Company History
Before Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp., the industry was starved for software that combined 3D solid modeling with the ease of use of the desktop.
In 1993, SolidWorks founder Jon Hirschtick recruited a team of engineers with the explicit purpose of making 3D CAD technology more accessible. They did it by developing the first 3D CAD technology that ran on the Windows platform and didn't require expensive hardware and software to operate. 1995 marked the first release of SolidWorks® software. Within two months, it was winning accolades for ease-of-use, allowing more engineers than ever before to take advantage of 3D CAD in bringing their product designs to life.
In 1997, global lifecycle technology giant Dassault Systèmes S.A. (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) took notice, acquiring SolidWorks for $310 million in stock.
Today, DS SolidWorks offers a complete toolset to create, simulate, publish, and manage data, maximizing the innovation and productivity of engineering resources. All of these solutions work together to allow organizations to design products better, faster, and more cost-effectively.
DS SolidWorks Corp. has continued to apply its “ease of use” mantra to new product extensions, including SolidWorks Simulation and SolidWorks Enterprise PDM. While solving complex simulations such as vibration or impact, SolidWorks Simulation makes it easy to validate if you have the right design – without needing a Ph.D in Finite Element Analysis. Consistent with this theme, SolidWorks data management deploys in as little as ten days, allowing organizations to capitalize on new opportunities faster.
2,103,400+ Strong and Growing
More than 2,103,400 users at 178,100 locations in 80 countries around the world rely on SolidWorks software. Plus, over one million students graduate every year with SolidWorks training. SolidWorks has consistently ranked as the 3D technology experience that employers seek most in job postings on Monster.com, the most popular employment Web site.
Milestones |
Awards |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Added SolidWorks Plastics Premium and SolidWorks Plastics Professional and SolidWorks Electrical packages into portfolio | 2013 | Control Engineering Magazine Engineers' Choice Award for SolidWorks 2013 |
| 2009 | Developed and added SolidWorks SustainabilityXpress into portfolio | 2011 |
Control Engineering Magazine Engineers’ Choice Award for SolidWorks 2011 |
| 2008 | Acquired Priware. DS SolidWorks Corp. incorporates CircuitWorks into SolidWorks software | 2010 |
SolidWorks Sustainability software won the Global GREEN AWARDS™ 2010 “Best New Green Product Innovation” honor |
| 2007 | Dassault Systèmes acquires Seemage. DS SolidWorks Corp. adds 3DVIA Composer to product portfolio | 2010 | SolidWorks Sustainability 2010 wins Design News magazine Golden Mousetrap Award for Best Product |
| 2006 | Acquired Conisio, added SolidWorks Enterprise PDM to product portfolio | 2009 | Control Engineering Magazine Engineers’ Choice Award in the simulation category |
| 2001 | Dassault Systèmes acquires SRAC, SolidWorks incorporates simulation into mainstream design | 2008 | Listed on the START-IT 125 (a list of the most influential manufacturing technology providers as determined by the editors of START-IT) |
| 1995 | Shipped first seat of SolidWorks 95 software | 2007 | SolidWorks 2008 3D CAD software wins 2007 NASA Tech Briefs Readers’ Choice Product of the Year Award |
| 1993 | Founded | 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2008 | Named bySTART-IT magazine as one of the “Hottest Companies” |
