Trimble Acquires Pondera Engineers Assets to Expand Its Utilities Solutions

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Trimble (Nasdaq: TRMB) announced today it has acquired the assets of privately-held Pondera Engineers LLC based in Post Falls, Idaho. Pondera is an engineering and development company offering services and software tools for siting, designing, optimizing, and maintaining high-voltage power transmission and distribution lines. The acquisition is part of Trimble's strategic initiative to bring productivity solutions to the electric utilities industry. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Pondera provides enterprise software solutions and design services for electric transmission line system operators (ISOs), engineer, procure and construct contractors (EPC) and vertically integrated utilities (IOUs). Its software suite includes TL-Pro Design Studio, PoleSTAR™, and Nip&Tuck® solutions.

TL–Pro allows users to model multiple scenarios and manage design standards in its interactive design environment. It includes sag and tension calculations, finite element structural analysis, true 3D global optimization, and project estimates and material lists via its powerful material manager module. Accuracy, flexibility and user productivity is enhanced by a 3D visualization terrain model and can be applied in a variety of situations, including project reviews, marketing, siting and permitting.

Pondera's PoleSTAR software allows users to model and analyze complicated pole structures using 3D graphical interfaces. Nip&Tuck software for re-tensioning transmission line conductors is used to test various techniques to resolve clearance problems on a span-by-span basis.  

"Innovative technology is transforming the way utilities are planned, managed, built and maintained. Pondera software solutions and design services provide utility customers the tools to save time and cost during the design cycle as well as develop more accurate and complete infrastructure models, improving decision making and operational efficiencies," said Doug Merrill, general manager for Trimble's Utilities Initiative. "In addition, Trimble survey, mapping & GIS and GeoSpatial solutions provide data for TL-Pro analysis. The acquisition of Pondera will enable Trimble to provide additional capabilities for creating infrastructure models that leverage design information across the complete utility asset lifecycle."

"Pondera has developed solutions for the power line industry for many years, constantly evolving and innovating solutions to fit industry needs," said Yair Berenstein, a principal owner of Pondera. "Trimble is a leading provider of positioning technology to the utilities market and has complementary solutions that can move our products to the next level in power line infrastructure modeling, design and analysis. Trimble is the right fit for Pondera and our customers and we are very excited about how our combined solutions can address the needs of the electric utilities industry."

The Pondera business will be reported in Trimble's Field Solutions segment.

About Pondera Engineers LLC

Founded in 2004, Pondera is an independent company formed by experienced line design engineers and programmers. Pondera has provided services and software products to the electric power transmission, distribution and substation industry. Pondera's roots trace back to TLCADD, the industry's first successful commercial line design and optimization software, which has evolved into today's state-of-the-art 3D software solutions for virtually every aspect of overhead line design, optimization and project development. Pondera is located in Post Falls, Idaho.

For more information, visit:  www.ponderaengineers.com.

About Trimble

Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location—including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back office. Founded in 1978, Trimble is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.

For more information, visit Trimble's Web site at www.trimble.com.

Certain statements made in this press release are forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual events and results may differ materially from those described in this news release. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, whether Trimble will be able to successfully expand, and add additional capabilities to, its utility solutions through the acquisition and provide compelling productivity solutions to the electric utilities industry; whether utility customers will adopt such solutions; and the impact of the current economic climate on customer purchasing decisions. Additional risks and uncertainties include: the risks inherent in integrating an acquisition; unanticipated expenditures, charges or assumed liabilities that may result from the acquisition; retaining key personnel; and the impact of the current global economic crisis and recessionary conditions. More information about potential factors which could affect Trimble's business and financial results is set forth in reports filed with the SEC, including Trimble's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its annual report on Form 10-K. All forward looking statements are based on information available to Trimble as of the date hereof, and Trimble assumes no obligation to update such statements.

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SOURCE Trimble