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]
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software development |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Wilen bei Wollerau, Switzerland |
Key people | Olivier Leteurtre (CEO) Dr. Waldemar Kubli (Founder and CPO) |
| Products | Software |
Number of employees | >400 (2019) |
| Website | www |
History
editIn 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
editThe 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
editAutoForm 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.