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Pioneer, discoverer, innovator...

More than 30 years ago - in 1980 -  the graduate engineers Ralf Göllnitz and Uwe Rouvel founded the SPI corporation. At the beginning of the 80ies SPI concentrates on development and marketing solutions for business applications. The CAD division becomes more and more important in the following years. 1983 SPI presents own CAD applications and takes supremacy on the market with its 3D solution for the sheet metal industry. Read here, how everything began...
 



2012

Further concentration

SPI consequently focusses on core capabilities. SPI deliver specialized applications for the sheet metal industry. SPI is Authorized Developer and Gold Partner of two big players in the CAD marked and will carry on developing and providing its SheetMetal Solutions.
 
 

2010

Three decades

For 30 years SPI positioned itself within the IT market. This might have been one aspect for the jury to nominate the  IT company for one of the "Great Awards for Germany's middle-sized businesses". Since 1980 SPI GmbH attends customers in Germany, and - with a net of partners - even world wide.
 
 

2008

New management

Jeanette Rouvel and Dirk Vollmer become CEOs of SPI with the begining of 2008. Jeanette Rouvel will concentrate on the CAD Division of SPI. Dirk Vollmer, the long time leader of the software development, concentrates on SPI's Business Solutions.
 
 

2007

Gold Partner Solution

SPI receives the premium certificate "SolidWorks Certified Gold Product" of the Solidworks corporation for the solution "SPI SheetMetalWorks". The Solidworks partner program aims for an optimization of the productivity of the SolidWorks users with the aid of partner solutions around the design field. The highest award is the "Certified Gold Product", that claims higher demands for the functional interaction and support of the current version of SolidWorks: Gold products are completely integrated with the 3D CAD software.
 
 

2006

With SolidCAM at the METAV fair

SolidWorks Solution Partner SolidCAM GmbH presents its "best-in-class" solutions at the METAV. As one of the co-exhibitors, SPI shows CAD/CAM perfect in form: The mentioned SolidCam, SolidWorks Office Premium as well as - especially  for sheet metal designers - the solution SPI SheetMetalworks. SPI works intensely on a project for the German Machine Builder TRUMPF. From now on, TRUMPF delivers its machines with a sheet metal software from SPI, that bases upon an OEM version of SolidWorks.
 
 

2005

25 years SPI

System vendor SPI looks back on its twentyfive years longing existence. Several products and many projects have been processed among these years.
 
 

2004

Directly to the machine

Again a missing link was found and installed in the process chain: With the aid of the new application SPI SheetMetal Tops, it is possible to manufacture the GEO data for Trumpf TruTops together with the unfolding. These data can directly be used for punching and lasering.
 
 

2003

Tops 600

The SPI ToPs 600 (today: TruTops Bend) solution allows the import of the completely machine information. The blank is designed compatible with the calculation methodes of ToPs 600 and contains all processdata for the unfolding process.
 
 

2002

Bending line tables

With the new versions, bending line tables and other information are delivered to the current NC-programs.The table delivers an editable list with the whole information of the bending lines.
 
 

2001

Sheet metal for Inventor

The first Sheet Metal Version for Autodesk Inventor is released. Further development and upgrading of the functionality scale of the existent sheet metal solutions from SPI happens at the same time.
 
 

2000

Branch in the West: Herne

20-years-jubilee and foundation of the branch Herne. Many of SPI's customers are located in the western areas of the Republic. Once again SPI strikes out its customer orientation.
 
 

1999

Trend-setting

More tools for the simplification of the sheet design are offered with the new versions. Extension of the special solution for the pipe connection, SPI Ducting.
 
 

1998

SPI SheetMetalWorks

SPI SheetMetalWorks was developed for the sheet metal processing industry, and - with the powerful basic system SolidWorks - leads to a productive complete solution for sheet metal design.
 
 

1997

A new CAD system: SPI and SolidWorks

As an independant system vendor, SPI starts a cooperation with an new CAD vendor: SolidWorks.
 
