UGS Corp.
| Company type | Private (after 2004) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software |
| Predecessor | United Computing |
| Founded | 1963 |
| Defunct | 2007 |
| Fate | Acquired by Siemens AG and absorbed into Siemens Digital Industries Software |
| Headquarters | Plano, Texas , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | NX, Teamcenter, NX I-deas, NX Nastran, Solid Edge, Imageware, Tecnomatix, Jack, SDK, Femap, D-Cubed, JT, PLM Vis, PLM XML, Parasolid |
| Owner | Private equity investors (Bain Capital, Silver Lake Partners, Warburg Pincus) (2004–2007) |
| Parent | Siemens AG (from 2007) |
UGS was a software firm based in Plano, Texas, focused on delivering 3D and 2D Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software solutions. Following Siemens' acquisition valued at US$3.5 billion on May 7, 2007, UGS' operations were absorbed into the Siemens Digital Industries Software division under the Siemens Industry Automation group.
The company's primary offerings included NX, a comprehensive suite combining CAD, CAM, and CAE capabilities, alongside Teamcenter, a unified PLM and collaborative product development (cPD) platform. Additional products in their lineup encompassed NX I-deas, NX Nastran, Solid Edge, Imageware, Tecnomatix, Jack, SDK, Femap, D-Cubed, JT, PLM Vis, PLM XML, and Parasolid.
Formation as United Computing: 1963–1975
The origins of UGS trace back to United Computing, established in 1963 in Torrance, California. Its inaugural commercial offering, UNIAPT, released in 1969, ranked among the pioneering end-user CAM systems. In 1973, United Computing acquired the Automated Drafting and Machining (ADAM) software from MGS, which served as the foundation for UNI-GRAPHICS—later marketed as Unigraphics starting in 1975.
Under McDonnell Douglas Ownership: 1976–1991
United Computing was acquired by aerospace corporation McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing) in 1976. The company then established dedicated CAD/CAM divisions, including the Unigraphics Group. By 1980, Unigraphics introduced its first fully integrated 3D modeling hardware and software system.
The Unigraphics Group grew its presence in St. Louis, Missouri, which became its central headquarters.
EDS Era: 1991–2004
In 1991, the Systems Integration divisions of McDonnell Douglas, including Unigraphics, were purchased by EDS (previously under General Motors Corp., later known as HP Enterprise Services and currently operating as DXC Technology). EDS rebranded the unit as EDS Unigraphics and subsequently formed Unigraphics Solutions as a wholly owned subsidiary in 1997. The company went public with EDS maintaining majority ownership. During this timeframe, Unigraphics acquired several firms such as Engineering Animation, Inc., a visualization specialist based in Ames, Iowa.
In 1999, Unigraphics further expanded by acquiring Applicon, a significant entity in electronic design automation (EDA).
The company was renamed UGS in 2001 when EDS repurchased all outstanding shares and merged competitor SDRC into EDS PLM Solutions—creating an integrated product lifecycle management business unit.
UGS Corporation Phase: 2004–2007
In 2004, EDS divested its PLM Solutions division to private equity investors including Bain Capital, Silver Lake Partners, and Warburg Pincus for $2.05 billion cash consideration. The business reverted to operating under the UGS brand.
The following year, UGS broadened its manufacturing process management offerings by acquiring Tecnomatix Technologies Ltd.
Siemens Acquisition: 2007
On January 24, 2007, the German multinational Siemens AG declared its purchase of UGS for $3.5 billion. Once the transaction was finalized, UGS was integrated into Siemens Automation & Drives as the UGS PLM Software unit, which was subsequently rebranded as Siemens Digital Industries Software.