MILESTONES OF THE COMPANY HISTORY
SINCE 1991 IN SERVING CIVIL ENGINEERS...
1991 - Inter-CAD was established…
… and started to develop one of the world’s first native 3D graphical user interfaces for FE-based structural analysis and design.
Axis-3D ran under DOS OS. Axis-3D versions: 1, 2, 3, and 4 followed.
1996 - The first international market
Our Romanian distributor, Consoft srl translated the software to Romanian opening a new and prosperous market.
1997 - Development of the first version for Windows started…
…to provide civil engineers with a complete Visual Modeling software package. Axis-3D was made available in English, Hungarian, German and Romanian. The first international sales started.
1999 - AxisVM 5
The name of the product changed to AxisVM, where VM stands for Visual Modeling. The first Windows version increased the speed and capacity of the program. The interfaces for BoCAD and XSteel steel structural design software became available, and geometry could be exported in 3D DXF format, which ensured the transfer of 3D data to most CAD environments.
AxisVM rapidly became known as ’… the easiest to use and the easiest to learn…’.
2000 - AxisVM 6
AxisVM 6 became the first structural engineering software to enter the Building Information Modeling workflow. Graphisoft developed the Virtual Building concept as part of ArchiCAD, which is known today as BIM. Later in the year, a co-development agreement was made with StaDATA, adding considerably to the software production capability of the company. The Italian language option became available.
2001 - Opening the Swiss and Italian markets
The cooperation agreement with our Italian distributor, S.T.A. DATA made AxisVM available in Italy. Ingware became the Swiss distributor increasing its sales of AxisVM dynamically.
2002 - Distribution in the Netherlands
Technosoft B.V. became a co-development partner, and the Dutch language was offered for the first time. AxisVM was used across nine countries.
2003 - AxisVM 7 – 3D graphics in real-time
Adding OpenGL support significantly improved the speed of the graphics allowing the user to rotate the model interactively both in wireframe and rendered view.
AxisVM expanded with interface modules to reinforcement detailing software products like StatikPlan, VBExpress and steel detailing applications like Xsteel or BoCAD.
HiCAD from Serbia became a partner.
2005 - AxisVM is available in 17 countries
English, Hungarian, Dutch, German, Romanian, Italian, and Spanish language versions had spread across 17 countries. During the year, the BIM concept had replaced many legacy programs, like Virtual Building. AxisVM 8 included the international IFC format, to propel the growth of BIM modeling as needed by structural engineers. Archia in Riga introduced AxisVM in Latvia.
2007 - AxisVM 8 opened the door…
…for third-parties to develop add-on applications to extend AxisVM’s features and meet individual needs. Since most programming languages support access based on Windows COM Server technology, many add-on applications began to be developed.
AxisVM 8 was also distributed in Slovenia by Pilon, Ljubljana.
2008 - AxisVM 9 - faster than ever
AxisVM 9 took advantage of the new multicore processors not only in analysis but during model building and evaluation of results as well.
Multithreading was implemented in several tasks like mesh generation, finding critical forces and stresses, calculating required reinforcement and crack width, verification of steel design members.
The rendered view was enhanced by assigning different textures to materials.
Moving loads were introduced to help modelling bridges or gantries.
BIM connection was enhanced by importing/exporting static model via IFC file format.
The steel design module handled specific asymmetric profiles.
2010 - New modules in AxisVM 10
Pushover analysis and a general dynamic analysis (time history) became available for detailed seismic analysis.
The appearance of most graphical symbols was made customizable. A new export function allowed saving a part of a structure as a standalone model.
Further enhancements were introduced to the BIM data exchange (via IFC file format) to improve the efficiency. Smart algorithms interpreted the geometry of an architectural element even if the IFC file provided only its boundary representation.
A new module helped pad footing design and verification.
2012 - AxisVM 11 supports Windows 7 and Unicode
BIM data exchange via IFC 2×4 file format were also supported including import of load cases and loads. Variable (tapered) cross-sections and curved beams were made available. Mesh generation options included the creation of triangular, quadrilateral or mixed meshes.
3D PDF support offers a new way of sharing spatial structures via PDF files. The content can be interactively rotated in the viewer.
