Autodesk to acquire Moldflow
Part design will meet molding simulation in a deal that combines CAD supplier Autodesk (San Rafael, CA) with mold-filling simulation provider Moldflow (Framingham, MA). Autodesk will pay $22/share for Moldflow in a deal valued at $297 million. Paul Davis, director of industry and product public relations for Autodesk, told MPW that Moldflow was targeted as part of his company’s ongoing search for partners.
Autodesk views the Moldflow platform as a means to augment its Digital Prototyping line, while Moldflow said in a release that the combined analysis and simulation programs will support part design, tool design, and part production.
Davis stressed that the addition is fully complementary without redundancy in lines, as Autodesk had no products specifically related to plastics or mold filling. Davis points out that Autodesk’s AutoCAD is not a 3D simulation or analysis tool the way that Inventor is, but Moldflow products can use Inventor models today.
In some instances, the platforms are able to communicate, with plans to boost that exchange potential going forward. Peter Rucinski, director of marketing communications at Moldflow, says that currently Moldflow Plastics Adviser links to Autodesk Inventor via a button.
Moldflow’s R&D, sales, service, and marketing teams will remain largely intact, according to Davis, with decisions regarding branding and the Moldflow name postponed until the deal closes. Moldflow has 285 employees and reported FY07 revenues of $55.9 million.
Hosokawa Alpine dedicates new production facility
 Employees at Hosokawa helped finance, and will profit from, a new solar collection unit. |
Blown-film equipment maker Hosokawa Alpine (Augsburg, Germany) opened a new 7100m2 production expansion at its headquarters, representing an investment of more than €11 million. The new building replaces an older, smaller structure from the last century. The new building will be used to assemble blown-film lines, winders, MDO film-stretching units, mills, and recycling units.
Also, 100 of the 540 Hosokawa Alpine employees contributed more than €400,000 to build a photovoltaic installation on the roof of the new building. These workers then formed their own company to sell the yearly energy output of 250,000 kW/hr from the 2700m2 unit to the city’s electricity works.
Total investment in the solar collection array is €1.3 million and was co-financed by several German banks. Profits from the energy generated are distributed to the workers according to their share ownership.