ATS Expands with the Acquisition of CM4D
ATS International B.V., The Netherlands has acquired the business and assets of the CM4D software and professional engineering services operations from QMC, Inc., USA.CM4D is product quality validation software used primarily in the Aerospace and Automotive industries. The software compares the geometric design specification for a component or assembly with “as built” data from the actual manufactured component or assembly. The differences provide a manufacturer with a map to tackle both design and manufacturing issues in the pursuit of perfect quality.
Essentially, CM4D fills the gap between the virtual design world of Computer Aided Design and the physical world of manufacturing.
The name CM4D is derived from CMM or coordinate measuring machines and 4D as a reference to the fourth dimension, perfect quality of 3D products. CMM’s are one of the sources of data used by CM4D to create the actual geometric model. The product will be renamed ATS CM4D and joins ATS Inspect as the one of the primary products of ATS Software Development.
A total of 32 employees, based in Detroit, Michigan, USA are transferring with the business to ATS USA. A full range of quality management services are provided by the team in addition to product software development and support. Jeff Perry, Vice President and General Manager of QMC Inc. transfers to ATS and will continue to lead the team and take responsibility for ATS Quality Operations Management.
Mike James, Group Chairman of ATS stated: “The acquisition of CM4D fulfils our ambitions to grow and strengthen our software development activities while also strengthening our position in the USA and globally. CM4D is used by Ford Motor Company as a global standard for product validation for new product launches and throughout the product lifecycle. Other customers include Honda, Chrysler, Caterpillar, Jaguar, Land Rover, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Bell Helicopter and Spirit Aerosystems. We are delighted to have such a competent team join ATS and are honored to serve these new customers and offer them our broad range of solutions.”
Jeff Perry shares his thoughts: “It was clear to us that our success in North America in winning global customers could only be supported with a global sales and support network. ATS provides CM4D with that network and we can also sell CM4D to ATS’s existing world-wide customer base.”
President of QMC Stefan Wanczyk adds “CM4D has been a successful software solution but QMC lacked the global footprint and expertise that ATS can offer to significantly increase CM4D’s presence in the marketplace. We are excited about the synergies created by this transaction, and the opportunities for the future for all involved.”
With ATS CM4D added to the range of solutions offered by ATS the group has become a powerhouse of software technology for manufacturers. Group sales will expand by 15% following the acquisition.