Forming Technologies
Forming Technologies is a computer-aided engineering (CAE) software provider focused on structural mechanics and virtual manufacturing simulation for industrial manufacturers, operating within Hexagon AB's Design & Engineering portfolio on a subscription revenue model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersOakville, Canada
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Forming Technologies does
Forming Technologies is described in the available source material as a computer-aided engineering (CAE) software provider focused on structural mechanics and virtual manufacturing simulation. Its core technology delivers highly accurate, fast, non-linear solvers with workflow integration capabilities designed to support engineering simulation across a wide array of industrial manufacturing use cases. The technology stack originates from the MSC Software lineage, acquired by Hexagon AB in 2017, and was subsequently extended through bolt-on acquisitions including AMendate (2019), Romax (2020), CADLM (2020), and CAEfatigue (2020). The entity operates within Hexagon AB's Design & Engineering business, which contributed approximately 265 MEUR to the Manufacturing division's 2024 revenues at profitability above Hexagon group averages.
The business generates revenue through a subscription-based software model, a transition initiated by Hexagon following the 2017 MSC Software acquisition. Distribution relies on direct enterprise sales leveraging Hexagon's global infrastructure spanning 50 countries and approximately 24,800 employees, with primary customers being industrial manufacturers that need engineering simulation, structural analysis, virtual manufacturing, and multiphysics system analysis capabilities to reduce physical prototyping costs and accelerate product design cycles.
On 4 September 2025, Hexagon AB entered a definitive agreement to sell its Design & Engineering business to Cadence Design Systems for approximately 2.7bn EUR, with 30% consideration in Cadence common stock and the remainder in cash, establishing a long-term collaboration between the two firms with closing expected in Q1 2026. Note: the source material does not contain entity-specific operating, financial, or historical data for Forming Technologies independent of the Hexagon AB D&E context, and the above description is necessarily grounded in the aggregated data points labelled under this entity.
Forming Technologies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Forming Technologies
- Website
- https://forming.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Forming Technologies is a computer-aided engineering (CAE) software provider focused on structural mechanics and virtual manufacturing simulation for industrial manufacturers, operating within Hexagon AB's Design & Engineering portfolio on a subscription revenue model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Forming Technologies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Manufacturing Simulation Software
- NAICS
- Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing (3335)
- SIC
- Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping) (IMAHADAC)
Keywords
Where Forming Technologies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakville
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Forming Technologies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Others
Revenue model
- Subscription-based CAE Software: The D&E business has been successfully transitioning to a subscription model since the acquisition of MSC in 2017.
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Forming Technologies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
No direct information about Forming Technologies' core offering is present in the source material. The company name 'Forming Technologies' suggests a focus on manufacturing forming processes (e.g., metal forming, sheet metal forming, plastic forming), but no specific offerings, descriptions, or products are evidenced in the provided data.
Product overview
Hexagon operates in metrology, reality capture, and positioning technology domains. The company offers a diverse portfolio including CAD/CAM and production software enabling manufacturers to generate, manage and optimise CNC machining toolpaths. Other offerings include coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), 3D laser scanners, metrology software, portable measuring systems, quality assurance software, Hexagon Connected Worker digital solutions, AEC software, total stations, GNSS systems, survey software, detection systems, digital realities platform, monitoring solutions, and machine control systems. The company also offers AI-driven solutions, digital twins for industry, robotics and autonomy technologies, and the Nexus digital industrial collaboration platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- No Forming Technologies products or services are evidenced in the source material No specific products or services for Forming Technologies are evidenced in the provided source data. The source describes Hexagon AB's product portfolio (e.g., MSC Software, Nexus, Leica TS20) and does not reference Forming Technologies.
Companies that use Forming Technologies
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Forming Technologies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Forming Technologies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Cadence Design Systems, Inc.flagshipHexagon has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Design & Engineering business (D&E), including the business formerly known as MSC Software, to Cadence Design Systems for approximately 2.7bn EUR. The consideration includes 30% to be paid through Cadence common stock issuance to Hexagon AB and the remainder in cash. The transaction establishes a long-term collaboration between the companies. Expected to close in Q1 2026.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Forming Technologies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ansys: The leading pure-play CAE software vendor covering structural, thermal, fluids, and electromagnetics simulation. Directly competes with Forming Technologies/MSC in nonlinear structural mechanics and virtual manufacturing.
- Dassault Systèmes: Operates the SIMULIA Abaqus CAE suite, a direct competitor to MSC's structural solvers. Dassault's 3DEXPERIENCE platform overlaps with D&E's virtual-manufacturing positioning across automotive and aerospace OEMs.
- Siemens Digital Industries Software: Sells Solid Edge Simulation, StarCCM+, and NX Nastran CAE products within its Xcelerator portfolio, competing head-on with MSC and Forming Technologies in mechanical and multiphysics simulation for manufacturers.
- Altair Engineering: Provides HyperWorks CAE software (OptiStruct, HyperMesh, MotionSolve) competing with MSC's structural and dynamics solvers. Altair's simulation-led portfolio closely mirrors D&E's breadth of analysis tools.
- ESI Group: Specialist in virtual prototyping for manufacturing processes, with strong positions in sheet-metal forming, welding, and composites simulation. ESI is a particularly close competitor in Forming Technologies' core sheet-metal forming niche.
Broad incumbents
- Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence: The former parent organization retaining metrology, CAD/CAM, and production software after divesting D&E. Comparable as a strategic acquirer/adapter of CAE adjacent to manufacturing execution, and overlap in customer base with Forming Technologies.
- Autodesk: Through Fusion 360 and the Autodesk product development platform, Autodesk offers generative design and basic CAE aimed at mechanical designers, overlapping with Forming Technologies' lower-end simulation seats.
Emerging players
- COMSOL: Multiphysics simulation platform widely used in advanced manufacturing R&D. Competes with MSC's multiphysics solvers and is increasingly embedded in metal-additive and forming workflows adjacent to Forming Technologies' core.
- PTC: Through Creo Simulation and the Onshape CAD/CAE workflow, PTC targets mechanical engineering teams. Its integrated CAD-to-simulation approach overlaps with D&E's workflow-integrated value proposition.
- BETA CAE Systems: Greek-headquartered CAE vendor offering ANSA pre-processor and μETA solvers widely adopted in automotive CAE workflows, competing directly with MSC's pre/post-processing stack.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Forming Technologies social profiles
Digital presenceForming Technologies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Forming Technologies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Forming Technologies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Forming Technologies M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Forming Technologies
What does Forming Technologies do?
No direct information about Forming Technologies' core offering is present in the source material. The company name 'Forming Technologies' suggests a focus on manufacturing forming processes (e.g., metal forming, sheet metal forming, plastic forming), but no specific offerings, descriptions, or products are evidenced in the provided data.
When was Forming Technologies founded?
Forming Technologies was founded in 1989. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Forming Technologies based?
Forming Technologies is headquartered in Oakville, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Forming Technologies make money?
One revenue line is on record: subscription-based CAE Software.
Who are Forming Technologies's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ansys, Dassault Systèmes, Siemens Digital Industries Software, Altair Engineering and ESI Group. Broad incumbents are Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence and Autodesk. Emerging players are COMSOL, PTC and BETA CAE Systems.
Does Forming Technologies have an API?
No public API is recorded for Forming Technologies.
What industry is Forming Technologies in?
Forming Technologies's product category is Manufacturing Simulation Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHADAC, Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping). Its NAICS code is 3335 and its SIC code is 3540.