About

About Maxsurf and Bentley Systems

Maxsurf and Multiframe have been developed by Formsys since 1984. 

Formsys was previously named Graphic Magic then Formation Design Systems.

Over 5,000 of the Formsys products have been distributed in over 30 countries worldwide by authorised distributors including Island Computer Systems Ltd.

Formsys was purchased by Bentley Systems in 2011.

Bentley provide a large portfolio of infrastructure products including the ‘offshore’ arm which currently incorporates SACS, Maxsurf, MOSES and OPEN WIND.

Formsys was purchased by Bentley Systems in 2011.

Bentley provide a large portfolio of infrastructure products including the ‘offshore’ arm which currently incorporates SACS, MAXSURF, MOSES and OPEN WIND.

Island Computer Systems Ltd is a Bentley Gold Channel Partner authorised to provide Maxsurf, Multiframe, MicroStation, PowerDraft in particular and all of the Bentley portfolio in general including MOSES and STAAD for example.

Island Computer Systems Ltd are associate members of RINA – The Royal Institution of Naval Architects.

Formsys is a corporate member of RINA.

The purpose of this website at https://maxsurf.net/ is to provide a helpful source of information for those interested in Maxsurf and Multiframe (For Multiframe see https://multiframe.info/).

FormSys excels as a pioneering software development company specialising in 3D modelling, analysis and design software. Specialist areas of application include naval architecture and shipbuilding, offshore engineering and structural engineering. Their 40 years experience in CAD/CAE/CAM software makes them one of the more experienced companies in the industry.

Formsys Naval Architecture & Shipbuilding

Since 1984, the MAXSURF suite of naval architecture and ship construction software formed the cornerstone of their offerings to the naval architecture profession. Over 1000 designers and companies use MAXSURF to design all types of vessels ranging from pleasure boats through to workboats and large ships. MAXSURF users include major Japanese shipbuilders, Damen Shipyards, US Navy, US Coast Guard, Bath Iron Works, Austal Ships, BAE Systems, Incat Designs, Americas Cup syndicates and leading European luxury yacht designers.

Many Navies and Universities use MAXSURF.

Behind the software systems is their team of naval architects and engineers. Most of their technical staff members come from a naval architecture, shipbuilding or engineering background. This helps them provide advice which is both practical and technically deep.

Structural Engineering

The Company’s Multiframe software range is used by over 2000 companies world-wide to model, analyse and design all types of engineering, marine and architectural structures. Like the other FormSys products, Multiframe is also widely used in education, helping engineering and architectural students utilise a visual approach to learning about structural design. Educational users of FormSys software include Stanford University, Harvard University, MIT and Tokyo University.

Multiframe is particularly widely used in Japan and Australia. Their outlook has always been international and they provide localised versions in the local language and supporting local design codes.

Design Philosophy

All of FormSys’ products are characterized by their three main design criteria – a consistent and intuitive graphical interface for all modules, an integrated database which provides a parametric design capability, and support for industry standards for software and data exchange.

Intuitive Graphical Interface

All products use a consistent graphical interface which allows direct graphical manipulation of the 3D model as well as numerical specification of design parameters. A multi-window approach is used allowing changes in one view to be instantly updated in all other views. FormSys has also developed many innovative click and drag techniques, to allow users to interactively interrogate the 3D model to retrieve any required design information.

Integrated database with parametric design capabilities

Each product creates a full 3D database which is used directly by all design and analysis modules. This eliminates the need for file format exchanges between disciplines and departments within a design and construction company. The parametric approach adopted allows changes to “flow through”, allowing designers using the software to explore more design alternatives and achieve improved optimization.

Support for industry standards

All FormSys products run on the industry standard Microsoft Windows platform. User interface design conforms with Microsoft recommendations and allows users familiar with any other Windows applications, to rapidly learn and master the programs.

Data exchange is provided for the common CAD formats and also extends to copy and paste interchange both to and from Microsoft Office applications as well as full Automation support allowing our applications to be scripted from Excel, Word and MathCAD.

Software Technology

All FormSys’ CAD products are based on leading edge software technology including C++ object oriented development, a modularized approach to system design and use, 3D rendering and animation standards, and advanced algorithms like trimmed NURB surfaces and non-linear analysis.

Customer Support

FormSys has an excellent reputation for providing timely and practical customer support with a team of highly skilled technical staff to help solve customer problems. A number of our staff have Masters or PhD degrees in engineering or naval architecture, as well as practical experience in design and construction.