Custom gridlines and gridline systems were introduced to help model construction in global planes or workplanes.
A new module helped strip footing design and verification.
2013 - AxisVM 12 – unlimited 64 bit
AxisVM 12 was released, including the new, and ever-growing list of features, capabilities, and functions that were delivered by 45+ developers and partners. More than 4,500 users of the software continued to contribute to the growth, safety, and demands of the AEC industry. An AxisVM App Store was launched to offer third party extensions for the software.
Version 12 was the first real 64-bit application, providing much more memory space for faster building an analysis of more complex and more extensive structures.
2015 - AxisVM 13 added new modelling and design capabilities…
…such as parametric ribbed, hollow, and even composite ribbed slabs. In addition to the new slab types, CLT / XLAM panels could be modelled, supporting users with multiple manufacturer databases.
Tapered and eccentric walls and slabs are introduced. The steel design module offered automatic calculation of buckling length of members.
2016 - The first version of the SC1 module for the design of steel joints
This module developed by our Polish distributor, GammaCAD, was a long-awaited product that was rapidly adopted by both domestic and foreign users.
Another popular development was the virtual beam and strip function, which provide easy processing of surface structure stresses.
The increasing popularity of UHD resolutions led to further customizability of the AxisVM user interface.
2017 - AxisVM X4
AxisVM version 14 was released under the name AxisVM X4. The BIM connection was extended to include reinforcement data in the IFC format supporting Open BIM.
AxisVM X4 established a direct connection to the latest Revit and TEKLA Structures software.
The capabilities of the PNL module were significantly increased. Besides steel, plastic behaviour of concrete or masonry can also be modelled.
CADSoft from Portugal joined the team of our partners.
2018 - Grasshopper component for parametric structures
More and more architects used Rhino Grasshopper software to design parametric structures. For the first time, AxisVM included a Grasshopper component package that exports a parametric model from Grasshopper to AxisVM.
Additional modules were being developed to check the fire resistance of steel beam structures (SD8) and pedestrian-generated vibrations of lightweight structure slabs (FFA).
Michna & Perháč started the distribution of AxisVM in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
2019 - AxisVM X5 further enhanced BIM connectivity
This version provides the whole workflow not only for Open BIM (IFC) but also for Revit and TEKLA Structures, which were capable of directly exchanging structural/architectural models through Closed BIM technology. This way, modifications made by the architects and the civil engineers could be easily transferable to both types of CAD software.
Modeling capabilities were also expanded to include steel trapezoidal and composite reinforced concrete slabs, composite columns, prestressed concrete members, as well as seismic damper elements and isolators.
2020 - Two essential modules added to AxisVM X5
Release 4 of AxisVM X5 includes two new modules. The new SAF module allows for seamless teamwork between architects and structural engineers through a shared workflow, while the RC6 module enables new reinforced concrete beam design functionalities such as fatigue analysis.
Two new resellers have also joined the AxisVM international team, E-disti d.o.o. in the Adriatic region and
Krensol from Finland in the Scandinavian region.
2021 - AxisVM X6 debuts with new finite elements and enhanced user experience
Improved, Windows style, search and filtering functions assist users in their work. Renderings with color-coded results are now available. A new seven degree of freedom finite element is included to model beams/columns with hallow/cold formed cross-sections. For support modeling, the Winkler-Pasternak model has been added to better capture soil behavior. Wind loads of complex structures can be also be more accurately taken into account with the CFD import module. Models including imperfection can now be generated based on the buckling shapes and results of geometrically nonlinear analysis.
AxisVM is now available in the Serbian language. Further developments >>
2022 - New release and new partners
The 2nd release of the X6 version is prepared, which is expanded with the fire resistance design of reinforced concrete beams and columns (module RC8-B). The release strengthens AxisVM’s connection to 3D parametric design using Rhino/Grasshopper. The new release is the expansion of the COM server with a Python interface, which provides access to the Python package. Further developments >>
In the Baltics, in addition to Archia in Latvia, 3D EKSPERT helps us with distribution in Estonia. And in Greece, Techsciense is starting to promote AxisVM.
By the end of the year, the development of the X7 version is close to complete.
