Delcam
Delcam is a developer and provider of CAD / CAM software solutions for the manufacturing industry. The company has grown steadily since it was founded in 1977, following initial development work at the University of Cambridge in England . Today Delcam is the largest developer of product design and manufacturing software in the UK, with offices in North America, Europe and Asia. Delcam's software systems are used by more than 15,000 companies in over 80 countries.
Company history
In 1968 Donald Welbourn, Director of Industrial Cooperation at Cambridge University, had a vision: to use computers to assist component pattern makers in modeling complex 3D shapes. Today, 3D modeling is a matter of course for us, but in 1968 only rudimentary 2D drawing systems were used on screens connected to large master computers.
Although Ford supported the work from the start, it was a constant problem for Donald Welbourne to raise the necessary development funds. In 1973 Donald convinced his friend Lord Caldecote, chairman of the Delta Metal Group and a former Cambridge graduate, to appoint Delta's graduate engineer Ed Lambourne to the technical department at Cambridge University to work on the development of DUCT, which ultimately led to the use of the system in the Industry. In 1974 Donald won a sponsor with the German Control Data GmbH, which gave the developers access to his powerful IT resources. DUCT offered Control Data in particular to its two largest customers - Volkswagen and Daimler-Benz.
In 1977 a new department in the form of Delta Technical Services was founded in Birmingham to continue the research. But it was hard to make a good case for this technology because the computers were still slow and expensive, the software had few automatic functions, and was difficult to use.
In 1982 the first microcomputers with more computing power and at lower prices came onto the market. This was a big step forward and in 1984 the technology was finally competitive with traditional methods. Of course, aircraft components had been designed on the computer for many years, but now cooking pots and other household products with complex shapes could also be designed with the aid of computers.
Meanwhile, the development of DUCT in Cambridge continued with a small team assembled at Delta in Birmingham. In 1984 the Birmingham team was larger than the Cambridge team and DUCT's unique capabilities were beginning to gain recognition. It was one of the few systems that was developed strictly for the construction and processing of products from the start. The fact that construction and processing were equally in focus differentiated DUCT from the competing systems and made it particularly attractive for users. Most other systems initially focused on 2D drawing and only added the 3D modeling and editing functions later.
Since 1977 the display processes have been developed step by step, additional processing tools have been integrated and a programming service for supplier companies has been added. The development of DUCT was now a commercial project and in 1985 employed 15 people. The direct reference to industrial practice was very helpful in determining the requirements and developing appropriate solutions.
In 1989, the company separated from the Delta Group as part of a management and employee takeover led by Managing Director Hugh Humphreys. The company was renamed Delcam International in 1991 and received public company status. In October of the same year Delcam moved into the new company building in Small Heath Birmingham.
In July 1997 Delcam plc was listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM). In preparation for this, Delcam UK was launched to lead sales and customer support in the UK. Along with this, Delcam opened a sales office in Bolton, Lancashire. The company also developed overseas, with those responsible mainly concentrating on joint ventures in America, Europe and the Far East. Today Delcam has more than 70 sales offices worldwide and a company-owned subsidiary in the United States that serves the highly complex market of the manufacturing industry there.
Autodesk
In November 2013, Autodesk announced plans to buy Delcam for £ 172 million. In February 2014, Autodesk announced the acquisition of Delcam.
Individual evidence
- ↑ CIMdata. "Largest NC Vendors 2007" . Retrieved December 19, 2010.
- ↑ CIMdata. "Market Share of Vendors in the Mold, Tool, and Die Market 2007" . Retrieved December 19, 2010.
- ↑ Donald Welbourn: "The Development of Computer Aided Design and Manufacture - CADCAM"
- ↑ marketwatch.com: Autodesk Announces Intent to Acquire Delcam