(Source: Siemens Digital Industries Software)

Siemens Digital Industries Software has announced the acquisition of FORAN software business. FORAN, a software system used in the design and construction of vessels and marine structures, will be changing ownership from Spain-based SENER to Siemens Digital. The acquisition of FORAN is due to close in the fourth quarter of the calendar year 2021. The terms of the transaction are not disclosed.

FORAN was the first marine CAD system on the Microsoft Windows platform. The software can exchange data in multiple formats like DWG, DXF, IGES, STEP, VDA, VRML, and XML. SENER says that the FORAN system architecture combines an in-house modeling and visualization kernel which is finely tuned to meet the needs of the shipping industry with high-performance basic software components that give the different modules a shared look and feel, allows integrated development and makes it easy to internationalize.

Siemens says FORAN will be added to Siemens’ Xcelerator portfolio that will cover all aspects of the ship lifecycle. Shipbuiding is a complex process. As the complexity of design and build processes increases, the shipbuilding projects will need efficient processes to reduce cost and increase productivity. To optimize manufacturing planning and production, shipbuilders companies need a digital thread approach to ship construction—a digital shipyard or Shipyard 4.0. The entire shipbuilding process can be simulated in an integrated virtual shipyard environment before the production process starts. All vessel-related data can be maintained in an extensive digital twin of the vessel. Similarly, a digital twin of the shipyard can be deployed to have a common data source across design and manufacturing departments.

Tony Hemmelgarn, CEO and President, Siemens Digital Industries Software, said, “The acquisition of FORAN enhances our marine digital twin, adding preeminent capabilities to our integrated ship design and engineering digital thread solution. By adding FORAN’s extensive tools to the Xcelerator portfolio and leveraging the team’s industry expertise, we will be able to offer commercial and naval shipbuilding customers better control of their ship design and manufacturing process as they transition to Shipyard 4.0.”

The company press release is as follows:

Siemens acquires FORAN software to expand capabilities in marine design and engineering

• Siemens to add FORAN marine design software to its Xcelerator portfolio of integrated software and services, helping marine customers adopt a comprehensive digital twin approach to ship design and construction
• The addition of FORAN, one of the most commercialized design and construction systems in the marine industry worldwide, enables Siemens to better support marine customers in digital transformation, with a focus on meeting Shipyard 4.0 and sustainability goals

Siemens Digital Industries Software announced today that it has signed an agreement with Spain-based SENER, a leading multinational company in engineering and technology, to acquire its FORAN software business. FORAN is CAD/CAE/CAM software for the design, construction and engineering of vessels and marine structures. The addition of the FORAN product and team to Siemens, together with its customer portfolio, brings experience and comprehensive know-how across complex commercial marine projects, defense industry standards and regulation compliance. SENER Group will keep and strengthen its traditional marine engineering business line, where it offers design, engineering, and consultancy services for different types of ships and offshore vessels.

FORAN will be added to Siemens’ Xcelerator portfolio, offering a comprehensive and integrated portfolio of software and services that covers all aspects of the ship lifecycle, from concept design through production to operations and optimized service lifecycle management.

“The acquisition of FORAN enhances our marine digital twin, adding preeminent capabilities to our integrated ship design and engineering digital thread solution,” said Tony Hemmelgarn, CEO and President, Siemens Digital Industries Software. “By adding FORAN’s extensive tools to the Xcelerator portfolio and leveraging the team’s industry expertise, we will be able to offer commercial and naval shipbuilding customers better control of their ship design and manufacturing process as they transition to Shipyard 4.0.”

In today’s race towards sustainable shipping, shipyards need to innovate faster and deliver greener ships that comply with strict safety and environmental regulations.  As the resulting complexity in marine design and build reaches unprecedented levels, risks and inefficiencies in the current design and manufacturing process need to be minimized. Software is critical to optimize this process, cut costs and increase productivity without compromising quality.

“With over 150 shipyard and design office customers across 40 countries, FORAN technology provides a strong position for Siemens to better support customers across the marine industry. At the same time, Siemens’ global reach and the integration of the FORAN team into Siemens helps guarantee current FORAN clients continuity and improvement to the services provided with a strategic vision for ongoing developments,” said Gabriel Alarcón, Managing Director, SENER Engineering. “This transaction allows the FORAN product family to grow in line with the expanded presence that Siemens has in industrial software.”

Siemens’ acquisition of FORAN is due to close in the fourth quarter of the calendar year 2021. The terms of the transaction are not disclosed.