Company Overview
Located in Minneapolis, MN, Third Wave Systems (TWS) provides material-based, machining modeling Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) software and services used to optimize traditional and state-of-the-art high speed machining processes. The company’s software package, AdvantEdge, combines nano-technology and material modeling to produce simulations that provide more information in a timely manner, and at a lower cost than traditional trial and error testing. This leads to better decisions, faster time to market, and higher profitability for customers.
Third Wave Systems’ flagship product, AdvantEdge FEM, was the first commercially-available machining simulation software to combine Finite Element Analysis (FEA) with a custom material model. The success of the software speaks for itself: over the past five years the technology has enabled TWS to work with the Department of Defense on numerous occasions, gaining valuable research and development knowledge through Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contracts and partnerships with industry leaders such as Boeing and Kennametal. Sandvik, Caterpillar, Bell Helicopter, 3M, General Motors, and General Electric are among Third Wave Systems’ national and international customer base.
Understanding the critical need to educate students in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), Third Wave Systems conducts software workshops and licenses its technology to more than 100 academic institutions worldwide. TWS also has numerous patents pending on its simulation techniques and related process technology for producing components at 2-20 times faster than current standards.
In both 2007 and 2008, Third Wave Systems was named one the Twin Cities’ 50 fastest-growing private companies by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. In addition to Minneapolis, TWS has remote offices in Detroit, Michigan and the United Kingdom; plus five international distributors.