BIM software developer chooses Manchester for UK base
Polantis, a building information modelling specialist headquartered in France, has opened a research office in Manchester Science Parks, in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University.
The company aims to create up to six jobs in the next 12 months and 20 by 2016.
BIM is an advanced architectural computer-aided design process that enables users to better plan and design buildings by manipulating intelligent 3D components and data attached to them. Using BIM is meant to improve communication and project management between architects, engineers, surveyors and contractors through all stages of design, construction and maintenance of a building.
Midas, Manchester's inward investment agency, helped to facilitate the move by providing Polantis with initial research and arranging site and property visits.
Itai Cellier, chief executive of Polantis, said: "Thanks to Midas, we've decided that Manchester would be our UK base of operations. I was pleasantly surprised to discover how welcoming the Mancunians are: we've become part of the business and academic community. It's a real pleasure to work here and we hope to begin creating jobs and transferring knowledge.
"In the current economic situation, our main aim is to show a tangible return on investment to our customers. We place our clients products inside architects' projects via their CAD and BIM software, this means, simply – more sales for manufacturers of construction products and materials. We've been the market leaders for more than 4 years now and we intend to import our high standards to the UK market."
Tim Newns, chief executive of Midas, said: "With a strong architecture and design cluster in Manchester, both commercial and academic, we were really keen to attract Polantis to add additional expertise and technology to the market.
"The science park will be the perfect base for them to bridge academia and the commercial sector and we look forward to seeing the fruit of their work with the universities."
