Mentor expands CFD design tools through acquisition

Flowmaster software is used to improve complex internal fluid systems.

-- Test & Measurement World, 1/19/2012 7:00:00 AM

Mentor Graphics announced that it has acquired the Flowmaster Group, a provider of 1-D CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulation software for system design. 1-D CFD solutions allow rapid engineering design of complex fluid-flow network systems, like water-cooled electronic racks, vehicle thermal management, and aerospace fuel systems. With this acquisition, Mentor Graphics becomes one of the first EDA companies to move into the adjacent CAE mechanical-analysis space.

Flowmaster Group is a Dutch-owned, UK-based organization with over 20 years of experience providing thermo-fluid systems-simulation software to the aerospace, automotive, marine, oil and gas, power-generation, process, rail, and water industries. Flowmaster software is used to improve complex internal fluid systems, ranging from conceptual idea to finalized design.

The acquisition of Flowmaster complements the acquisition of Flomerics by Mentor Graphics in 2008, a supplier of 3-D MCAD-embedded CFD and 3-D electronics-cooling thermal-analysis tools. The combination of the CFD software products and services from Mentor Graphics and Flowmaster, both targeted at engineers, designers, and analysts, is expected to provide one of the most comprehensive sets of upfront and concurrent CFD design tools available. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Mentor Graphics, www.mentor.com

Flowmaster Group, www.flowmaster.com