UGS Corp.

UGS was a computer software company headquartered in Plano, Texas, specializing in 3D & 2D Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software. Its operations were amalgamated into the Siemens Digital Industries Software business unit of Siemens Industry Automation division, when Siemens completed the US$3.5 billion acquisition of UGS on May 7, 2007.

This article is about the historic details of computer software company UGS prior to the 2007 acquisition by Siemens. For the amalgamated company, see Siemens Digital Industries Software.
UGS Corporation
IndustryAerospace/Defense
Automotive and Transportation
Electronics and telecommunications
Fabrication and assembly
Founded1963, Torrance, California
Defunct2007
FatePurchased and integrated into Siemens Industry Automation division of Siemens AG
SuccessorSiemens Digital Industries Software
HeadquartersPlano, Texas
Key people
Tony Affuso, Chuck Grindstaff, John Graham, David Shirk
ProductsPLM software and services — Teamcenter, NX, Tecnomatix, UGS Velocity Series
Number of employees
7300 (February 2007)
ParentMcDonnell Douglas
(1976 - 1991)
EDS
(1991 - 2004)
UGS Corp.
(2004 - 2007)
Siemens AG
(2007 - present)

UGS' flagship products were NX, a CAD/CAM/CAE commercial software suite, and Teamcenter, an integrated set of PLM and collaboration (cPD) tools. The company's portfolio also contained NX I-deas, NX Nastran, Solid Edge, Imageware, Tecnomatix, Jack,[1] SDK, Femap, D-Cubed, JT, PLM Vis, PLM XML, and Parasolid.

History

Inception as United Computing: 1963 to 1975

The first commercial product developed by UGS was called UNIAPT. Released in 1969 by a software company then called United Computing, UNIAPT was one of the world's first end-user CAM products.[2] United Computing was founded in 1963 above a hair salon in Torrance, California, and went on to purchase the Automated Drafting and Machining (ADAM) software code from MGS in 1973. The code became a foundation for a product called UNI-GRAPHICS, later sold commercially as Unigraphics in 1975.[3][4][5]

As a McDonnell Douglas company: 1976 to 1991

In 1976, United Computing was acquired by the Aerospace company McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing), who created new CAD/CAM divisions, naming one the Unigraphics Group. Finally, in 1980, Unigraphics was released, marking the group's first true 3D modeling hardware and software offering.

Already home to McDonnell Douglas, the Unigraphics Group grew in St. Louis, Missouri, which became the new headquarters.

EDS: 1991 to 2004

In 1991, the McDonnell Douglas Systems Integration groups, including Unigraphics, were acquired by EDS (then a part of General Motors Corp., later part of HP Enterprise Services and now DXC Technology). EDS branded the acquired business as EDS Unigraphics. Eventually, in 1997 EDS set up its Unigraphics division as a wholly owned subsidiary called Unigraphics Solutions.[6] EDS took Unigraphics Solutions public while continuing to own majority controlling shares in Unigraphics. During this time, Unigraphics acquired a few companies itself including Engineering Animation, Inc., the former Ames, Iowa-based visualization company.

In 1999 the company acquired Applicon, a long term player in the EDA field.

In 2001, the company was renamed to UGS. EDS repurchased all outstanding stock and acquired SDRC - a former competitor of Unigraphics - and merged both into a single Line of Business (LOB) named EDS PLM Solutions.[7]

UGS Corporation: 2004 to 2007

In 2004 EDS sold off its EDS PLM Solutions business to the private equity group of Bain Capital, Silver Lake Partners, and Warburg Pincus.[8] The company resumed operating under the UGS name following the private equity sale.

In 2005, UGS purchased Tecnomatix Technologies Ltd.[9]

Acquisition by Siemens: 2007

On January 24, 2007, the German electronics giant Siemens AG announced the acquisition of UGS for US$3.5 billion; and after completion of the deal, UGS became part of Siemens Automation & Drives group as the UGS PLM Software division before being renamed to Siemens Digital Industries Software.[10][11][12]

References
  1. "Tecnomatix | Siemens Software".
  2. "Unigraphics in the 60's". PLM World. Archived from the original on 2010-06-16.
  3. Wayne Carlson (2003). "A Critical History of Computer Graphics and Animation, Section 10: CAD/CAM/CADD/CAE". The Ohio State University. Archived from the original on July 5, 2004. Retrieved January 9, 2006.
  4. UGS (2005). "About Us: Facts & Philosophy: Company Timeline". Retrieved January 9, 2006.
  5. "A Critical History of Computer Graphics and Animation". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  6. "See GM, IBM in CAD/CAM fight; after Unigraphics deal". Electronic News. 1991.
  7. "EDS Forms CAD Powerhouse With SDRC, UGS". Managing Automation. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14.
  8. "Bain Capital, Silver Lake Partners and Warburg Pincus Private Equity Group to Acquire UGS PLM Solutions from EDS for $2.05 Billion in Cash" (Press release). Silverlake.
  9. "Deals: UGS To Acquire Tecnomatix For $228 Million". The New York Times. January 5, 2005.
  10. Siemens announces Siemens Digital Industries Software strategic business unit
  11. "Siemens Buys UGS for $3.5B". Red Herring. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15.
  12. "Siemens to acquire UGS Corp" (Press release). Siemens AG. 2007-01-25. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
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