Hexagon AB acquires CADS Additive to streamline 3D printing process in manufacturing

Swedish digital reality solutions provider Hexagon AB has announced the acquisition of CADS Additive GmbH, an Austria-based provider of specialised software that facilitates companies in preparing designs for metal additive manufacturing (AM).

CADS Additive’s software streamlines the 3D printing process on powder bed fusion (PBF) machines, allowing manufacturers to optimize design freedom, minimize waste, and enhance flexibility.

The Austrian firm has been an integral partner of Hexagon since 2021, merging its build preparation and support structure creation capabilities with Hexagon’s acclaimed Simufact Additive process simulation software. The partnership intends to improve workflows by enabling users to adjust the orientation and support structure of their 3D prints, thereby reducing the additive manufacturing workflow duration and simplifying quality improvement steps.

CADS Additive’s additive manufacturing studio software is already integrated into Hexagon’s Nexus digital reality platform. This acquisition allows the software to fully realize Hexagon’s Nexus-enabled additive manufacturing workflow, applying its comprehensive technology portfolio to various facets such as computer aided design (CAD) model preparation, build preparation, simulation-based optimisations, quality and production intelligence, and the automation of computer aided manufacturing (CAM) to finish parts.

Established in 2016 and based in Perg, CADS Additive serves 150 customers in 25 countries through 19 resellers with its workforce of 21 employees. Post-acquisition, the company will function as part of Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division, and it is expected to have no significant impact on Hexagon’s earnings.

Paolo Guglielmini — Hexagon President and CEO said: “Our investments reflect the growing importance of additive manufacturing, which has huge potential but has been held back by a fragmented ecosystem that means manufacturers are not getting the results they need fast enough.

“The acquisition of CADS Additive enables us to provide our customers with integrated tools that empower manufacturing teams to reduce waste and increase efficiency as they move from prototyping to production.

“Opening up the Nexus platform to our ecosystem partners and providing building blocks like CADS Additive helps customers improve their processes throughout the manufacturing value chain and realise the potential of industrial additive manufacturing.”