Celebrating 25 years of DriveWorks
This year, we are celebrating 25 years of DriveWorks. From a CAD automation program in 2001, DriveWorks design automation, 3D product configurator, and CPQ for manufacturing solutions now make a difference for manufacturers all over the world.
Our technology has evolved significantly over the last 25 years, but our goal of empowering manufacturing through technology has remained constant. It’s the reason we continually develop our software to enable manufacturers to meet their evolving business needs.
Our technology
Looking back over the last 25 years, technology developments have had a significant impact on the way we all live, work, and communicate.
The speed and scale of technology developments have been significant. The rise of mobile devices, followed by smartphones, along with their app ecosystems, has transformed the way we communicate, work, and consume information.
Developments in mainstream cloud computing have made it easier to scale up infrastructures on demand, and AI and machine learning touch most areas of our private and work lives. The boom of remote work technology, accelerated by COVID-19 and facilitated by the adoption of Zoom, Teams, Slack, etc, has changed the way we all work, and connected business communities in a way we might never have previously imagined.
Similarly, DriveWorks technology has developed at pace. Since our first automation program in 2001, we’ve delivered 22 major releases, together with multiple service packs. Our award-winning range of technology now includes design automation, 3D product configurator, and CPQ for manufacturing solutions.
2007 was a significant milestone for DriveWorks when SOLIDWORKS® announced that DriveWorksXpress would be included in every SOLIDWORKS license. Our relationship with SOLIDWORKS has continued to develop, and we are proud to be a SOLIDWORKS Gold Certified Partner. DriveWorksXpress, DriveWorks Solo and DriveWorks Pro are all SOLIDWORKS Gold Partner Products, and we are proud of the strong links we’ve built with the entire SOLIDWORKS user community.
In 2019, we were recognised locally in the UK with two High Sheriff’s Awards, for Innovation and Export. The awards are the region’s most prestigious awards for business performance. The Export award recognised our significant growth in international business through a clear commitment to the development of new export market opportunities. While the Innovation award recognised our ability to create, nurture and develop new products.
In the same year, we were also recognised with the highest accolade available to UK businesses, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise. The Queen’s Awards recognise businesses for outstanding achievement, and we are honoured to have received two awards, for Innovation and for International Trade.
Our team
From a start-up business to a team of over 60, we’ve seen how investing in STEM students encourages new ways of thinking and ensures a strong future. Just over half of the current DriveWorks team are colleagues who originally joined us as part of our apprentice, undergraduate, or graduate programs. Five of those are also members of our current Senior Leadership team.
Our HQ location in Warrington, UK, is incredibly important to us. We’re based close to Manchester and Liverpool airports and several major motorways that connect the UK. Our location makes it easy for our visitors from far and wide to find us. We’ve invested in spaces and technology to enable our teams to thrive, and opened our doors to local schools, colleges, and businesses.
As part of our strategy to support DriveWorks resellers and users worldwide, we’ve welcomed team members in additional locations around the world, including France, the USA, Asia Pacific, and India.
In October 2024, DriveWorks became part of Bechtle AG. With more than 100 system houses and IT e-commerce in 14 countries, Bechtle AG is one of Europe’s leading IT providers. Bechtle AG also has a worldwide partner network to fulfil the needs of its customers on every continent. “Zukunftsstark”, Bechtle’s tagline, translates as “future strong”, a phrase that resonates with the DriveWorks team because at the heart of our software development ethos lies a commitment to innovation and continual improvement.
Our international presence
From our first customer in the UK, fast forward to a global DriveWorks user community. DriveWorks is now sold by an international network of over 100 value-added resellers across 54 countries, who work with us to sell and support our software.
Our technology is used by manufacturers in a wide range of industries all over the world. From HVAC and construction to transportation and materials handling, thousands of manufacturing businesses now use DriveWorks to configure, design, sell, and manufacture custom products faster.
In 2020, DriveWorks VP and Co-Founder, Maria Sarkar, was recognized as an Export Champion by the UK Government Department for Business & Trade. Export Champions are from UK companies that have successfully sold overseas and want to share their insight to encourage others to consider growing their international business through exporting. In 2024, Maria was also awarded an MBE for Services to Manufacturing.
As part of our wider ESG commitment to STEM we are proud to support education on a global platform with our free DriveWorks training and certification programs for anyone with access to SOLIDWORKS®.
DriveWorksXpress is taught in schools and universities around the world, enabling students to learn additional skills and knowledge. Additionally, members of the DriveWorks team take part in an outreach program to provide on-site training for university students taking DriveWorks certifications.
Our celebrations
Our official 25th birthday was on Sunday, February 1st, so over the last couple of weeks we’ve taken some time out to celebrate together as a team. Birthday cupcakes were followed by a visit from our favourite fish and chip van. A huge thank you to Pennies and The Fish Shack for keeping us well fed!
Over the next 12 months, we have more celebrations planned. Follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date with our activities.
