Product data visualization applications firm Engineering Automation Inc has agreed to acquire two privately held companies: Variation Systems Analysis Inc for around $26m in common stock, and Transom Technologies for $13m in stock. VSA, of St Clair Shores, Michigan, markets 3D software for simulating manufacturing and variation in digital manufacturing. Its VSA-3D and VSA-GDT products come in the form of software modules that work with computer-aided design systems from Dassault Systems, Parametric Technologies Inc, Structural Dynamics Research Corp and Unigraphics Solutions. EAI want the technology so that it can integrate advanced digital prototyping into its own VisMockUp tools. VSA, which posted revenues of approximately $18m last year, will be run as a wholly-owned subsidiary. The acquisition will be accounted for as a pooling of interests, and is expected to be completed in the third quarter. Transom, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has developed human factor modeling and simulation software. It posted $1.8m in revenues last year. Separately, EAI signed a technology and cross-licensing agreement with CAD/CAM vendor Unigraphics Solutions. The two plan to tightly integrate their applications under a single interface. EAI, which sells its tools to large manufacturing companies, is based in Ames, Iowa.
