AutoForm Engineering GmbH

Based in Zurich, Switzerland, and founded in 1995 by Dr. Waldemar Kubli, AutoForm Engineering GmbH, a. k. a AutoForm, operates as a provider of software solutions for sheet metal forming and body in white (BiW) assembly.

The company also has offices in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, Sweden, the USA, Mexico, Brazil, India, China, Japan, and Korea. AutoForm’s client portfolio includes Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla Motors, Volkswagen, BMW, Ford, Hyundai, Hero MotoCorp, Mitsubishi, Kia, Maruti Suzuki, Samsung Electronics, Whirlpool, among many others.  In July 2016, Astorg acquired a majority stake in the company, and in November 2021, Carlyle Group bid to acquire AutoForm Engineering GmbH from Astorg for approximately EUR 1. 75 billion.

As of 2021, the company is being led by Olivier Leteurtre, as its CEO. AutoForm Engineering GmbH provides engineering software products, that are used by various automotive OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), and their suppliers, for sheet metal forming, and body in white (BiW) assembly processes and simulations. The company’s product portfolio includes, AutoForm Forming, the software suite intended for development, die face design, and validation of sheet metal processes and parts; AutoForm Assembly, for material cost estimation, virtual stamping, process engineering, and optimization of BiW assembly processes; and AutoForm TubeXpert, the software tool kit that facilitates design, simulation, and validation of tube bending, forming and hydroforming processes, etc, Logopress®, for die design, CAD-Embedded Modules, for creating 3D surfaces, and TriboForm®. The firm’s products are being used by more than 3500 professionals in over 1000 companies across 50 countries worldwide.

AutoForm Engineering GmbH generates revenue by selling software licenses to its clients. The firm offers 2 categories of licenses, Node-locked License (single user type), and Floating License (multi-user type). The deal with Carlyle Group will help the firm achieve its goals of expanding its product line, making possible acquisitions, and improving the existing software platform.