Ansys to Acquire Optical Imaging System Simulation Firm Zemax

Engineering simulation software company Ansys has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire optical system simulation software company Zemax. The acquisition will expand the Ansys portfolio to provide comprehensive, end-to-end solutions for simulating sophisticated optical- and photonics-enabled products. Those innovations range in scope from photonics-enabled circuits to precision vision systems to system-level illumination and could drive breakthroughs in health care, autonomy, consumer electronics, and the Industrial Internet of Things, a press release from Ansys said.

Zemax OpticStudio model of a wide-angle field-of-view camera used in applications such as autonomous vehicle sensors and aerial drones. Courtesy of Ansys.

With the addition, Ansys will offer customers a comprehensive solution for simulating the behavior of light in complex, innovative products — ranging from the microscale, to the imaging of the physical world, to human vision perception. That comprehensive solution will enable users to create optimal designs more quickly by streamlining the workflow and communication among photonics, optical, mechanical, and manufacturing engineers.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021. It is not expected to have a material impact on 2021 financial results.