The business unit of German conglomerate Siemens has made a foray into 3D rendering and VR with its latest acquisition of Lightwork Design.
The Sheffield-based company works across computer software and technology licensing with a focus on 3D rendering software and virtual reality (VR).
Having been acquired from Mobeus Lightworks will now join Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of Sieman’s Digital Factory division.
Siemens PLM Software chief executive Tony Hemmelgarn said: “With this acquisition, we increase the accuracy of the digital twin by adding advanced visualisation, rendering and virtual reality technology into all phases of the virtual product development process.
“The visualisation and virtual reality space is continually changing and growing, and Lightwork Design has the advanced 3D data visualisation, rendering and virtual reality technology required to help keep us in the forefront of the marketplace.”
Mobeus previously made a £1.9m management buyout of Lightwork Design in 2006, along with Machineworks, at which point the two companies were grouped together as VSI Ltd.
“The demand for high-end, interactive and consistent product visualisation in design and manufacturing is growing quickly,” said Lightworks chief executive David Forrester.
“Combining our Iray+ technology and virtual reality collaborative design review software with Siemens PLM Software’s business will enable us to provide world-class solutions to the design and manufacturing industry on an even larger scale.
“We look forward to the opportunities for further development and integration of our visualisation technology with existing Siemens software to contribute to Siemens’ broader digitalisation strategy.”
Siemens’ 3D design application NXTM software already leverages Lightworks’ capabilities are already embedded into and there are plans to expand the tech across the Siemens portfolio.