Company
VI-grade is a leading provider of real-time simulation and professional driving simulator solutions that accelerate product development across the transportation industry. The company’s driving simulators range from static deskside solutions to full-scale driver-in-the-loop dynamic simulators, allowing OEMs, suppliers, research centers, motorsport teams and universities to reduce physical prototypes and accelerate innovation. With a worldwide network of trusted partners, VI-grade delivers turnkey simulator solutions including proprietary software, hardware, services, and an open framework for customization. With over 30 years’ experience in simulation, VI-grade is headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany with technology centers in Italy, UK, Japan, China, and the USA.
VI-grade is part of HBK’s Virtual Test Division, which focuses on providing real-time software, simulator, and hardware-in-the-loop solutions to virtually test products throughout the development cycle, helping companies accelerate innovation and reduce time-to-market, and improve their competitive advantage. With 250 highly skilled employees, HBK’s Virtual Test Division has offices in Germany, Italy, France, UK, China, Japan, and the USA as well as a broad network of worldwide channel partners.
Since September 2018, VI-grade has been part of Spectris plc. The firm conducts business in four major segments - materials analysis, testing & measurement, in-line instrumentation and industrial controls - and serves a broad range of industries ranging from automotive and aerospace to electronics, energy, mining and pharmaceuticals
2022
- VI-grade expands its real-time simulation capabilities with AutoHawk, a state-of-the-art, flexible HiL platform for automotive applications
- Numerous DYNAMIC DiM250 and DiM400 Driving Simulator adoptions and installations worldwide: Honda Japan, Ford, CICV and HORIBA MIRA
- VI-grade concludes inaugural global ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit series with events held in Udine (Italy), Novi (MI, USA) and Tokyo (Japan), attracting over 500 in-person and 800 virtual attendees from 42 countries
- Successful COMPACT Simulator installations at Italian braking systems manufacturer Brembo and Ford China
Newly launched superior maintenance programs CARE and CARE+ guarantee customers maximum operational uptime for their Driving Simulators. - VI-grade introduces global sponsorship program for Formula Student Teams and new regulations for 2023 Virtual Formula, allowing more engineering students worldwide to join the competition
2021
- Concurrent Real-Time joins HBK’s newly formed Virtual Test Division, which already includes VI-grade, formerly B&K NVH Simulator Team, Imtec Engineering and Righthook, all following the same mission of accelerating product innovation by bridging the gap between simulation and physical testing
- VI-grade launches COMPACT NVH Simulator capable of providing accurate, calibrated, multi-axial vibration at all driver touch points, enabling a complete NVH experience, but in a small footprint
- Numerous new Driving Simulator adoptions & installations worldwide at Politecnico di Milano, Goodyear, Aston Martin Lagonda, Peugeot Sport, McMaster University, HORIBA MIRA, CEVT, FAW Hongqi and Applus+ IDIADA China
- VI-grade forms new strategic partnerships with BlackBerry QNX & iMotions
- Over 2,000 attendees join VI-grade’s fully virtual 2021 ZERO PROTOTYPES Summit
- VI-grade extends its product line with upgradable and configurable Driving Simulator Solution DiM50 – a dynamic simulator with a superior degree of realism combined with a low price point
2020
- VI-grade launches scalable, Cable-driven Simulator product line together with new, High-Resolution graphic environment VI-WorldSim at Virtual Grand Opening of the expanded SimCenter in Udine
- More than 1300 registered participants at the first VI-grade Virtual International Conference
- VI-grade expands its product line with all NVH Simulation Software and NVH Driving Simulators from sister company Brüel& Kjær in order to deliver unique, high-valuable sound simulation solutions to the automotive market
- SimCenter Detroit and NVH dedicated SimCenter Millbrook open their doors to customers
- VI-grade launches VI-Certified, an elevated partner program for 3rd party tools and solutions on VI-grade Driving Simulators
- Numerous new Driving Simulator adoptions & installations worldwide: Goodyear, CEVT, Pirelli, University of Brescia, Fawer Y-Tec …
- Simulator sales continue to outpace the closest competitors by a factor of three
- VI-grade acquires long-lasting key partner and supplier IMTEC Engineering to enhance R&D, manufacturing and production capabilities
2019
- Maserati hosts winners of 2019 VI-grade’s Virtual Formula at brand-new Innovation Lab in Modena
- More than 100 attendees at first Japan VI-grade Users Conference in Shinagawa
- Numerous driving simulator labs equipped with VI-grade technologies are opened: Envision Virgin Racing, Applus+ IDIADA, FCA, Maserati
- Driving simulators become a critical tool in Formula E: the 3 winning teams of the 5th FoE championship are using VI-grade simulator technology
- VI-grade and Multimatic announce SimCenter, an advanced vehicle development and driving simulation center to be located in the greater Detroit area
- More than 240 engineers, managers and simulation experts attend the 11th VI-grade International Conference in Hanau, Germany
