Software for better Design
Reichstagskuppel, Berlin (German Parliament Building) · Client: Bundesbaugesellschaft Berlin mbH · Structural Design: Leonhardt, Andrä und Partner · Architects: Lord Norman Foster · Photo: Thinkstock
Title: Neue Ziegelgrabenbrücke (Bridge from Stralsund to the Island of Ruegen, Germany) · Client: DEGES · Tender Design: Ingenieurgesellschaft Schüßler Plan · Structural Design: Planungsgemeinschaft SSF Ingenieure AG · Büchting und Streit AG · Photo: Florian Schreiber Fotografie
3
Our Partners
Mission
As an attractive employer SOFiSTiK develops innovative
products of outstanding quality.
Our team of structural engineers and draughtsman is
working very closely with our computer scientists and other
engineers.
Our customers profit from a fast and individual solution to
efficiently realize demanding projects.
Our products are designed for practical application in
structural and civil engineering. They are easy to operate
efficiently with a broad range of functionality that is opti mally
tailored to everyday as well as exceptional engineering
tasks.
Vision
SOFiSTiK is Europe’s leading software developer for analysis,
design and detailing of construction projects worldwide.
Outstanding Quality plays a decisive role in the develop-
ment of SOFiSTiK products.
Our state of the art Software is always one step ahead
of the market. The modular design allows an optimal adap-
tation to customer specific requirements.
4
1974 1976 1982
Under the guidance of Prof. Heinrich
Werner at the Technical University of
Munich, a research project with Joachim
Stieda and Casimir Katz was set up to
create a computer program called “TOP”
for the non-linear analysis of bridge piers.
In 1976, Casimir Katz begins his thesis
with the development of a finite element
program for flow calculation. The use of
the existing pre- and post-processors of
the ‘SET’ program lead to the first deve-
lopment of a “database”.
This project became very successful,
whereby the program TOP and further
program components were integrated.
The group of Prof. Werner was further
strengthened by Ernst Rank and Thomas
Fink, and later Jürgen Bellman and Byron
Protopsaltis.
After Casimir Katz received his doctorate
in 1982, he began development of FE
programs on micro-computers with the
CP/M operating system. He was moti-
vated by Joachim Stieda who had been
developing programs on the new Olivetti
6060 and the IBM 5110 since 1976.
Thomas Fink joins the team. As indepen-
dent engineers, they cooperated on a
common project. With 64kB of memory, a
slab frame structure with 3000 unknown
parameters could be solved in around 4
hours.
CP/M Computer„SET“ PrintoutTelefunken TR 440
sour
ce: „T
R 4
40 B
edie
nung
s-H
andbuc
h“, pag
e 1
5
1987 1988
Gert Apell joined the group and the
need for a new form of organizational
structure became clear. On 22nd June
1987, SOFiSTiK GmbH was founded,
based in Andechs, Bavaria.
In the spirit of a cooperative, the partners
continue to develop the software inde-
pendently, but use SOFiSTiK GmbH for
sales and marketing. At that time, the first
“SOFiSTiK seminar” was held and the
development of AutoCAD add-ons began
in the fink + kreutz offices in Nuremberg.
In 1988, SOFiCAD first sees the light of
day, and with its first customers such
as Schmitt&Stumpf, Grassl and Bögl
leading to a broadening user base. The
establishment of a central hotline and
new partners such as Prof. Walter Pauli
strengthened SOFiSTiK after 1990. The
context sensitive editor Teddy was break-
through for the use of the parametric
input language CADINP.
Erste Anzeige der SOFiSTiK GmbH 1987
A European research project for auto-
matic FE analysis and optimization led to
the development of an automatic mesh
generator.
An AutoCAD module was developed for
easier input of structure and calculation
control. With the resulting “SLAB-Desig-
ner” product, we achieved our first sales
in UK.
1996
Slab-Designer 2.0 based on AutoCAD 14„Teddy“ HomescreenFirst Advertisement of SOFiSTiK GmbH
6
1999 2006
Our objective to better coordinate
distribution and development partners
lead to the decision to jointly set up a
corporation. Mensch und Maschine AG
(www.mum.de) joins the newly estab-
lished SOFiSTiK AG as an important
shareholder.
Members of the supervisory board
are Adi Drotleff, Prof. Dr. Ernst Rank with
Dr. Johannes Harl as Chairman.
Since 2006, our long-term partners
Andreas Imse and Dr. Wolfgang
Schneider support SOFiSTiK AG from
within our subsidiary SOFiSTiK Service
GmbH. They bring to us many years
of experience in sales and service for
SOFiSTiK software.
2007
In the summer of 2007, SOFiSTiK cele-
brated its twentieth anniversary. Numerous
customers, partners and friends attended
the event at the Castle of Hohenkammer
near Munich.
The commemorative speech was held by
the adventurer, medical doctor and balloo-
nist Bertrand Piccard.
By that time, SOFiSTiK has built an extensi-
ve distribution network. Business Develop-
ment Manager Robert Herceg successfully
established our distribution in Spain, the
Balkans and Eastern Europe.
