# Shape Data

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{{short description|UK software company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Shape Data Limited
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| type = Private
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| industry = [Computer aided design](/source/Computer_aided_design)
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| founded = {{start date and age|df=y|1974|01|01}} in [Cambridge](/source/Cambridge), England
| founder = {{ublist |Dr. Ian Braid|Dr. Alan Grayer|Dr. Charles Lang|Dr. Peter Veenman<ref name="Computer Graphics Museum">{{cite web|title=3D Software History 1980–1985|url=http://computergraphmuseum.free.fr/softwarehistory.htm|website=Computer Graphics Museum|accessdate=25 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="Solid Modeling Association">{{cite web|title=Ian Braid, Alan Grayer and Charles Lang, the 2008 Pierre Bézier Award Recipients|url=http://solidmodeling.org/bezier-award/i-braid-a-grayer-and-c-lang/|website=Solid Modeling Association|accessdate=25 March 2016}}</ref>}}
| defunct = {{end date|df=y|1991|10|31}}
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| hq_location_city = Cambridge
| hq_location_country = England
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'''Shape Data Limited''' was a computer software company in [Cambridge](/source/Cambridge%2C_England), [England](/source/England) that specialised in developing programs for engineering and manufacturing professionals.<ref name="Star Studded List">{{cite news|title=Cambridge University's Star-studded List of Startups, Spin-outs and Alumni|url=http://www.businessweekly.co.uk/news/academia-research/12341-cambridge-university%E2%80%99s-star-studded-list-startups-spin-outs-and-alumni|accessdate=24 March 2016|work=Business Weekly|date=14 July 2011}}</ref>

== Overview ==

Established in 1974 by several doctoral students of the [University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory](/source/University_of_Cambridge_Computer_Laboratory), the company was a pioneer in [computer graphics](/source/computer_graphics) with early industry advances in [solid modelling](/source/solid_modelling) design and [boundary representation](/source/boundary_representation). The company revolutionised the [computer aided design](/source/computer_aided_design) (CAD) industry in the 1970s and 1980s, by creating and commercialising the solid modelling software market in 1978.<ref name="Computer Graphics Museum"/><ref name="Solid Modeling Association"/><ref name="OSU Computer Graphic History">{{cite web
 |title        = A Critical History of Computer Graphics and Animation
 |url          = https://design.osu.edu/carlson/history/lesson10.html
 |publisher    = Ohio State University
 |accessdate   = 25 March 2016
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20160404022755/http://design.osu.edu/carlson/history/lesson10.html
 |archive-date = 4 April 2016
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref>
The use of solid modelling techniques allows for the automation of several difficult engineering calculations that were carried out as a part of Shape Data's software programs, including simulation, planning, and verification of design processes of three dimensional objects. Shape Data released a series of products that helped create the foundations of computer aided design programming, namely [Romulus](/source/Romulus_(modelling_kernel)), Romulus-D, [Parasolid](/source/Parasolid), and the Unigraphics Solids programs.<ref name="OSU Computer Graphic History"/> The Parasolid program remains an industry standard for engineering departments and companies, in the design of manufacturing products from small scale tools and equipment to automobiles and aeroplanes.

Shape Data was sold several times to large multinational companies in the information technology industry. It ceased operating as a company in 1991, but its heritage continues within the Cambridge office of [Siemens Digital Industries Software](/source/Siemens_Digital_Industries_Software), a subsidiary of [Siemens AG](/source/Siemens_AG).<ref name="Siemens subsidiary list">
{{cite web
 | title= List of subsidiaries and associated companies
 | website= Siemens AG
 | url= http://www.siemens.com/investor/pool/en/investor_relations/financial_publications/annual_reports/2009/siemens_subsid313_2009.pdf
 | accessdate= 30 March 2016
}}
</ref>

==History==
===University of Cambridge===
{{See also|Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge}}
Shape Data was founded in 1974 by Doctors Charles Lang, Ian Braid, Alan Grayer, and Peter Veenman.<ref name="Solid Modeling Association" /><ref name="Cambridge Lab History">{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Karen Sparck|title=A Brief Informal History of the Computer Laboratory|url=https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/events/EDSAC99/history.html|publisher=Cambridge University|accessdate=24 March 2016}}</ref> Veenman became the sole employee of the company at the time of its founding, while Lang, Braid, and Grayer initially continued work at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory.  All four founders were doctoral students at the [University of Cambridge](/source/University_of_Cambridge).  In 1965, Professor Maurice Wilkes and his graduate student Lang established the Computer Aided Design Group at the [University of Cambridge](/source/University_of_Cambridge) Computer Laboratory.<ref name="Solid Modeling Association" /> The initial purpose of the research group was to develop tools for building mechanical CAD/CAM systems.<ref name="Solid Modeling Association" /> In particular, the group worked to engineer early forms of computational geometry, computer graphics, and software system components.<ref name="Solid Modeling Association" />