- VI-grade collaborates with Konrad Technologies presenting a new testing method, driver in the Loop with Sensor Fusion Test, at the Testing Expo shows in Europe and USA
2018
- VI-grade becomes part of Spectris – an internationally operating and leading conglomerate in the technology sector
- First two installations of DiM250 dynamic driving simulator provided to Honda R&D and Mercedes AMG
- More than 230 engineers, managers and simulation experts from throughout the world attend the 10th VI-grade Users conference in Milan, Italy
- Completed installation of the dynamic driving simulator DiM150 at the Audi Motorsport site in Neuburg, Germany
- over 100 Motorsport enthusiastic (engineering) students participate in the Virtual Formula – VI-grade's unique student competition built upon the rules of the popular Formula Student
2017
- Honda R&D is the first company in the world to adopt DiM250, the revolutionary driving simulator from VI-grade and Saginomiya
- Our Users Conference in Turin, Italy marks the record attendance of 200+ participants
- Major release of version 18.0 of real-time and vertical products
- Signed partnership with Applus+ Idiada to deliver virtual proving ground data for offline and online simulations
- DiM150 successfully installed at NIO in China and FCA LATAM in Brazil
- Reached the number of 40 VI-grade driving simulators worldwide (static and dynamic)
2016
- Sponsorship agreements signed with 30 leading universities and Formula SAE teams
- Technical partner Danisi Engineering opens Advanced Vehicle Dynamics Center featuring static and dynamic simulators from VI-grade
- FCA Latam and PUC Minas adopt DiM as first dynamic driving simulator ever installed in Latin America
- NIO (former NextEV) installs DiM as key solution for the development of new electric cars
2015
- MRacing Formula SAE Team adopts the VI-DriveSim technology
- Showa Corporation implements a top-notch steering simulator based on VI-grade technology
- V17 of realtime products released in Q2
- Completed installation of DiM at Volvo Car Corporation
2014
- Installations of DiM at Volvo Cars and Porsche Motorsports
- Launch of the www.driverinmotion.com website dedicated to the DiM technology
- Version 16.0 of main products released in Q2-Q3
- "DiM - Driver-in-Motion" awarded "Development Tool of the Year" by the Vehicle Dynamics International magazine
- Added new reseller in India
- Added new direct office in US and Switzerland
2013
- First successful installation of DiM at Ferrari
- Version 15.0 of main products released in Q2
- Strategic development partnership with MIRA announced
- Added new resellers in China
2012
- Added new direct offices in China and UK
- Added new resellers in South Africa and China
- Version 14.0 of main products released in Q2
- Signed distribution agreement with Red Cedar Technology to market the Heeds product in UK
2011
- Added new reseller for France
- Launched VI-SimCenter, the brand new technical center dedicated to the state-of-the-art of driving simulation technology
- Successful 4th edition of the VI-grade Users Conference in Udine, Italy with over 130 industry experts attending the event
- Partnership with Maplesoft to make real-time modeling applications more cost and time-effective
- Partnership with Multimatic to further develop the VI-DriveSim Dynamic technology
2010
- Added new resellers for Taiwan and Australia
- Great success of 2nd Edition of Virtual Formula, with 66 participants from all over the world
- Version 13.0 of the entire product suite released in Q3
- 3rd VI-grade Users Conference organized in Bad Nauheim, Germany, with over 120 industry experts attending the event
- Release of VI-DriveSim, the revolutionary turnkey solution for system-level driving simulation
2009
- Added new resellers for China, Benelux and Brazil
- Successfully launched 1st Edition of Virtual Formula, an initiative to virtually simulate FSAE vehicles in VI-CarRealTime
- Version 12.0 of the entire product suite released in June
- Signed Agreement with FEV for the distribution of Virtual Engine in EMEA and APAC
2008
- Version 11.0 of the entire product suite released in February.
- Joint development of driving simulator with human in the loop with the Universities of Catania and Perugia.
- Introduction of VI-Animator, a tool to visualize simulation results.
- In November 2008 the 2nd VI-grade Users Conference was organized in Udine, Italy. Over 120 industry experts attended the conference and made this event a big success for VI-grade. Read more ...
2007
- In 2007 Vi-grade established an international partner network in 10 countries.
- Version 10.0 of the entire product suite released.
- Introduction of VI-Road, a tool to model road surfaces and to create driverlines.
- Development of new driver technology for maximum performance simulations with Audi.
- In November 2007 the 1st VI-grade Users Conference was organized in Marburg, Germany. Over 100 industry experts from 52 companies attended the conference and made this event a big success for VI-grade. Read more ...
2006
- Diego Minen and Christoph Ortmann joined the company as shareholders.
- Direct offices were established in Italy, United States of America and Japan.
- First release of industry specific MSC.ADAMS verticals under the VI-grade Umbrella.
- VI-grade became MSC.Software agent for DACH, Italy and North America.
2005
- VI-grade was founded in October 2005 by Jürgen Fett and Ruggero Frezza.