• 1987 Ansys is founded. Main aim to provide avionic computers
• 1998 Actively participates in rail market. First Vehicle Identification System installed
• 2002 Ansys achieves BEE status
• 2006 Partnership between Ansys and Westinghouse Rail Systems – Australia
• 2007 Ansys listed on the Alternative Exchange Board of the JSE
• 2007 Ansys acquires Optocon, QuadSoft and Emerging Signals
• 2008 Rationalisation of the Board of Directors and the establishment of the Executive Committee

Ansys was founded in 1987 to supply the defence force with avionic computers and other applications of embedded software in which they were expert.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the company became the National Centre of Excellence for airborne crash recorders.

This established a broad capability to gather data in extremely harsh environments, process it, and supply it as crucial management information. Its in-house capabilities also allowed the company to complete complex weapons system integration projects. This expertise ensured that Ansys remained responsible to Denel for a variety of weapons integration work for the SANDF.

Active participation in the rail market began in 1998 with the commissioning of an Automatic Vehicle Identification System for Spoornet on the Coal Link line between Ermelo and Richards Bay. This system was later expanded to allow for Train Condition Monitoring. In 2003 a similar Vehicle Identification System was installed by Ansys on the Sishen-Saldana OREX line. The successful implementation and support delivered to these major links resulted in the awarding of the Spoornet contract to Ansys for the installation of a Vehicle Identification System on all its South African tracks in 2006.

Ansys became black empowered in 2002 when Teddy Daka acquired a 40% equity stake in the company and joined the Ansys Board.

In 2006, Ansys and Westinghouse Rail Systems Australia agreed to work together to enable Westinghouse signalling systems to return to South Africa. This positioned both companies favourably for the upgrading of signalling infrastructure in most sub-Saharan African countries.

Ansys listed on the JSE’s Alternative Exchange in June 2007.

Today Ansys dominates the local market in Trackside Measurement encompassing health/condition monitoring systems and automatic vehicle identification systems. Its industrial division is involved in monitoring and control systems and information systems for optimisation of business processes and Ansys’ defence division specialises in the integration of weapon systems on aircraft, land vehicles and ships.

In December 2007, the Group acquired 100% shareholding in QuadSoft, a company that develops and maintains locomotive in-cab communications systems as well as Optocon, an engineering company that manufactures precision electro optical systems. The Group also acquired the business of Emerging Signals, an approved railway signalling contracting company.

During 2008, the Board of Directors was rationalised. The Board now consists of an equal number of executive and non executive directors. An Executive committee was established which includes key personnel of Ansys as well as managing directors of the subsidiaries and the division.