AutoForm
| Company type | GmbH |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software development |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | |
Key people | Olivier Leteurtre (CEO) Dr. Waldemar Kubli (Founder and CPO) |
| Products | Software |
Number of employees | >400 (2019) |
| Website | www |
AutoForm Engineering GmbH located in Pfäffikon SZ Switzerland is a Swiss software developer. AutoForm’s software forms a platform for the engineering, evaluation and improvement of the sheet metal forming and BiW assembly processes. In 2009, the company had a 50-60% industry market share.[1]
History
[edit]In 1995, the company emerged as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, which itself began with a dissertation written by founder Waldemar Kubli in 1990.[2] Subsequently, the company created subsidiaries in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. In 2016 AutoForm was acquired by Astorg and in 2021 Carlyle acquired AutoForm from Astorg.[3]
Products
[edit]The AutoForm products address various areas of application along the Sheet Metal Forming and BiW Process Chains, including product development, early planning, process & tooling, and tryout & production. In 2008 of the largest 20 automotive OEMs and most of their suppliers were using AutoForm.[4]
Industry and research partnerships
[edit]AutoForm is involved in joint development projects for sheet metal forming and BiW assembly covering several industries. This includes work with automobile manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Daimler AG,[5] and PSA Group;[2] tooling suppliers such as Magna International and Faurecia;[6] material suppliers including ArcelorMittal, and Thyssenkrupp Steel; and universities including ETH Zurich[7] and Twente University.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ SVC Swiss Venture Club, 11. März 2009 Archived May 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Michael Pock (2010). Born Globals: Internationale Wachstumsstrategien junger Unternehmen. Gabler Verlag. p. 169. ISBN 9783834989598.
- ^ Ben Dummett (November 17, 2021). "Carlyle to Buy Switzerland's AutoForm Engineering in $2 Billion Deal".
- ^ "Unternehmen" (in German). Handelszeitung. October 2008. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06.
- ^ "Carlyle parie sur l'industrie automobile avec AutoForm" (in French). Capital Finance. November 18, 2021.
- ^ Pock, 172.
- ^ Pock, 169.
- ^ Wijlen, E.V. (2007). "OPTIMISATION OF A DEEP DRAWING PROCESS WITH EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION: APPLIED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE DEEP DRAWING PROCESS OF A B-PILLAR". Twenty University.