Bechtle AG is once again expanding its presence in Great Britain through an acquisition. With DriveWorks Ltd. A software developer for design automation and configure price quote (CPQ) solutions is joining the Bechtle Group.
The products are specifically designed for companies that use SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD software. The company, founded in 2001, is based in Thelwall, near Manchester, and currently employs 59 people. In the past financial year 2023/24, sales were 6.5 million euros. DriveWorks developed the software of the same name, which is used worldwide to complement SOLIDWORKS. The software automates the construction of 3D CAD models, thus reducing time and sources of errors in product development. It also accelerates tailor-made product variants and enables the customer-specific creation of online product configurators.
Bechtle has been selling the DriveWorks add-on software for years and therefore knows the company very well. The two founders, Maria Sarkar and Glen Smith, will remain active in the company, but will hand over management to their two internal successors. She will be followed by current sales director Mark Sarkar and Philip Stears, currently chief technology officer. Under the Bechtle umbrella, DriveWorks expects a high level of security for future growth and additional synergy effects. After the acquisition of Qolcom Ltd. reported on October 7, 2024. DriveWorks is the second acquisition in the UK this month.
The IP underlying DriveWorks includes a defined set of rules that makes it possible to automatically construct individualized product variants of varying complexity from basic designs. In addition to web-based product configuration, the software also covers the automatic construction of the resulting variants, the creation of 3D models, drawings and price calculation through to the creation of offers and production data. The DriveWorks package solutions are designed to be flexible and scalable to support companies in their digital transformation and automation. The DriveWorksXpress add-on software has been included in the SOLIDWORKS desktop application since 2007 and can be expanded to include hybrid cloud and online 3D configurator solutions. DriveWorks has developed a total of three SOLIDWORKS certified Gold Partner products.
DriveWorks retains entrepreneurial freedom
Bechtle will continue to run DriveWorks as an independent company. The software developer’s customers are exclusively SOLIDWORKS resellers in currently over 54 countries. The company also has two locations in Australia and the USA, which will be retained, as will the employees working in France and India. DriveWorks add-on software continues to provide web-based product configuration and design automation for business-to-business and business-to-customer manufacturing companies. The software thus opens up high efficiency potential for users and thus helps to counteract the shortage of skilled workers.
Expansion of the market position in Great Britain and in the PLM area
Bechtle has been successful in Great Britain for 26 years and offers companies and public clients an extensive portfolio of hardware, software, solutions and services. Together with DriveWorks, Bechtle employs around 430 people at six locations.
As usual, it was agreed not to disclose the terms and purchase price of the acquisition.
(pd/Bechtle)
