Symetri acquisition to create Autodesk super VAR

Two gentlemen pushing puzzle pieces together

published 2 April 2014

Swedish Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) specialist Cad-Q has announced it is to acquire UK Gold partner Symetri, creating the vendor’s largest solutions partner in Northern Europe.

Cad-Q’s acquisition of Newcastle-based Symetri from Airbus Defense and Space will also see the creation of a new centre of mechanical CAD excellence in the UK.

In an announcement from Symetri, director Colin Watson, said the firm’s emphasis will be on ‘business as usual’. He said existing customers “will benefit from a broader knowledge of manufacturing CAD, plus expertise in related areas such as data management, simulation, PLM and complementary proprietary software applications. The acquisition will also provide continuity for customers, with existing account managers remaining in place.”

He added: “As 3D CAD matures, resellers need a wider range of skills and areas of specialised knowledge to meet the business requirements of today’s discerning clients. Cad-Q has the background in data management, software development, PLM and systems integration necessary to help ensure continued success for both Symetri and its customers.

“In return, Symetri represents Cad-Q’s first investment outside Scandinavia and offers Cad-Q access, for its own range of products and services, to a large base of Autodesk manufacturing customers in the UK.”

Cad-Q, which is owned by the Addnode Group of companies, is Scandinavia and Finland’s leading provider of CAD processes related to design, engineering, production and the management of advanced construction.

The purchase price has not been revealed.

Autodesk restructure prompts channel changes

Christine has been a tech journalist for over 20 years, 10 of which she spent exclusively covering the IT Channel. From 2006-2009 she worked as the editor of Channel Business, before moving on to ChannelPro where she was editor and, latterly, senior editor.

Since 2016, she has been a freelance writer, editor, and copywriter and continues to cover the channel in addition to broader IT themes. Additionally, she provides media training explaining what the channel is and why it’s important to businesses.