this issue: Moldflow Belongs to Autodesk Soon Out of the Inbox, and the other regular columns.
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Moldflow Belongs to Autodesk, Soon Autodesk and Switch Acquisition Corp (a subsidiary of Autodesk) intend to acquire Moldflow for approximately US$297 million, roughly 5x revenue. "Moldflow is a key aspect of our CIM [computer integrated manufacturing] strategy," says the senior vp of Autodesk's manufacturing solutions division, Robert Kross. The company's MCAD division has been pushing hard the concept of "digital prototyping" in recent years. Moldflow makes the Plastics Advisers brand of software for optimizing part and mold designs for plastic injection molds; prices start at $5,000, but are more typically in the $20,000 - $30,000 and higher, with the majority of sales at the high-end. (Autodesk intends to some prices, especially through bundling.) The company also offers material testing services. An Xpress version of the software appeared in SolidWorks until the 2008 release, as well as in other CAD software: Dassault Systemes, PTC, Siemens PLM Software (UGS), and others. - - - It has been Autodesk practice to cut off versions of acquired software employed by users of competitor CAD packages. The tactic made little sense to me, because it eliminated ongoing revenue streams, as well as the ability to reach out to non-Autodesk users. Perhaps the thinking was that users would feel compelled to switch to Autodesk line of software in order to continue using the third-party application? In this case, however, Mr Kross reassures competitors this will not be the case. "We plan no changes. We intend to keep the solution open and will continue to work with everyone. Earlier [Friday], I sent a e-mail to virtually all my competitors telling them that this is our plan." - - - Moldflow CEO A. Roland Thomas, CFO Gregory Magoon, COO Kenneth Welch, and general counsel Lori Henderson get to terminate their employment under the "Good Reason" provision of their employment agreements, so that benefits and payments become in effect immediately prior to the closing of the merger. In addition, Q4 has been struck from the executives' cash bonus plan, and the four are eligible for bonuses totaling $530,634. Other Moldflow executives share in a bonus pool of $450,000. If Moldflow backs out, it will owe Autodesk a $7.5-million termination fee. At the end of it last fiscal year (June 2007), its revenue was $55.8 million, down from $65.6 million a year earlier, with a net loss of $3.8 million. In early trading Monday morning, the ADSK share price fell 3% ($1.30), while that of MFLO rose four cents (0.2%). "We have less belief in the PLM market, and are happy to leave others to it," declares Autodesk CEO Carl Bass. "We think plastic -- to paraphrase the film [The Graduate] -- is where the future is." PTC Conference Call Quarterly financial reports by public CAD corporations show that gross revenues continue to raise, but other metrics hint at roughness in what may (or may not be) a recession. PTC executives had this to say during their most recent quarterly conference call with financial analysts (paraphrased): On Windchill:
On Pro/E:
On CoCreate:
On the Economy:
On Future Acquisitions:
On Dassault:
On Siemens PLM Solutions:
Stories Too Difficult to Tell The comment section of blogs lets angry people spout semi-anonymously. They can leave a fake email address, but their computer's IP address is recorded. So when the "CEO of SolidWorks" taunts customers for buying his cr*p software, I immediately delete the post, knowing it's fake. But then there are others that trouble me, because I wish I could do something about them. Like this one: "Since they acquired [company name deleted], they no longer need the highly paid staff they have. The folks we have in China will really be able to help our bottom line. This is all part of the plan to move more R&D off the mainland so the executive staff can really make some serious money off $$." There was a bit more, too, but I didn't release the comment publicly. An American is unemployed due to a CAD company off-shoring his programming job. The comment was signed by the name of the outsourcing firm's CEO, along with the email address of the firm's general manager, but had an IP address that traced back to the eastern United States. Clearly, this person is upset over losing his job so that higher-ups can enjoy bigger bonuses. I can feel for the guy. I'd like to take on the story. But I can't. I've been threatened with law suits four times over the last decade, and that makes me shy. But maybe his complaint isn't true; after all, he didn't leave his own name. So, maybe there is no story. I just don't know.