Early revenue for Shape Data came from business-to-business consultancies.<ref name="Cambridge Case Study">Roberts, John. (1990) "Shape Data Limited: Cambridge University Case Study". Judge Institute of Management Studies, Cambridge University, p. 19.</ref> In 1975, the company was contracted by the [General Electric Company](/source/General_Electric_Company) to develop a solid modeller based on the computational geometric work of Ian Braid's Ph.D thesis.<ref name="Cambridge Case Study" /> In 1978, after three years of development, Shape Data released Romulus, the world's first commercialised solid geometric modeller software program.<ref name="Romulus Modeler Brochure">{{cite web|title=Romulus Solid Geometric Modeler Brochure| url= https://archive.org/stream/bitsavers_evansAndSuLUSsolidgeometricmodelerBrochure_4126637/ROMULUS_solid_geometric_modeler_Brochure_djvu.txt| website=Archive| publisher=Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation|accessdate=25 March 2016}}</ref>{{sfn|Brebbia|1982|p=200}}

By 1980, the company had expanded to about a dozen employees.<ref name="Cambridge Case Study" /> The company was the target of a takeover bid by Weir Group, followed a year later by another takeover bid by Racal-Redac.<ref name="Cambridge Case Study" /> In 1979, Shape Data reached an agreement with [Evans and Sutherland](/source/Evans_and_Sutherland) of [Salt Lake City, Utah](/source/Salt_Lake_City) to distribute Romulus in the United States.<ref name="Cambridge Case Study" /> Evans and Sutherland President Dave Evans became interested in acquiring Shape Data, as the young company was seen as an entry point into advanced computer aided engineering.  Concurrently, the company founders saw Evans and Sutherland as more favourable to the strategic development goals of their company and an opportunity to inject needed capital into Shape Data for further research and development of Romulus.<ref name="Cambridge Case Study" />

=== Evans and Sutherland ===
{{See also|Evans & Sutherland}}

In 1980, Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation entered into a contract with Shape Data to market the ''Romulus'' geometric modelling program.{{sfn|Computerworld|1980|p=81}} The company was sold to Evans & Sutherland in 1981. After acquisition, Evans & Sutherland injected a large amount of capital into Shape Data, allowing for rapid expansion of staff and procurement of computing equipment. In 1981, Shape Data had 17 employees. In 1983, the company had 40 and by 1986 staff had grown to 70.

In May 1984, the managing director position was created and Peter Veenman was appointed.<ref name="Cambridge Case Study"/> At least two other solid modelling companies were formed in Cambridge at around this time by Shape Data alumni, [Three-Space Limited](/source/ACIS) and Perspective Design. By 1988, Shape Data was close to fragmenting.<ref name="Cambridge Case Study"/> 

In January 1988, Siemens agreed to buy Shape Data's ''Parasolid'' product and development group from the parent company. The administrative staff and the ''Romulus-D'' product and development group were left out of the deal. Also in 1988, [Caterpillar](/source/Caterpillar_Inc.) committed to the Romulus-D program as the first major customer. Caterpillar discovered shortly thereafter that the rights to ''Parasolid'', the geometric modelling kernel of ''Romulus-D'', were being sold to Siemens. Caterpillar hastily arranged the takeover of financing of Shape Data's to prevent the sale of Parasolid.

