Visual Components announces the VC Ecosystem and partnership with Work(s) Ergo to bring advanced ergonomics planning to the simulation platform
The new VC Ecosystem aims to promote partner-developed technologies, add-ons and plugins that offer interoperability with Visual Components platform.
Work(s) Ergo is among the first technology partners to be featured, bringing complete ergonomics analysis capabilities to Visual Components based on the latest research in the field while maintaining the fast and easy to use experience users have associated with the product.
Espoo, Finland, Jan. 21, 2026 — Visual Components today announced the launch of the VC Ecosystem, a new section of its website dedicated to showcasing partner add-ons, plugins, and integrations that expand the functionality of the platform. The initiative reflects Visual Components’ focus on building an open platform with a growing partner ecosystem.
The first add-on featured in the VC Ecosystem is the Work(s) software integration, an advanced ergonomics analysis solution developed by Work(s) Ergo Inc. The add-on offers sophisticated ergonomics assessment tools directly integrated into Visual Components’ simulation software, allowing users to perform computerized human-factors analyses alongside their factory models and evaluate human performance and musculoskeletal risk in digital manufacturing environments. In practice, engineers can simulate manual tasks in Visual Components and then leverage Work(s) to analyze the ergonomics of those tasks without leaving the platform.
Through the integration, users can export posture and task data from a Visual Components simulation to the cloud-based Work(s) service for a full ergonomics evaluation. The results – including posture analysis, joint load demands, and overall risk scores – are visualized directly alongside the 3D model in Visual Components, helping designers identify and address potential ergonomic issues during the design stage. The Work(s) platform evaluates thousands of feasible worker postures to account for real human variability and integrates multiple ergonomics assessment methods into a single, simple risk metric. Notably, the tool is based on validated scientific models – including well-known methods like HandPak™, the Arm Force Field (AFF), and the Liberty Mutual Manual Materials Handling equations – ensuring that its analyses are grounded in established ergonomics research. The add-on supports a wide range of manual material handling scenarios (lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying, and static postures).
“By collaborating with innovative partners like Work(s) Ergo, we’re expanding the scope of our simulation platform to include the critical human element of manufacturing design. Integrating advanced ergonomics analysis into Visual Components means our users can proactively design workflows that maximize productivity while also safeguarding worker health and safety,”
Mikko Urho, CEO of Visual Components.
“Our collaboration with Visual Components has been a perfect fit for us. By leveraging their 3D simulation capabilities and talented experts, our Work(s) software becomes easier to use, and the realistic graphics that result will greatly enhance our users’ ability to illustrate ergonomics issues, so that occupation tasks and consumer products can be optimized quickly, reliably and effectively,”
Dr. Jim Potvin, President of Work(s) Ergo, Inc.
With the launch of the VC Ecosystem, Visual Components is taking another step toward a more open and extensible simulation platform.
Visual Components encourages technology providers, solution developers, and partners to explore how their solutions could integrate with Visual Components and become part of the VC Ecosystem.
Users and potential partners can explore the VC Ecosystem and learn more about the Work(s) add-on at www.visualcomponents.com/ecosystem, or reach out to Visual Components to discuss partnership and integration opportunities.
About Visual Components
Founded by a team of simulation experts with 25 years in business, Visual Components is a pioneer in 3D manufacturing simulation. Trusted by more than 2,400 leading brands and 40 partners worldwide, Visual Components provides machine builders, system integrators, and manufacturers with a simple, quick, and cost-effective solution to design and simulate production processes. The company also offers advanced robot offline programming technology for fast, accurate, and error-free programming of industrial robots.
For more information, please visit: https://www.visualcomponents.com/press/
About Work(s) Ergo
Work(s) Ergo Inc. is a company dedicated to producing task analysis software that is easy to use while fully integrating the most valid, science-based ergonomics assessment tools available. Work(s) Ergo Inc. recognizes that ergonomics must better reflect the real-world variability in task performance that exists both within and between workers.
The Work(s) software package takes a novel approach to ergonomics assessments, improving their reliability, accuracy, and accessibility. Co-founders Dr. Jim Potvin and Dr. Mike Agnew have spent decades teaching, researching, and consulting in ergonomics, and have combined their expertise into a comprehensive and integrated software package, with a strong focus on usability and practical value for practitioners.
For more information, please visit: https://www.worksergo.com