 

1996

US market demands branch office in Canada

Several hundred installations in germany, in the european neighbouring countries, in far East and in the U.S. indicate the effectiveness of the SPI products and the developers competence. The worldwide demand to the products of SPI leads to many partnerships from Iceland up to the Cape of Good Hope. To be present on the American continent at  local business hours, with Jack Beaton SPI installs its representant in Victoria (Canada).
 
 

1995

SPI and AutoCAD

After the SPI´s Sheet  solution was used successfully on diverse platforms, it was only a question of time, when this solution will also be available for AutoCAD.
 
 

1994

SPI at the EuroBlech

In this year, the tool management with a new surface follows. The new version for CATIA V4 is released. The HP-solution releases in the V6. Know-how for the ACIS-programing exists. The development concentrates on AutoCAD.
 
 

1993

SheetMetal 6000 for IBM CATIA

The 3D Sheet solution is available for HP ME V. 5, CATIA, and , basing upon an ACIS kernel, for strässle konsys 2000 now. Therewith, the "process chain sheet" (=  from the design to the construction up to the NC-conditioning) is also closed in the IBM world. The sheet application is available for the SUN.
 
 

1992

Sharp edges

Version 4 comes up with the so-called "sharp edged construction". Bending areas don´t need to be champfered anymore, if it is not desired. A series of new functions for the platine`s  postprocessing are taken into the new version. Because it has its own modell data structure, the sytem is independent from CAD now .
 
 

1991

SheetMetal 9000 version 3.3

The CAD program`s version 3.3 is released. The windung up of spline-contures is realized. Several construction tools for non perpendicular elements were taken into the program. The reverse bending of the platine is possible. The program develops any  rounded parts into. Openings can go to numerous bending areas. Elective, one or two  blanks are delivered. Construction tools and diverse extra tools are available.
 
 

1990

New office

After ten years longing existance, SPI moves into a newly built office in Ahrensburg.
 
 

1989

Content customers

Companies like Schindler, MKN, LIEBHERR, MIELE, Deutsche Lufthansa are clients of the SPI. SPI offer soft- and hardware applications from well known producers and their own applications on the CeBIT and NORDBÜRO.
 
 

1988

First 3D sheet metal software

The demands of the market lead to the 3D CAD solution SPI - 3D Sheet Metal 9000.  unfolding software. The program offers an automatic generation of the bending radii and an automatic dimensioning.
 
 

1987

First 2D sheet metal software

This year, the release of  SPI  - 2D Sheet Metal 9000, a Pascal based macro-solution for ME10, follows. The software still works in the 2D-mode.
 
 

1986

Standard parts, mould making, pipe

SPI concentrates on CAD - due to marketing director Volker Reimers. In this year, the programs Standard Parts 9000 and Mould 9000 result in cooperation with other partners. Togehter with  the Hamburg university`s faculty computer science, SPI presents the program SPI 2D Piping 9000 on the Hannover fair.
 
 

1985

New office: Kurt-Fischer-Straße

May 1st of this year, SPI celebrates its relocation into the new office in the Kurt-Fischer-Straße 39. By now, SPI counts ten members of staff.
 
 

1984

CAD as CAD can: HP DRAFT

HP Draft proves of vailure at the engine construction. Easy menu-tasks complete linear displacement, turning of design elements, reflexing of own axis and part configurations on the screen.
 
 

1981

First CAD-steps with BMW

An algorithm developed at the Hamburg university is used for special plot-routines. SPI is going to accompany BMW at BERLIN, PARIS, TURIN, AMSTERDAM, BRUSSELS, GENEVA and other european metropolises in the next years.
 
 

1980

Period of promoterism

The degreed engineers Ralf Göllnitz  and Uwe Rouvel, both long lasting Hewlett–Packard GmbH`s employees, found the system vendor SPI with principal office at Hamburg. Business concentrates on the marketing of existant solutions of CAD-vendors like Hewlett Packard (HP Draft) at first. At this time, you can really earn big money with the commerce of hardware and periphery.