Dipl.-Ing. Robert Herceg
Dr. Bertrand Piccard
Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Schneider
Dipl.-Ing.(FH) Andreas Imse
7
2008 2010 2012
The effort to sustainably continue the
success story of SOFiSTiK with
increasing customer benefits and
software innovations, we restructured
SOFiSTiK AG in 2008.
The long-serving senior managers Frank
Deinzer and Christof Lorenz (until 2012)
were promoted to the board, so that our
management team is equipped for future
challenges. In addition, a new corporate
logo and a redesigned website were
launched.
We want to provide existing and new
customers with the best possible support
in design and construction using Building
Information Modelling technology (BIM).
A new subsidiary is established headed
by the Autodesk Revit Structure specialist
Dipl. -Ing. Armin Dariz. BiMOTiON GmbH
is the second subsidiary of SOFiSTiK AG,
based in Brixen (Italy) and Nuremberg.
Dipl.-Ing. Armin Dariz
Dipl.-Ing. Frank Deinzer
With the acquisition of the sales
branch of ABES Pircher & Partner GmbH,
SOFiSTiK enhances its international
presence and strengthens the commit-
ment to further develop its bridge design
operations.
ABES Pircher & Partner has been very
successful during the past 7 years in
exporting German engineering software
into broad international markets.
In addition, the South African subsidiary
“Advanced Bridge Engineering Systems
SA (Pty) Ltd.“ was acquired and ren-
amed “SOFiSTiK Southern Africa (Pty)
Ltd.”.
Sabine Resch, Partner
Georg Pircher MEng, Managing Director
8
The Executive Board
Dipl.-Ing. Frank DeinzerMember of the Board - Products and Marketing
Dipl.-Ing. Thomas FinkChief Executive Officer
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Casimir KatzMember of the Board - Technologies and Customer Services
9
The Management
Dr.-Ing. Holger HeidkampManager
Dipl.-Ing. Christine KatzManager
Dr.-Ing. Jürgen BellmannManager
Dipl.-Ing.(FH) Stefan Maly, MScManager
Dr.-Ing. Martin SifflingManager
Stephan KaiserTeam Leader
Dipl.-Ing.(FH) Michael BaldaufTeam Leader
Dipl.-Inf. Sabine GebhardTeam Leader
10
How we work
In 1973 several German civil engineers began to develop
a software package to support the design process in civil
and structural engineering by the use of “modern” computers.
In 1999 a merger between the individual engineering offices
and the marketing company formed SOFiSTiK AG. This was
the beginning of an on-going success story in high-end civil
and structural engineering software. By today, we have
managed to become one of the world‘s leading software
suppliers in the field of engineering construction.
11
Our benchmark is “sustainability“. We pursue long term goals
and act reliable and responsible. Thus we create security – as an
employer as well as for our customers.
sustainable
Innovations are essential for us.
Identifying customer needs earlier, and
thus taking new directions, ensures
our technological leadership.
innovative
12
Your demand is our challenge. With great expertise
and strong personal dedication of every single team member,
we face the individual demands of our customers.
ambitious
We think like engineers!
Our work is characterized according
to Einstein´s maxim: „As simple as possible,
but not simpler!“
pragmatic
13
cooperativeWe stand for the joint development of solutions.
The focus here is on the dialogue with each other, as
well as appreciation within the team. The success of our
customer is the base of the success of SOFiSTiK.
versatileCreativity and innovative approaches originate
from teams comprising many distinct personalities.
We encourage and request this variety. Thus we realize
our ambition to develop a wide array of modular
scalable products.
14
SOFiSTiK AG develops high-quality and sustainable
software solutions for structural engineering. Hereby we
guarantee your competitiveness and success.
The vital basis for fruitful and lasting relationships is
the dialogue with our clients. Together with you as one
team we would like to master the daily demands of your
engineering work.
Even the best software is only useful if you can start
working with it immediately and achieve optimum quality
of results. Therefore SOFiSTiK Academy offers more
than just training “off the peg”. We will also show you, in
addition to any standard analysis, how to complete your
individual project successfully while constantly maintaining
perfect time- and cost-control of your project.
Dialogue creates added value
Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi · Client: ALDAR Properties PJSC, Abu Dhabi · Structural Design and Engineering Gridshell: schlaich bergermann und partner · Architect: Asymptote Architecture · Photo: Björn Moermann
SOFiSTiK AGBruckmannring 38 · 85764 OberschleißheimT +49 (0)89 315878-0 · F +49 (0)89 315878-23
Burgschmietstraße 40 · 90419 NürnbergT +49 (0)911 39901-0 · F +49 (0)911 397904
[email protected] © SOFiSTiK AG 2013
WW
W.K
ALL
ER
.DE
13
02
Software for structural analysis and design – covering 60 countries
Aachen
Hannover
Pretoria
Nürnberg
Oberschleißheim
Graz
Mainz
Dresden