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

July 20, 2021
Plano, TX, USA

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.
  • 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
  • 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 calendar year 2021. Terms of the transaction are not disclosed.

SENER is a private engineering and technology group founded in 1956, which seeks to offer its clients the most advanced technological solutions and enjoys international recognition thanks to its independence and commitment to innovation and quality. SENER employs 2,350 professionals at its centers on five continents. 

SENER groups together its own Aerospace and Engineering activities, as well as industrial holdings in companies working in energy through SENER Renewable Investments. SENER Aeroespacial has more than 50 years of experience and is a world-class supplier to Space, Defense and Science. SENER Engineering has become a world reference company in the Infrastructure, Energy and Marine sectors.

Siemens Digital Industries Software is driving transformation to enable a digital enterprise where engineering, manufacturing and electronics design meet tomorrow. The Xcelerator portfolio helps companies of all sizes create and leverage digital twins that provide organizations with new insights, opportunities and levels of automation to drive innovation. For more information on Siemens Digital Industries Software products and services, visit siemens.com/software or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Siemens Digital Industries Software – Where today meets tomorrow.

Siemens Digital Industries (DI) is an innovation leader in automation and digitalization. Closely collaborating with partners and customers, DI drives the digital transformation in the process and discrete industries. With its Digital Enterprise portfolio, DI provides companies of all sizes with an end-to-end set of products, solutions and services to integrate and digitalize the entire value chain. Optimized for the specific needs of each industry, DI’s unique portfolio supports customers to achieve greater productivity and flexibility. DI is constantly adding innovations to its portfolio to integrate cutting-edge future technologies. Siemens Digital Industries has its global headquarters in Nuremberg, Germany, and has around 76,000 employees internationally.

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 170 years. Active around the world, the company focuses on intelligent infrastructure for buildings and distributed energy systems and on automation and digitalization in the process and manufacturing industries. Siemens brings together the digital and physical worlds to benefit customers and society. Through Mobility, a leading supplier of intelligent mobility solutions for rail and road transport, Siemens is helping to shape the world market for passenger and freight services. Via its majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, Siemens is also a world-leading supplier of medical technology and digital health services. In addition, Siemens holds a minority stake in Siemens Energy, a global leader in the transmission and generation of electrical power that has been listed on the stock exchange since September 28, 2020. In fiscal 2020, which ended on September 30, 2020, the Siemens Group generated revenue of €57.1 billion and net income of €4.2 billion. As of September 30, 2020, the company had around 293,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.

Note: A list of relevant Siemens trademarks can be found here. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Contacts for Press

Siemens Digital Industries Software PR Team
press.software.sisw@siemens.com