TECHNIA, the main company within the Addnode group’s PLM pillar, is growing, like most of its subsidiaries, largely through acquisitions of companies or solutions. In 2024, two important Addnode acquisitions were placed in TECHNIA: Austrian Prime Aerostructures and Canadian Optimec. Both acquisitions are interesting in the perspective that they demonstrate TECHNIA’s sharp focus on building excellent specialist expertise in the area of simulation and analysis (CAE), which has been one of the most powerfully growing sub-PLM areas over the past decade.
• Prime Aerostructures is a leading player in simulation in the aerospace industry. The company’s technologies and services are used to design lightweight, high-performance components and structures, which improves the efficiency and safety of aircraft.
• This also applies to the Optimec acquisition. This company specializes in CAE solutions and offers software and services in simulation, life cycle management and system integration. But Optimec was already, just like today’s announced acquisition, a Dassault Systèmes partner.
Broad 3DEXPERIENCE Expertise
When it comes to X10D, the points of the purchase are a little different than when it comes to the two above. Now it is less about adding more specialized expertise, and more about adding commercial breadth. The company is, just like TECHNIA, a broader DS partner with a field of work that extends across the entire field where the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and its various subdomains of apps are located. Therefore, it is a reasonable assumption that the main reasons for the purchase are more about broadening the customer base and the local geographical presence, than about specifically strengthened expertise.
Although it is also of course an advantage that the acquired company has a well-reputed and strong track record when it comes to implementing and optimizing product development with advanced digital solutions, including its own software add-ons.
X10D Solutions’ customers are primarily small and medium-sized companies in Sweden that use its Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, including Dassault Systèmes products like 3DEXPERIENCE, CATIA, ENOVIA and more. The company serves approximately 50 businesses.
Integration Synergies that can Accelerate PLM Investments
In 2024, TECHNIA and the PLM division generated nearly SEK 1.9 billion, equivalent to $200 million. However, growth failed to materialize compared to 2023, when revenue was at the same level. However, profits increased. But TECHNIA also wants and needs to show good growth figures. With the new company consolidated and with decent organic growth in 2025, we will probably see such growth, while it should be remembered that the effects of the recession are difficult to get around.
A general observation in this context is also that it’s not only in Sweden and the Nordic countries that the market situation is and has been tough in the face of recessionary effects. Also, heavy markets, such as those in Germany, the UK, and France, have gone through industrial steel baths. Not least in the important automotive, transport, heavy machinery, and consumer goods markets, for example.
TECHNIA, which has its largest markets in the Nordic countries, the UK, and Germany, has not been unaffected by this. In 2024, for example, EU GDP grew by 1.0% overall, a slowdown from previous years. Growth varied by country, but for TECHNIA, important countries like Germany, GDP contracted by 0.2 % in 2024 compared to 2023, marking the second consecutive year of decline. This was driven by a downturn in manufacturing and construction, a decline in exports, and other factors like high energy costs and interest rates, though the service sector experienced some positive growth.
In Sweden, also a main TECHNIA market, for example, the first two quarters of 2025 saw GDP decrease by 0.7 percent.
Generally, such figures right now affect the opportunities to reach organic growth for players in the industrial market. On the other hand, the defense and Life Science markets, for example, have developed more positively, also areas where TECHNIA has major business interests.
A general assumption is that we are slowly moving out of the low economy. Together, TECHNIA and X10D, can on this ”awakening” market can find new ways to raise investment willingness among industrial players which at the moment are characterized by caution.
Challenges are that those who want to sharpen their product development must have great ROIs, rapid improvements and efficiencies in their product development to invest in AI and/or improved or new PLM. The good news, however, is that no one can escape these needs to trim their product development and realization solutions.
TECHNIA’s Jens Rylander (bilden t v), CEO for Nordics & BeNeLux, nailed it, commenting on the acquisition of 10DX:
“By combining X10D Solutions’ capabilities with TECHNIA’s global portfolio, we can offer important improvements to our customers. This synergistic integration enables us to accelerate PLM and virtual twin implementations while delivering tailored solutions that promote innovation, efficiency, and long-term customer success.”
In short, the acquisition has the potential to contribute to accelerating growth.
Tough economic conditions in Germany and the UK
Within Dassault Systemes, the tone is also positive towards the Addnodes/TECHNIA purchase. Marcus Warren, EURONORTH VP CPE & CSI Engagements at Dassault Systèmes, says:
“We welcome this strategic step as TECHNIA expands its presence with the acquisition of X10D Solutions. The combined strengths of these two valuable partners will drive greater and lasting value for customers across the region.”
It is clear that the partner side means a lot to Dassault Systemes, according to CIMdata the company drew in around $2 billion from partner-related activities.
