Siemens has bought aeronautic design tech firm Zona Technology in a move to boost the climate-neutral capabilities of its aircraft design and engineering software. A specialist in aeroelastic simulation, Zona provides advanced aerodynamic and structural design optimisation. Embedding Zona within Siemen’s Xcelerator family of digital engineering and manufacturing software will accelerate time to production of advanced aeronautic concepts and designs.

Founded in 1988 and based in Scottsdale Arizona, ZONA has a primary focus on aeroelastic simulation technology which helps to predict flight loads and flutter behaviour. Some of the world’s largest aircraft OEMs use the technology.

Zona technology will become part of Siemens’ Simcenter software portfolio. According to Siemens, it will allow creation of end-to-end airframe structure design and certification analysis digital threads, from early concept studies, include high-fidelity aero-structural optimisation and through to structural certification and documentation.

The combination of ZONA fidelity aeroelastic methods and Siemens Simcenter simulation is designed to reduce dependency on third-party aeroelasticity tools and replace disjointed workflows for airframe analysis, simulation and verification.

“The aerospace industry is facing unprecedented technological challenges as it pursues the complexity of both climate-neutral aviation and the rebirth of supersonic travel,” said Jean-Claude Ercolanelli, Senior Vice President, Simulation and Test Solutions, Siemens Digital Industries Software. “The addition of ZONA Technology capabilities to the Xcelerator portfolio will help to support our customers going further with their digital transformation and will strengthen Siemens effort to build a comprehensive and cutting-edge end-to-end airframe structure design and certification workflow to the Aerospace industry.”

“We are excited to join Siemens Digital Industries Software and bring our expertise and technology for aeroelastic simulation to improve the digital thread for aircraft structures and airframe design,” said PC Chen, CEO, ZONA Technology. “A continuous digital connection between the flight physics and structural departments can reduce the number of iterations and speed up the airframe structure certification for aircraft companies striving to launch innovative new aircraft programmes on time and on budget.”

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of calendar year 2022.