kubit's PhoToPlan software performs direct true-to-scale rectification of digital photos and plans within AutoCAD. The new join function assembles panoramas of spatially arranged images. Four-week demo version from www.kubit.de SoftPlan Systems unveils SoftPlan v14 software for residential and light commercial CAD design. Its SoftView, SoftList, and renderings have been improved. www.softplan.com/v14features/v14features.htm Vico Software is offering its Virtual Construction 2008 software and training materials free to students and teachers at accredited institutions. www.vicosoftware.com/community/academic_programs ReverseEngineering.com has the first integrated reverse engineering software Autodesk Inventor 2009. New is the ability to create models in native format from point clouds. www.reverse-it.com Quantapoint releases QuantaCAD 8.0 displays the results of laser scans of facilities. It supports MicroStation XM, AutoCAD, AutoPlant, AVEVA PDMS, Intergraph PDS and Intergraph SmartPlant Review. www.quantapoint.com Right Hemisphere's Deep Exploration v5.5 creates real-time 3D manufacturing instructions. Ships in June 2008. www.righthemisphere.com Bricsys ships IntelliCAD-based Bricscad v8.2 a
new layer state manager, PDF export, and improved performance. Download
30-day version from the redesigned Web site at www.bricsys.com/en_INTL/bricscad/features.jsp
- - - These news items were posted during the last week at the WorldCAD Access blog < worldcadaccess.typepad.com>:
Hardware News HP's Blade Workstation Solution for MCAD provides secure real-time interactive access to 3D CAD applications and data from nearly anywhere through HP's client virtualization and remote access software. www.hp.com/go/bladeworkstations
Magazine/eZine/Weblog Updates Robert McNeel & Assoc starts up its corporate blog "Rhino News, etc." at rhino3dnews.blogspot.com NOVEDGE creates a blog about blogs: PULSE is an always updated collection of CAD blog posts with a 280 character-summary of each. www.novedge.com/pulse.asp Right Hemisphere launches its corporate blog Deep 3D("Deep Discussions about Deep Topics") at www.Deep3D.com
People/Companies on the Move Autodesk CFO Alfred Castino resigns to spend more time with family, effective the date his replacement is found. Henniker River Group is relaunching with a new name, Ascentage Group; it was founded ten years ago by members of Softdesk after the Autodesk acquisition. Eagle Point Software creates its Channel Partner Program whereby they hope that Autodesk resellers Eagle Point's Task Navigator along with Civil 3D. http://www.eaglepoint.com IMSI/Design agrees to a long-term agreement with Spatial for its ACIS Modeler with 3D ACIS PHL, 3D Deformable Modeling extension, and 3D InterOp translator. Microdesk opens an office in San Francisco, with another to open in San Diego later this year. M2 Technologies appoints James Naugler as an account executive.
Market News Ansys's acquisition of Ansoft clears regulatory hurdles early. Nemetschek reports 2008 Q1 sales at e36.4 million, up 5.8% from a year ago. Earnings were e8.0 million, up 13% The ratio of German/non-German sales is 34%/66%. Autodesk ups its fiscal year revenue forecast to $2.45-$2.5 billion. Sounds like a lot of money -- 'til you hear about a candy bar company (Mars) paying $23 billion for a chewing gum (Wrigley) company. Explains why chocolate bars now cost $1.09.
WorthWhile Web http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2008/05/01.html
Letters to the Editor Re: SketchUp "As far as I know in the architectural industry, if you've got SketchUp experience on your resume, you are short-listed as a candidate. That's coming from both my friends whom are architects or project managers and agencies who are look for candidates. "To them, it's all about rapid prototyping, then being able
to import it into the mainstay engineering app, like MicroStation."
"Hear about this? 'Google sketches up creativity: Project
Spectrum designed to help people with autism.' http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/may/05/sketching-up-creativity/
" - - - Re: Synchronous Technology "I’m intrigued by the synchronous technology you featured
in this past e-rag. Maybe it will give me what I’ve been looking
for since 1988?"
"If SolidWorks doesn't have an answer soon, and if Siemens/UGS can learn to market this technology with SolidEdge, then I think SolidEdge can gain market share very quickly. I'm sick of the bells and whistles being added to SolidWorks with no real improvement in what's really needed for manufacturing people, and I hope this announcement puts serious pressure on SolidWorks. "A year ago I told Kubotek that they needed to combine their
direct dimension editing with parametrics, and was told that parametrics
was the old approach. I didn't agree then and I don't agree now.
You need both, for now." - - - "I enjoy your catch-up with the CAD industry each week."
Spin Doctor of the Moment "Volvo's 2020 vision: The injury-proof car."
Notable Quotable "What happens if the bad guys get the AI first?"
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