MSC Software explained

MSC Software Corporation is an American simulation software technology company headquartered in Newport Beach, California. Specializing in simulation software, it employs approximately 1,400 people in twenty countries^[1] and had revenues of US$230 million in 2016.

History

The company was formed as MacNeal-Schwendler Corporation (MSC) in 1963 by Dr. Richard H. MacNeal and Robert Schwendle. Having developed SADSAM (Structural Analysis by Digital Simulation of Analog Methods) at that time as its first structural analysis software, it was deeply involved in the early efforts of the aerospace industry to improve early finite element analysis technology.^[2]

A key milestone was responding to a NASA request for proposal in 1965 for a general-purpose structural analysis program that would eventually become Nastran (NASA Structural Analysis). Subsequently, MSC pioneered many of the technologies that are now relied upon by industry to analyse and predict stress and strain, vibration and dynamics, acoustics, and thermal analysis.

Two years after marketing the MSC/Nastran as the commercial version of the Nastran,^[3] the company established its first overseas office in Munich, Germany in 1973 and then an office in Tokyo, Japan in 1976. Having made its debut as a public company in 1983, its stock migrated to the American Stock Exchange the following year.

After MSC expanded and opened a subsidiary in Moscow, Russia, in 1992 and an office in Brazil in 1995, its shareholders voted to change the company's name to MSC.Software Corporation in June 1999.^[4]

Acquired by Symphony Technology Group in 2009,^[5] the "dot" in its name was removed two years later, and the company became known as MSC Software Corporation. In 2017, it was acquired by the Swedish technology firm Hexagon AB for US$834 million,^{[6] [7] [8]} operating as its independent subsidiary.^[9]

In September 2025, Cadence Design Systems announced it would acquire the design and engineering business of Hexagon, including MSC Software, for approximately $3.16 billion.^{[10] [11]} On February 23, 2026, it was reported that the transaction had been completed.^{[12] [13]}

Acquisitions

• September 1994 — PDA Engineering^[14]
• December 1998 — Knowledge Revolution
• May 1999 — MSC Software acquired MARC Analysis Research Corporation to add software that tests complex designs and materials.^[15]
• June 1999 — Universal Analytics Incorporation (UAI)^[16]
• November 1999 — Computerized Structural Analysis Research Corporation (CSAR)
• May 2001 — Advanced Enterprise Solutions Inc. (AES).^[17]
• March 2002 — MSC Software acquired Mechanical Dynamics Inc. to increase its client base to over 10,000 companies.^[18]
• January 2008 — MSC Software acquired thermal analysis company Network Analysis Inc. to solidify its ability to serve the thermal management market.^[19]
• September 2011 — MSC Software acquired acoustic simulation company Free Field Technologies, S.A.FFT to extend its solutions to acoustic simulation ^[20]
• September 2012 — MSC Software acquired composite material simulation leader e-Xstream engineering company.^[21]
• February 2015 — MSC Software acquired Simufact Engineering, a leader in the simulation of metal forming and joining processes.^[22]
• December 2016 — MSC Software Acquired Software Cradle Co., Ltd, a leader in CFD simulation.
• May 2017 — MSC acquires Vires Simulationstechnologie GmbH, a leader in autonomous vehicle simulation.^[23]

See also

• MSC Adams
• Actran
• MSC Nastran

References

Notes

• "Competition, Defense Industry Cuts Hurt Price of MacNeal-Schwendler Corp. Stock," Los Angeles Business Journal, June 4, 1990, p. 32.
• Deady, Tim, "Revenge of the Nerd," Los Angeles Business Journal, April 29, 1996, p. 13.
• "MacNeal-Schwendler Corp.," Machine Design, November 26, 1992, p. 103.
• Teague, Paul E., "Pioneer in Engineering Analysis: Dick MacNeal Conceived One of the Most Widely Used Finite Element Analysis Codes in the World," Design News, July 10, 1995, p. 50.