===McDonnell Douglas===
{{See also|McDonnell Douglas}}
Shape Data was sold to [McDonnell Douglas](/source/McDonnell_Douglas) Information Systems Limited on 31 October 1988.<ref>"Computer Business Review. Shape Data Sold On To McDonnell Douglas." 30 October 1988. Retrieved 2 November 2015.</ref><ref name="Financial Times 1988">{{cite news|last1=Cane|first1=Alan|title=Computer Aided Design Pioneer Sold Again|issue=30,681|work=Financial Times|date=31 October 1988}}</ref> Ron Belcher, a senior software project manager at McDonnell Douglas, was appointed head of Shape Data at the time of the acquisition.<ref name="Financial Times 1988" /><ref name="Cambridge Case Study" />

In 1989, Shape Data released Parasolid, a replacement for Romulus, which allowed the joining of boundary represented surfaces together as a solid. This was the most advanced [solid modelling kernel](/source/Solid_Modeling_Kernel) available on the market at the time.<ref name="Dynamic Three-Dimensional CAD">{{cite web|last1=Fahlbusch|first1=Klaus-Peter|last2=Roser|first2=Thomas D.|title=HP PE/SoldDesigner: Dynamic Modeling for Three-Dimensional Computer Aided Design|url=http://www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/95oct/oct95a1.pdf|website=Hewlett Packard|date=October 1995|accessdate=30 March 2016}}</ref>

===EDS===
{{See also|Electronic Data Systems}}
In 1991, the McDonnell Douglas Systems Integration groups, including Shape Data, were acquired by [EDS](/source/Electronic_Data_Systems) (then a part of [General Motors](/source/General_Motors) Corp., now part of [HP Enterprise Services](/source/HP_Enterprise_Services)). EDS branded the acquired business as EDS Unigraphics. Eventually, in 1997 EDS set up its Unigraphics division as a wholly owned subsidiary called Unigraphics Solutions.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EKF/is_n1886_v37/ai_11499788/|title= See GM, IBM in CAD/CAM fight; after Unigraphics deal
|publisher= Electronic News |year=1991}}</ref> The Shape Data name remained with McDonnell Douglas Information Systems in 1991, and was used thereafter by companies marketing the Glovia ERP software.<ref>{{cite web |last1=House |first1=Companies |title=Overview |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01180894 |website=Companies House}}</ref> In 1997, the company name was changed to Glova International Limited.<ref>{{cite web |last1=House |first1=Companies |title=1997 Accounts |url=https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-live.ch.gov.uk/docs/RQ1dgvSRcIPya2IG0VL30v0xnEt64XQ8_GwTIOYx5Ig/application-pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAWRGBDBV3O4NVQAMF%2F20260530%2Feu-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20260530T230420Z&X-Amz-Expires=60&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEBwaCWV1LXdlc3QtMiJHMEUCIQDwgms15DkIeqg%2Bj7N8HSplfsXHDMINM89wR2DC6RdeFAIgQDncwRNyTgrqlmG7Nk575EGLIvRe%2BcxN7Pe85Bcr6eUqigQI5f%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FARAFGgw0NDkyMjkwMzI4MjIiDO4%2FZwz6sMaPl1T7LyreA9YHmhBSd8zrNpaLGObbRlGtaH4fNDavZlE%2B6xsFP%2FCvni5vjbXtYfsiAiHfKnAqdDosJ31A4X9npBvExqw2LyXeRJ05QFDRGqNigyFZBBC%2BqcNw%2FiUoLfjNhyVH22DfrtT4TqWsJkqKpZQ6xHcZ0qVlzm%2BSdZwgAqAP%2FnwI1JY4xFkQx4jLZTlil5td1MR57wIOl03Uk%2FiE95sM4fN7QUOAjiIvGMDHHPOGkYWchuyazZ1YV4hYDGuFQ7X2dTylDzbBAgaAD8txTl2ja0udH1C5cIMHru8mWUZrO5hWKC9rKESxT0hFfv4dy8E%2FecE%2BfuUnJAXGpIfG5ekMUBoMoqeY4UCrOHvMsoVKINb%2BC5ZOtLDv60zxQNlp8UkTJrI0W1fGEsy5PaLXHxpA6dx3dx1SMANmVqx64TvOal3N5aJJArpAihOxs3EBT7AEAzg9i3UpA2voiLuLn0YP1Muo97c8tapGBF643YHDr%2FsakK8dy0E8DGMmrdIA4HYgLmzjDTT%2F78PhdmnWzewuZoQOlH1XnVZzQE1FgJ3OQWR3NKpYtL7XMQZsh%2FwS2GgT06nWZdkg3P3Wkin%2BB8FZ8Na1oPbrMnDVihxoxk2oWNYhoMFFA7%2F4BfEb4JD%2Fzmt%2Bt90w%2B4Dt0AY6pQG1kFiWQEFGVKStoIiKkTlFRBvtmawPt%2Bl%2BNd3QrRTiYkMBN5MrAGg9%2F8EMLUR3CQGhA2Dx%2BzthWhrqQ%2FkdifvCpLpir3bw0HBCOiyGw4MGcODfV5mXKDYZi%2FmI%2BI8xByKQqaUIaI8VP3AcDFCZInubuLasyUAA3eMJyJKRIjzj7ktNf59b5oXIlGqFRbXmAC8HigIqhGyqSyPhS8EnIwGK%2B%2BHDyVU%3D&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=inline%3Bfilename%3D%22companies_house_document.pdf%22&X-Amz-Signature=588b24612e79a1d0d5606f4271f9956b18b96e15cbbf706e0c23cb4bf107f6df}}</ref>

