auxalia and WESTCAM join forces to drive sustainable development of sectors, markets & people

Sophora Unternehmerkapital is pleased to announce that auxalia has joined forces with Autodesk Gold Partner WESTCAM Group, an engineering services specialist for the design, production and quality assurance in the mechanical engineering space headquartered in Mils, Tyrol.

The merger effectively aligns the strengths of both companies, creating a more comprehensive and diversified portfolio. As certified Autodesk partners, auxalia and WESTCAM group offer industry-leading software solutions along the entire lifecycle – including training, support, services and hardware.

Sophora Unternehmerkapital has been a key partner in this transformative journey. Following its initial investment in auxalia in May 2023, this strategic investment marks Sophora’s second major transaction in the Buy-and-Build strategy in collaboration with auxalia. Most recently, in July 2024, auxalia acquired Dutch Autodesk Gold Partner ICN Group, strengthening auxalia’s position in Europe and adding further IP competencies. Together with WESTCAM Group, the new technology group will have a team of around 180 experts across 18 sites in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic and the Netherlands.

Andreas Hofherr (CEO auxalia) says: “Our merger is not only based on the perfect complementarity of our expertise, but also on shared values such as trust, sustainability and a spirit of innovation.” Markus Ebster (CEO WESTCAM) adds: “The chemistry between us was right from the start. We not only share the same vision for the future of the companies, but also a passion for the further development of customers and the team.” Both CEOs agree: “Our goal is to become one of the leading European providers of holistic, digital platform solutions in our core industries.”

360 degree portfolio

To date, each partner has focused on one core competence: While auxalia’s strength lies primarily in the construction industry, WESTCAM’s focus was on product design & manufacturing. The merger therefore strategically complements each other’s portfolio. The combined expertise of both companies results in a holistic platform portfolio. Together, the two companies are at the cutting edge and offer concrete solutions for the global trends of digitalization, automation and sustainability.

European player: regionally rooted & internationally networked

The newly combined group boasts a strong market presence across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) as well as in the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Italy. Beyond Europe, auxalia and WESTCAM bring complementary global networks — auxalia in plant engineering and WESTCAM in image processing, mechatronics, and robotics. Irrespective of the Europe-wide expansion, the focus remains on local and direct support. Customers will continue to benefit from individual advice from local contacts and short communication channels. The new auxalia & WESTCAM Group is thus positioning itself as a reliable European partner with handshake quality and a personal touch.

Team as a driver of success

The success of the company is driven by its team, with competent and motivated employees being key to success. A significant proportion of company shares is held by long-standing employees, reflecting a commitment to sustainable and appreciative entrepreneurship. The company operates with flat hierarchies, offering a flexible and future-oriented working environment, while benefiting from the security of its size and broad market positioning.

The Group’s holistic approach provides a high degree of flexibility in the face of market changes and creates a solid foundation for long-term professional prospects. All in all, a trusting environment is created in which innovation, professional exchange and appreciative teamwork can flourish.

Transaction details

The Sophora team working on the transaction consisted of Benjamin Hubner, Jennifer Regehr, Niklas Ortlieb and Joop Heijenrath. Sophora was advised by PwC (Tax, Structure, Legal), Gurmann Rechtsanwälte (Local Counsel), Goodwin Procter (Legal Banking), Simon Kucher (Commercial) and Alvarez & Marsal (Financial).

Concentrated power for the future:
Andreas Hofherr (CEO auxalia) & Markus Ebster (CEO WESTCAM)

About auxalia
auxalia has been one of the leading Autodesk-based software providers for the construction industry in the DACH region since 1987. In summer 2024, the company expanded into the Netherlands with the acquisition of the ICN Group. As an Autodesk Platinum Partner and Autodesk Construction Cloud Elite Partner, the entire Autodesk AEC & BIM portfolio is offered. The company also develops and distributes its own applications that specifically complement and expand Autodesk solutions. With the software tools, daily planning work in building services engineering and plant construction, among others, can be made even more efficient and BIM processes can be integrated and implemented more easily. www.auxalia.com

About WESTCAM Group | The Know-WOW Company
WESTCAM Group: 4 companies – one credo: Know-WOW. For almost four decades, WESTCAM has been supporting companies that develop and manufacture innovative products and ensure their quality. To put it simply, the WESTCAM portfolio can be summed up as “DESIGN – MAKE – CHECK” – for products & buildings. From the idea, design, construction, simulation and production through to the quality check. The goal: an end-to-end, efficient digital process chain. The tools: software, services & training. The all-round portfolio of the WESTCAM Group includes: CAD, design | 3D printing | CAM, CNC | 3D mhttps://www.westcam-group.com/etrology | PDM, MES | architecture, construction | image processing | mechatronics, robotics | hardware. www.westcam-group.com

About Sophora Unternehmerkapital
Sophora Unternehmerkapital, based in Munich, is an independent and owner-managed investment company with a focus on medium-sized companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Sophora consists of an interdisciplinary team of entrepreneurs with many years of experience in the investment business and as founders and Managing Directors of companies. As a value-creating partner of entrepreneurs and management teams of medium-sized companies, Sophora provides strategic and operational know-how as well as a comprehensive network of experts and flexible capital in order to jointly discover and develop potentials. Sophora is a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (“PRI”) and the Women’s Empowerment Principles (“WEPs”). www.sophora.de/en/