External links

• MSC Software

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2022 . "MSC Software Overview" . Pitchbook.com.
2. Web site: MSC Software Company History . MSC Software Corporation . 2013-02-06.
3. Web site: History of The MacNeal-Schwendler Corporation . FundingUniverse.com . 2013-02-06.
4. Web site: The MacNeal-Schwendler Corporation Changes Name to MSC.Software Corporation . MSC Software Corporation . 1999-06-23 . 2013-02-06 . 2016-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030801/http://web.mscsoftware.com/press/press.cfm?pid=444&div_id=1&non=1&arc=1&yid=1999 . dead .
5. News: Steven M. Davidoff . Small Deals, Big Issues . . 2009-07-13 . 2013-02-06.
6. Web site: Hexagon to acquire MSC Software for $834 million . gfxspeak.com . 2009-12-04 . 2017-02-03.
7. Web site: Hexagon acquires MSC Software for $834m. 3 February 2017.
8. https://www.reuters.com/article/deals-day-idUSL4N1FN2KN Reuters
9. Web site: Hexagon AB Set to Acquire MSC Software.
10. News: Babu . Juby . Cadence Design to buy Hexagon's design and engineering unit for $3.16 billion . 4 September 2025 . Reuters . 4 September 2025 . Mexico City.
11. Web site: Cadence Bolsters Multiphysics Simulation with $3.16bn Acquisition . September 5, 2025 . Majeed . Ahmad . EE Times.
12. Web site: Cadence Completes Acquisition of Hexagon’s Design and Engineering Business, Advancing Leadership in Physical AI and Multiphysics. Cadence. 2026-02-27. en.
13. Web site: Cadence closes on Nastran, Adams, and more from Hexagon. engineering.com. 2026-02-27. en.
14. Web site: MacNeal-Schwendler names former PDA executive, Thomas Curry, president . TheFreeLibrary.com . 2013-02-06 . 2017-02-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170223041300/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/MacNeal-Schwendler+names+former+PDA+executive%2c+Thomas+Curry%2c...-a016028617 . dead .
15. News: Published: May 29, 1999 . Company News; Macneal-Schwendler To Buy Marc Analysis Research — The New York Times . . 1999-05-29 . 2013-02-06.
16. http://www.ftc.gov/os/adjpro/d9299/020701mscpfof.pdf "MSC.Software Corporation's Proposed Findings of Fact"
17. Web site: MSC.Software to Acquire Advanced Enterprise Solutions, Inc. . MSC Software Corporation . 2001-05-02 . 2013-02-06 . 2016-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032831/http://web.mscsoftware.com/press/press.cfm?pid=330&Div_ID=6 . dead .
18. News: Published: March 19, 2002 . MSC Will Buy Mechanical Dynamics . . 2002-03-19 . 2013-02-06.
19. News: MSC.Software buys thermal simulation firm . Orange County Register . 2008-01-14 . 2013-02-06 . Milbourn, Mary Ann . 2012-11-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121104002653/http://ocbiz.ocregister.com/2008/01/14/mscsoftware-buys-thermal-simulation-firm/1851/ . dead .
20. Web site: MSC acquires FFT, Actran . SchnitgerCorp.com . 2011-09-06 . 2013-02-06.
21. Web site: MSC Software Acquires Composite Material Simulation Leader e-Xstream . E-xstream.com . 2012-09-27 . 2013-02-06 . dead . https://archive.today/20130122033033/http://www.e-xstream.com/en/msc-software-acquires-composite-material-simulation-leader-e-xstream.html?cmp_id=17&news_id=566&vID=56 . 2013-01-22 .
22. Web site: MSC Software Acquires Welding and Forming Simulation Leader Simufact . finance.yahoo.com . 2015-02-18 . 2015-02-18.
23. https://www.mscsoftware.com/news/msc-accelerates-its-automated-driving-simulation-portfolio-acquisition-vires-gmbh Ref