===Siemens===
{{See also|Siemens Digital Industries Software}}
Unigraphics Solutions, including the former Shape Data, was sold to Siemens AG on 24 January 2007.<ref>[http://www.usa.siemens.com/index.jsp?sdc_p=c194fi1066558lmno1446093psuz3&sdc_bcpath=1063861.s_0,&sdc_sid=11139130244& Siemens announces Siemens PLM Software strategic business unit]</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.redherring.com/Home/20926 
 |title=Siemens Buys UGS for $3.5B 
 |publisher=Red Herring 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715165442/http://www.redherring.com/Home/20926 
 |archivedate=15 July 2011 
}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | title = Siemens to acquire UGS Corp. | publisher = [Siemens AG](/source/Siemens_AG) | date = 25 January 2007 | url = http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/about_us/newsroom/press/press_release.cfm?Component=34137&ComponentTemplate=822 | accessdate = 10 June 2009}}</ref> The Shape Data-descended products and teams now form parts of [Siemens Digital Industries Software](/source/Siemens_Digital_Industries_Software), a [business unit](/source/Strategic_business_unit) of Siemens AG.

==Products==
===Romulus===
{{Main|Romulus (modelling kernel)}}
The Romulus program was introduced in 1978 after three years of development.<ref name="Solid Modeling Association" /> It was the first commercially licensed geometric modelling kernel in the world.

===Parasolid===
{{Main|Parasolid}}
Parasolid, alongside ACIS, is the current industry standard for three-dimensional solid modelling kernel software.  Shape Data first began developing Parasolid in 1985.

==Key people==
*Ron Belcher
*Ian Braid
*Alan Grayer
*Charles Lang
*Peter Veenman
*Chris Bowd

==See also==
{{Portal|Companies|Engineering}}
*[McDonnell Douglas](/source/McDonnell_Douglas)
*[Siemens](/source/Siemens)
*[University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory](/source/University_of_Cambridge_Computer_Laboratory)
*[UGS Corp.](/source/UGS_Corp.)

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|last1=Brebbia|first1=C. A.|title=Finite Element Systems: A Handbook|date=1982|publisher=Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg GmbH|location=Hampshire, UK|isbn=9783662072318|edition=2nd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5bboCAAAQBAJ&q=Shape+Data+Ltd.+Cambridge+England&pg=PA200}}
*{{cite news|title=Supershorts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k5LrayKXIi8C&q=Shape+Data+Ltd.+Cambridge+England&pg=RA1-PA81|issue=45|work=Computerworld|publisher=CW Communications, Inc.|year=1980}}
*{{cite book|last1=Rockwood|first1=Alwyn P.|editor1-last=Pickett|editor1-first=Mary|editor2-last=Boyse|editor2-first=John|title=Solid Modeling by Computers: From Theory to Applications|date=1984|publisher=Plenum Press|location=London, UK|isbn=9781461297307|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U0jhBwAAQBAJ&q=Shape+Data+Ltd.+Cambridge+England&pg=PA237}}
*{{cite book|title=VAX Software Source Book|date=1986|publisher=Digital Equipment Corporation|location=Maynard, MA}}

==External links==
*[http://www.usa.siemens.com/ingenuity-for-life/?stc=uscg101719&s_kwcid=AL!462!3!47804443900!p!!g!!siemens&ef_id=VeXfXwAAAAqOZ65w:20160330034202:s Official website]

{{CAD software}}

<!--- Categories --->
Category:1974 establishments in England
Category:Software companies established in 1974
Category:Software companies based in Cambridge
Category:Siemens
Category:Computer-aided design software
Category:3D graphics software
Category:Organisations associated with the University of Cambridge
Category:British companies established in 1974
Category:University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Shape Data](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shape_Data) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shape_Data?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.