SUNNYVALE, Calif. — Trimble announced that it has acquired privately-held Plancal of Horgen, Switzerland, a leading 3D CAD/CAE and ERP software provider for the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) and HVAC industries in western Europe. Trimble said the acquisition of Plancal broadens its BIM to Field solutions for MEP and HVAC contractors to automate project estimating and management, modeling, detailing, layout and construction. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Building information modeling (BIM) is a process being rapidly adopted by the construction, engineering, and architectural communities to produce, communicate, and analyze building models. Trimble’s BIM focus is on the deployment of integrated solutions for the contracting community. Its BIM to Field solution extends the design data created in the office down to field level systems for precise delivery of design and construction elements, said the company. The result is a more efficient and accurate project, enabled through the collaboration of the project’s trade groups, and interconnected through the use of office and field tools.

The integration of Plancal’s software with Trimble’s building construction estimating, project management, and BIM to Field solutions will provide a dedicated productivity solution for contractors, said the company.

Plancal’s software products include NOVA and SNAP/GO. NOVA is a 3D CAD/CAE software solution which integrates design, drawing and engineering calculation/analysis through a proprietary CAD-core. SNAP/GO is an ERP application which includes a wide range of solutions for tenders, scheduling, costs, invoicing, employee and salary administration as well as accounts receivable management.

Dominik Ruedi, CEO of Plancal, said, “The acquisition reinforces our best-in-class technologies and provides us access to Trimble’s resources to offer our solutions on a more global basis. Together with Trimble we will continue to develop enhanced BIM solutions to enable better collaboration between our customers and their clients.”

The Plancal business will be reported as part of Trimble’s Engineering and Construction segment.

For more information, visit www.trimble.com.

Publication date: 01/23/2012