LEDAS
LEDAS is an independent software development company with offices in four countries and more than 120 developers.
It specializes in custom CAD, CAM, BIM, digital healthcare, and 3D modeling software. Founded in 1999, the company is best known for its 12-year partnership with Dassault Systèmes, during which it contributed to the development of key components of the CATIA CAD system, and for creating the LGS 2D/3D geometric constraint solvers, whose intellectual property was acquired by Bricsys NV in 2011.
Founding and Dassault Systèmes partnership
LEDAS was founded in 1999 a group of academics with backgrounds in artificial intelligence (AI) and mathematics. The first CEO was David Levin, PhD in computer science and mathematics
In the same year, LEDAS signed a long-term contract with the French company Dassault Systèmes, a global leader in the PLM/CAD market. Over the course of this 12-year partnership, the LEDAS team contributed to the development of key components of the CATIA V5 and V6 systems, including the CGM geometric modeling kernel and the Constraint Design Solver (CDS). The team also worked on the end-user modules CATIA Product Engineering Optimizer and CATIA Knowledge Advisor. The total volume of work under these contracts exceeded 100 person-years.
LGS geometric solvers and the Bricsys acquisition
Starting in 2001, LEDAS developed its own product — the LEDAS Geometric Solver (LGS), initially in a 2D version, with a 3D version released in 2005. The solver was considered the second most widely used geometric constraint solver in the industry, after Siemens PLM Software's D-Cubed. LGS was licensed to more than ten engineering software vendors worldwide, including Cimatron (later part of 3D Systems) and CD-adapco (later part of Siemens PLM Software).
In October 2011, Menhirs NV, the parent company of Bricsys NV, acquired the intellectual property rights to LGS 2D, LGS 3D, and several other LEDAS products, including Driving Dimensions and RhinoWorks. The acquisition enabled Bricsys to add parametric and direct modeling capabilities to BricsCAD.
In 2011–2012, LEDAS transformed its business mainly into custom software development which appeared to be demanded worldwide. In parallel with service providing, until today, LEDAS develops and distributes its original products LEDAS Cloud Platform, LEDAS Geometry Comparison, and other.
In recent years, the company has once again transformed its business. Now it is supported by a number of independent entities in Israel, Cyprus, Armenia, Serbia, and other countries.
LEDAS Cloud Platform
In 2017, LEDAS released the LEDAS Cloud Platform (LCP), a client–server platform for developing web-based 3D modeling applications. LCP supports real-time collaborative editing of 3D models in a browser environment, with support for STEP (MCAD), IFC (BIM), STL (3D printing and polygonal meshes), and XYZ (point cloud) formats.
Products and technologies
- LEDAS Geometric Solver (LGS 2D/3D) — geometric constraint solver for parametric sketching and 3D modeling, developed from 2001 to 2011. After the IP acquisition by Bricsys, the solvers continued to be used in BricsCAD.
- LEDAS Geometry Comparison (LGC) — technology for comparing 3D models and identifying differences between model versions.
- LEDAS Cloud Platform (LCP) — cloud platform for building web-based 3D modeling applications with real-time collaboration support.
- CAD plugins and components — development of modules for SolidWorks, AutoCAD, BricsCAD, CATIA, Rhinoceros 3D, Inventor, Creo, and NX.
Leadership
The current CEO is Alexey Ershov, who has been with the company since its founding in 1999 and has served as CEO since 2011.
Co-founder and chairman of the board of directors is David Levin, who stepped down as CEO in 2011.