Driving the next generation of metal forming through digital intelligence

Altair and Cimatron Join Forces to Accelerate Simulation-Driven Tool and Die Design

The global manufacturing industry is undergoing a profound transformation as digitalisation, data intelligence, and simulation technologies redefine how products are designed and produced. Amid this evolution, Altair, a global leader in computational intelligence, has appointed Cimatron Ltd., part of the Sandvik Group, as a new global channel partner. This strategic collaboration aims to extend the reach of Altair’s industry-leading simulation tools, especially in metal forming and injection moulding, empowering toolmakers, die engineers, and manufacturers to achieve faster, more accurate, and cost-efficient production.

Integrating Design and Simulation for the Manufacturing Future

Altair’s HyperWorks® platform is a unified environment that combines computer-aided engineering (CAE), data analytics, and high-performance computing to help engineers make better decisions earlier in the design process. Two flagship solutions—Altair® Inspire™ Form and Altair® Inspire™ Mold—stand at the centre of this collaboration.

• Altair Inspire Form provides a fast, accurate simulation environment for sheet metal forming processes. From concept to validation, it predicts material thinning, wrinkling, cracks, and springback, helping engineers optimise die design before physical tryouts.
• Altair Inspire Mold, on the other hand, enables quick and reliable simulation of injection molding processes. It allows designers to visualise potential defects such as short shots, weld lines, sink marks, or warpage, all before manufacturing begins.

Through this partnership, Cimatron will distribute and support these technologies globally, giving mould, tool, and die manufacturers access to Altair’s simulation-driven design approach. The goal is to reduce costly trial-and-error in toolmaking, shorten lead times, and enhance product quality—key factors in today’s hyper-competitive manufacturing landscape.

Expanding Simulation Access to the Shop Floor

“The collaboration will introduce Altair technology to customers that might not currently be using any simulation or data analytics tools, helping them compete more effectively in a global marketplace defined by cutting-edge digital transformation,” said Pavan Kumar, Senior Vice President, Global Indirect Business at Altair. “Cimatron is an outstanding addition to our channel partner ecosystem, and we look forward to seeing how customers in the manufacturing space will benefit from this partnership.”

Cimatron has earned its reputation as one of the most trusted providers of CAD/CAM software for mould, die, and tool design. For over four decades, the company has supported thousands of manufacturers across Asia, North America, and Europe. Its decision to integrate Altair’s simulation tools represents a natural evolution toward virtual prove-out, enabling users to simulate forming and moulding operations in a fully digital environment before committing to production.

According to Dan Marinac, Acting President of Cimatron, “Our customers have been searching for modern tools to validate their tool designs and reduce the time and costs of physical tryouts. Combining Cimatron’s and Altair’s technology will boost productivity and help users create higher-quality, more efficient products for all manufacturing sectors.”

The Power of Digital Twin and “Virtual Tryouts”

In modern manufacturing, the concept of the digital twin—a virtual representation of a physical process—has become a cornerstone for achieving smart, data-driven production. Altair’s Inspire platform aligns perfectly with this philosophy.

As Marinac explained, “Enabling digital twin means modelling, simulating, improving, and exploring design alternatives. Predicting and avoiding manufacturing defects such as filling, packing, sink marks, weld lines, cooling, warpage, windage, cracks, wrinkles, and springback will save our customers time and money.”

By integrating Altair Inspire Form and Inspire Mold into Cimatron’s workflow, toolmakers gain a closed-loop environment where design, simulation, and manufacturing coexist seamlessly. This approach not only enhances productivity but also reduces the dependency on specialised CAE analysts. With Altair’s user-friendly interface and guided workflows, even non-experts can perform advanced simulations and make informed design decisions.

Addressing Challenges in Metal Forming and Toolmaking

Metal forming—whether through stamping, deep drawing, or hot forming—remains one of the most challenging areas in manufacturing. Issues such as material thinning, surface defects, or springback distortion can lead to costly rework and production delays. Traditional trial-and-error methods often require multiple iterations of physical tooling before achieving an acceptable result.

Altair’s simulation technologies address these challenges directly:

• Forming simulation identifies potential failure zones and compensates for springback, improving part geometry and die accuracy.
• Blank optimisation determines the optimal sheet layout to reduce material waste.
• Process feasibility studies help engineers adjust forming parameters early, avoiding costly tool modifications.

For the automotive, aerospace, and appliance industries—where lightweight materials and precision forming are critical—these capabilities translate into measurable benefits: shorter development cycles, improved quality, and reduced cost per part.

Democratising Simulation for a Broader Market

Historically, advanced simulation tools were limited to large enterprises with dedicated CAE teams. Altair’s and Cimatron’s shared vision is to democratise simulation, making it accessible to small and mid-sized manufacturers. This democratisation is vital, especially as more companies in Asia and other emerging markets embrace digital transformation.

“Altair’s technology reduces the learning curve and puts the power of simulation into the hands of toolmakers without the need for CAE specialists,” Marinac emphasized. This shift aligns with global trends toward intuitive, design-integrated simulation tools that empower users to make engineering decisions in real time.

Global Reach, Shared Innovation

Founded in 1982, Cimatron develops and distributes CAD/CAM software for 2.5–5-axis milling and turning, mold design, and die making. With subsidiaries across major manufacturing regions and partnerships in over 40 countries, Cimatron brings unmatched experience and global reach to this new alliance.

Altair, meanwhile, continues to expand its ecosystem of technology and channel partners to accelerate the adoption of computational intelligence across industries. The company’s collaboration with Cimatron exemplifies how simulation-driven design can reshape the metal forming and tooling industries—bridging the gap between design innovation and manufacturing excellence.