Elsyca, a global pioneer in computer-aided engineering (CAE) simulation for electrochemical processes and surface finishing, has acquired Hivelix, a specialist in advanced surface treatment simulation with strong expertise in multiphysics modeling and AI-assisted process optimization.
Diego D’UdekemDiego D’Udekem, CEO of Elsyca, says that together, they will deliver a uniquely powerful simulation platform to manufacturers across automotive, aerospace, luxury goods, electronics, and industrial markets, where surface quality is not a detail, but a defining performance and compliance requirement.
“This acquisition strengthens our ambition to build the leading simulation platform for electrochemical processes,” D’Udekem says.
The combined company will serve a broad range of high-demand industries, each with distinct surface finishing requirements that benefit directly from advanced simulation. In automotive applications, electroplating and e-coating are critical for corrosion protection and surface integrity of EV battery components. In aerospace, CAE simulation allows engineers to validate anodizing and conversion coating processes against exacting military and civil aviation standards before qualification testing. In luxury goods, electronics, and industrial manufacturing, from watchmaking and semiconductor plating to medical devices and hydraulics, simulation gives engineers the precision and confidence to achieve flawless, functional surfaces at every scale.
Baptiste Fedi“Every one of our target industries has the same underlying challenge: surface finishing processes are complex, sensitive, and expensive to get wrong,” says Baptiste Fedi, CEO of Hivelix. “Our shared mission is to give engineers the simulation tools they need to get it right the first time, every time, whether they are finishing a turbine blade, a luxury watch case, or an EV battery housing.”
The company says the combined entity will accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into its CAE simulation platform. The companies aim to develop AI-assisted optimization tools that dramatically reduce the time engineers spend on iterative design.
Digital twin technology will also be a central focus, enabling manufacturers to maintain living simulation models of their production lines that update in real time with process data, closing the loop between virtual engineering and physical production.
“Simulation and AI are not competing approaches; they are deeply complementary,” Diego d’Udekem says. “Physics-based simulation gives you understanding. AI gives you speed.
Customers and partners of both Elsyca and Hivelix can expect full continuity of existing products, services, and support throughout the transition. A combined product roadmap, including new integrated simulation modules targeting specific industry workflows, will be shared in the months ahead.
Headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, Elsyca operates internationally with offices in the United States and Romania. Visit www.elsyca.com.
Founded in 2021 by Baptiste Fedi and headquartered in Besançon, France, Hivelix develops CAE tools that enable engineers to model and optimize plating, anodizing, and coating operations. It serves manufacturers across automotive, aerospace, luxury goods, electronics, and industrial markets where surface performance is critical. Visit https://www.elsyca.com/hivelix.
