PTC Inc. (formerly Parametric Technology Corporation) is an American computer software and services company founded in 1985 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company was a pioneer in parametric, associative feature-based, solid computer-aided design (CAD) modeling software in 1988, including an Internet-based product for Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) in 1998. PTC (NASDAQ: PTC) markets products and services and an Internet of Things (IoT) and augmented reality (AR) platform for partners and developers.
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History
PTC was founded by Samuel Geisberg, and Mike Payne formerly from Prime Computer, Computervision, and Applicon, in 1985.In 1988, Steve Walske was named CEO.That same year, the company shipped Pro/ENGINEER and was considered first to market with parametric modeling design software.
In 1989, PTC had its initial public offering at the Nasdaq exchange.
In 1998, PTC shipped Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Windchill.
In 1999, PTC created a Global Academic Program designed to support educational initiatives in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills. The program aims to partner schools and universities with companies to assist students in developing real-world skills needed for careers in manufacturing, technology, and other STEM jobs. The program also has a direct recruitment program intended to place students in jobs with PTC's commercial customers.
PTC has also been a corporate sponsor of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) since 2008, providing participating students with access to PTC software for use in the FIRST Tech Challenge, FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Lego League, and FIRST World Championship.
2002 - The company releases Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire. This is the first CAD system to support web-based services.
2005 - Acquired Arbortext for technical publishing technology. Acquired Aptavis for retail, footwear and apparel technology.
2006 - Acquired Mathsoft for its engineering calculation software. Acquired ITEDO for its 3D technical illustration software.
2007 - Acquired CoCreate for its direct modeling technology.
2008 - Acquired Synapsis for its performance analytics technology to improve environmental performance of products.
Companies acquired by PTC
Prime Computer in 1992. Also acquired Reflex, project modeling and management software technology company, which was sold the following year to the Beck Group.
CDRS and 3DPaint from Evans & Sutherland on April 12, 1995, for $33,507,000.
Rasna Corp., developers of MECHANICA design optimization and simulation software, in May 1995 for $180 million.
PTC acquires Reflex project modeling and management software technology in July 1996, for $30m.
Computervision, developers of CADDS, MEDUSA and the MPDS Plant Design System in 1998
1999 - Division Group (Division Ltd, Division Inc) dVisor Virtual Reality HMD
Polyplan, Technologies acquired 2005 for Manufacturing Process Management
Arbortext in 2005, for $190 million
DENC AG and Cadtrain Inc. in late 2005 for an aggregate of $10 million. DENC adds a German consulting practice with expertise integrating PTC applications with enterprise-resource-planning software. Irvine, Calif.-based Cadtrain provides online training modules for PTC software.
Aptavis Technology Corp, Windchill-based technology and expertise for retail, footwear and apparel, in June 2005
Mathsoft, developers of Mathcad, in April 2006 for $63 million.
ITEDO Software GmbH in October 2006 for $17 million. ITEDO developed technical illustration software and had 34 employees mainly in Germany and the United States.
Products
PTC has eight core product families: Creo, Windchill, Mathcad, Integrity, Servigistics, ThingWorx, ServiceMax, Arbortext Editor. The company's technology is primarily used by discrete manufacturers to design, operate and maintain complex products. PTC's technology is also used to connect products to the Internet for the purposes of capturing and analyzing information from them.
PTC Creo
The PTC CAD product provides a set of Computer Aided Design capabilities. PTC CAD is a suite of 2D and 3D product design software used to create, analyze and view product designs. PTC Creo software was released in June 2011 to replace and supersede PTC's products formerly known as Pro/ENGINEER, CoCreate, and ProductView.
PTC Windchill
Web-based database software that provides access to product information like MCAD and ECAD data files, process documents, and software engineering information. The PTC Windchill product provides a set of PLM Product Lifecycle Management capabilities and consists of multiple products.
PTC Integrity
PTC Integrity provides a set of Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) and systems engineering capabilities.
PTC Servigistics
Service lifecycle management SLM software that is used by manufacturers to understand how service planning, customer service, and analysis of returned product data can improve service value over a product's life.
ThingWorx
A platform for the rapid development of applications designed for smart, connected sensors, devices, and products – or the Internet of Things.
Vuforia
Vuforia is an Augmented Reality Software Development Kit (SDK) for mobile devices that enables the creation of augmented reality applications.
Awards and accolades
4th Annual Postscapes Internet of Things (IoT) Awards: