Tungsten Automation

Tungsten Automation is the current corporate identity of the software business formerly known as Kofax. Based in Denver, Colorado, the company develops software intended to help organizations capture, interpret, manage, and automate information-heavy business processes. Its technology spans document imaging, optical character recognition, intelligent document processing, robotic process automation, business-process management, case management, electronic signatures, customer communications, print management, and related enterprise-content workflows. The business began in 1985 as Kofax Image Products, founded by Dean Hough and David Silver, engineers who had previously worked at FileNet. Its early focus was hardware and software that converted personal computers into image-processing systems. The company released its first products in 1989 and continued developing image-processing capabilities through the 1990s. It became a public company on Nasdaq in October 1997. Kofax's development was shaped by a long series of acquisitions and ownership changes. In 1999, DICOM Group agreed to acquire the company in a cash transaction intended to combine Kofax's digital-capture technology with DICOM's European distribution network. Kofax subsequently expanded into text classification, document imaging, business-process management, case management, robotic process automation, electronic signatures, customer communications, and mobile identity-document validation. Acquisitions such as Mohomine, Atalasoft, Singularity, Kapow Software, Softpro, Aia Holding, Nuance Communications' document-imaging division, Top Image Systems, PSIGEN Software, Printix.net, Tungsten Corporation, and Ephesoft broadened the product portfolio. Lexmark acquired Kofax in 2015 for approximately US$1 billion and combined it with Perceptive Software to create a larger enterprise-content and business-process software operation. After Lexmark itself was acquired in 2016, Thoma Bravo purchased Lexmark's Enterprise Software business in 2017. Kofax and ReadSoft were combined within the resulting independent portfolio company. Thoma Bravo owned the company until Clearlake Capital and TA Associates completed their acquisition in 2022. The company acquired Tungsten Corporation in 2022 and subsequently adopted the Tungsten Automation name on January 16, 2024. The rebranding positioned the organization around a broader intelligent-automation proposition rather than its historical Kofax identity. Its software is aimed primarily at enterprises and public-sector organizations seeking to automate document-intensive and repetitive processes, improve data extraction, connect systems, and reduce manual work. Peter Hantman was appointed chief executive officer on July 1, 2025.

Tungsten Automation traces its origins to Kofax Image Products, founded in 1985 by engineers Dean Hough and David Silver. The two founders had worked at FileNet, a company associated with document and information-processing systems. Kofax initially concentrated on circuit boards and related technology that enabled personal computers to perform image-processing tasks. Its first products appeared in 1989, after which the company continued to develop image capture and document-processing capabilities through the 1990s. Kofax became a publicly traded company on Nasdaq in October 1997. In July 1999, UK-based DICOM Group announced an agreement to acquire Kofax Image Products for a reported US$75 million in cash. The transaction was intended to combine Kofax's digital-capture technology with DICOM's European distribution network. David Silver left the chief executive and president roles in 2000 and was succeeded by Arnold von Büren, previously DICOM's deputy chief executive. Rick Murphy became Kofax's chief executive in 2002, while von Büren became chief executive of DICOM Group. The company expanded beyond basic imaging through acquisitions and product development. In 2003, Kofax acquired Mohomine, a developer of automated text classification and extraction technology. DICOM appointed Rob Klatell as chief executive in 2005, and Reynolds Bish replaced him in 2007. In January 2008, DICOM Group and Kofax Image Products were renamed Kofax Inc., consolidating the corporate identity around the Kofax name. During the early 2010s, Kofax broadened its enterprise-software scope. It acquired Atalasoft in 2011, adding the dotImage document-imaging toolkit, and agreed to acquire Singularity for approximately US$48 million later that year. Singularity provided business-process management and case-management capabilities that could be delivered through public or private software-as-a-service environments. In 2013, Kofax added Kapow Software, a robotic process automation provider later associated with Kofax RPA. Kofax returned to the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol KFX in December 2013. In 2014 it acquired Softpro, a Stuttgart-based provider of electronic-signature and signature-verification software. Kofax continued its expansion in 2015. It acquired Aia Holding, a Dutch customer-communications management company, for approximately US$19.5 million in cash. It also introduced Mobile ID, a technology for validating images and capturing proof-of-identity documents in secure workflows such as bank-account opening. On March 24, 2015, Lexmark International agreed to acquire Kofax for approximately US$1 billion, or US$11 per share. Following completion, Kofax was combined with Lexmark's Perceptive Software subsidiary to create a larger business-content and management software unit. Kofax reported approximately US$297 million in revenue for its 2015 fiscal year. Lexmark and its subsidiaries were acquired in 2016 by an investment consortium led by Apex Technology and PAG Asia Capital in a transaction valued at approximately US$3.6 billion. In July 2017, Thoma Bravo acquired Lexmark's Enterprise Software business, including Kofax, ReadSoft, and Perceptive Software. Kofax and ReadSoft were combined into a newly independent Thoma Bravo portfolio company. The company then pursued a series of acquisitions aimed at creating a broader automation platform. In 2018, Kofax announced the acquisition of Nuance Communications' Document Imaging Division, gaining the Power PDF, PaperPort, and OmniPage applications. In 2019 it acquired Top Image Systems. In 2021, it announced acquisitions involving PSIGEN Software, a document-capture software provider, and Printix.net, a cloud-based print-management company. Kofax completed its acquisition of Tungsten Corporation in June 2022 and acquired Ephesoft in August of the same year. Clearlake Capital and TA Associates completed their acquisition of the company from Thoma Bravo in July 2022. On January 16, 2024, Kofax was renamed Tungsten Automation. The new name emphasized the company's wider intelligent-automation strategy and its product coverage across documents, data, business processes, and enterprise workflows. Peter Hantman became chief executive officer on July 1, 2025. The company remains an active privately held enterprise-software provider headquartered in Denver.

1. 2025Peter Hantman becomes chief executive

   Peter Hantman was appointed chief executive officer on July 1.

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2. 2024Kofax becomes Tungsten Automation

   The company changed its name to Tungsten Automation on January 16.

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3. 2022Tungsten Corporation and Ephesoft acquired

   Kofax completed its acquisition of Tungsten Corporation and later completed the acquisition of Ephesoft.

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4. 2018Nuance document-imaging assets added

   Kofax acquired Nuance Communications' Document Imaging Division and added Power PDF, PaperPort, and OmniPage.

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5. 2017Thoma Bravo acquires enterprise-software business

   Thoma Bravo acquired Lexmark's Enterprise Software business, including Kofax, ReadSoft, and Perceptive Software.

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6. 2015Lexmark acquisition completed

   Lexmark acquired Kofax for approximately US$1 billion and combined it with Perceptive Software.

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7. 2013Kapow Software acquired

   Kofax acquired robotic process automation developer Kapow Software and was added to Nasdaq under the KFX symbol.

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8. 2011Atalasoft and Singularity transactions

   Kofax acquired Atalasoft and agreed to acquire Singularity, expanding into document imaging, business-process management, and case management.

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9. 2008Corporate identity consolidated as Kofax

   Kofax Image Products and DICOM Group were renamed Kofax Inc.

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10. 2003Mohomine acquired

    Kofax acquired Mohomine, adding automated text-classification and extraction capabilities.

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11. 1999Acquisition by DICOM Group announced

    DICOM Group announced a reported US$75 million cash acquisition intended to combine Kofax's capture technology with DICOM's European distribution network.

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12. 1997Public-market listing

    Kofax became publicly traded on Nasdaq in October.

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13. 1989First products released

    The company released its first products for computer-based image processing.

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14. 1985Kofax Image Products is founded

    Dean Hough and David Silver founded Kofax Image Products, initially focusing on technology that enabled personal computers to perform image-processing functions.

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Enterprise intelligent-automation provider focused on transforming documents, data, and repetitive workflows into automated business processes.

• Kofax CaptureDocument capture and intelligent document processing

  Kofax Capture represents the company's document-capture heritage. It is associated with collecting documents and information from scanning and other input channels, classifying content, extracting data, and routing it into downstream business systems. The product family supports the automation of document-intensive operations such as invoice handling, claims processing, account opening, and records workflows.

• Kofax TotalAgilityIntelligent automation and business-process management

  Kofax TotalAgility is associated with orchestrating intelligent automation across capture, data extraction, workflow, process management, and analytics. It is positioned for enterprise processes that require a combination of document understanding, human review, rules, integrations, and automated routing rather than a single isolated scanning or recognition task.

• Kofax RPARobotic process automation2013

  Kofax RPA originated from the company's acquisition of Kapow Software. It is designed to automate repetitive, rules-based interactions with websites, applications, and enterprise systems, particularly where existing systems do not offer straightforward integration interfaces. The offering complements document capture and workflow products by automating downstream digital tasks.

• Power PDFPDF productivity and document software

  Power PDF is a PDF creation, editing, conversion, and document-productivity application added to the portfolio through Kofax's acquisition of Nuance Communications' Document Imaging Division. It serves individual and organizational users working with PDF-based business documents and complements the company's broader document-management and automation products.

• PaperPortPersonal document management

  PaperPort is a document-management application acquired from Nuance. It is intended to help users organize, scan, view, and manage electronic documents and digitized paper records. Within the wider Tungsten portfolio, it represents the desktop and small-office end of the company's document-imaging activities.

• OmniPageOptical character recognition

  OmniPage is an optical character recognition application acquired from Nuance's Document Imaging Division. It converts scanned or image-based documents into editable and searchable digital content. The technology aligns with Tungsten Automation's long-standing focus on extracting usable information from paper and image inputs.

• Kofax SignDocElectronic signature

  Kofax SignDoc is associated with electronic signatures and signature verification. The offering grew from Kofax's acquisition of Softpro and supports digital signing processes in workflows where organizations need to collect, verify, and manage signed documents electronically.

• PrintixCloud print management

  Printix is a cloud-based print-management platform acquired by Kofax in 2021. It is intended to manage printing across distributed organizations and cloud-oriented work environments, extending Tungsten's automation portfolio beyond document intake and processing into the administration of document output.

• 2024Rebrand Kofax as Tungsten AutomationStrategy

  The company had expanded well beyond its original document-capture business through acquisitions in robotic process automation, business-process management, signatures, print management, and intelligent document processing.

  What changed. The company changed its name from Kofax to Tungsten Automation on January 16, 2024.

  Aftermath. The new identity emphasized a broader intelligent-automation platform and reduced reliance on the historical Kofax brand.

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• 2022Change private-equity ownershipM&A

  The company had operated as an independent Thoma Bravo portfolio company since the acquisition of Lexmark's Enterprise Software business in 2017.

  What changed. Clearlake Capital and TA Associates completed the acquisition of the company from Thoma Bravo.

  Aftermath. The company continued operating as a privately held enterprise-automation software provider and subsequently adopted the Tungsten Automation name.

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• 2015Accept Lexmark's acquisition offerM&A

  Kofax had expanded from document imaging into broader business-process and information-management software through organic development and acquisitions.

  What changed. Kofax entered into a merger agreement under which Lexmark agreed to purchase its outstanding shares for approximately US$1 billion, or US$11 per share.

  Aftermath. After closing, Kofax was combined with Lexmark's Perceptive Software subsidiary to form a larger enterprise-content and management software unit.

  Acquisition value. Approximately US$1 billion (Announced March 24, 2015)

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• 2025Peter Hantman appointed chief executive officer

  Peter Hantman was appointed chief executive officer of Tungsten Automation on July 1, 2025.

  Leadership change
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• 2024Kofax rebrands as Tungsten Automation

  Kofax adopted the Tungsten Automation name as part of a broader positioning around intelligent automation.

  OtherLeadership change
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• 2022Kofax completes acquisition of Tungsten Corporation

  Kofax completed its acquisition of Tungsten Corporation, adding technologies associated with finance and information workflows.

  M&A
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• 2022Clearlake Capital and TA Associates acquire the company

  Clearlake Capital and TA Associates completed their acquisition of the company from Thoma Bravo.

  M&A
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• 2022Kofax completes acquisition of Ephesoft

  The company completed its acquisition of Ephesoft, strengthening its intelligent document processing and data-extraction portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2021Kofax announces acquisitions of PSIGEN Software and Printix.net

  Kofax announced transactions involving PSIGEN Software and Printix.net, broadening its document-processing and cloud print-management capabilities.

  M&A
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• 2019Kofax acquires Top Image Systems

  The company acquired Top Image Systems, expanding its document-capture and information-processing capabilities.

  M&A
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• 2018Kofax acquires Nuance document-imaging division

  Kofax announced the acquisition of Nuance Communications' Document Imaging Division, adding Power PDF, PaperPort, and OmniPage to its portfolio.

  M&AProduct generation
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• 2017Lexmark Enterprise Software business acquired by Thoma Bravo

  Thoma Bravo acquired Lexmark's Enterprise Software business, including Kofax, ReadSoft, and Perceptive Software, creating an independent private-equity-backed software platform.

  M&A
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• 2015Kofax agrees to be acquired by Lexmark

  Lexmark and Kofax entered into a merger agreement under which Lexmark agreed to acquire Kofax's outstanding shares for approximately US$1 billion.

  M&A
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1. Tungsten Automation