Product category:
Manufacturing Information Technology systems
News Release from: Autodesk | Subject: Design and process automation software
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 28 February 2006
Handling equipment maker seeks seamless
workflow
Buk materials handling system manufacturer has chosen to standardise on the design and process automation software in the UK, USA and India to help reach its 'ultimate vision' of a seamless workflow.
Autodesk's practical and incremental approach to design and data management has led one of Europe's leading suppliers of plant for handling bulk materials to invest in Autodesk Inventor and Autodesk Productstream The Stock group has chosen to standardise on the design and process automation solution at its offices and production facilities in the UK, USA and India to help reach its 'ultimate vision' of a seamless workflow from front-end configuration through to production
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 14 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
CAD improves shop floor/design communications
Autodesk reported that a manufacturer of movable wall systems is using Inventor software to improve the communication of designs to the shop floor and aid marketing.
Autodesk teaches automotive design to students
Coventry Universityhas selected Autodesk Alias Studio for its new Centre of Excellence in Product and Automotive Design (CEPAD), achieving an exceptional level of animation.
Inventor was chosen after a year and a half of market evaluation by Stock Redler in the UK.
A competitive total engineering solution was also in the running, but Stock Redler operations director, Ian Woolf, explained: "We decided we wanted to do things in a planned, gradual way.
We needed to learn to walk before we could run." He said: "Because Autodesk Inventor Series includes the latest version of AutoCAD Mechanical as well as Inventor itself, we can stage our migration to 3D according to the project and skills available.
Further reading
Digital systems reduce prototypes manufacture
'Best-in-class' manufacturers make fewer prototypes owing to the growing sophistication of mainstream manufacturing design software, said Mike Lucas.
Data management for BOC Edwards
Autodesk Productstream to manage data from BOC Edward's overseas sites producing non-standard systemised products
Collaboration extended across project teams
With Autodesk, users have access to review designs both online and offline anytime and anywhere
This will enable us to minimise any downtime." Woolf added: "We also plan to implement the Productstream data management solution in stages, beginning with the work-in-progress module.
Eventually we will probably link this to our MRP system, but we can now do this when we are ready rather than rushing into it." Woolf said that the decision was also swayed by the fact that Inventor was the most cost-effective choice, because of the excellent support and flexibility of the Autodesk engineers and also because of the Autodesk name itself.
"The whole world uses Autodesk products and it is very reassuring that the transfer of our legacy data from AutoCAD won't be an issue." Now Woolf predicts significant productivity gains through using Inventor.
"Its visualisation capability, design acceleration, centre of gravity calculations, automatic weight generation and parametrics will all help us to work quicker and capture knowledge as we go.
Once we have drawn the basic models, the parametrics will help us maximise the use of our core components.
For example, we often need to add liners or change the plate thickness and this can now be done so much quicker." Woolf's team is already working on the design and development of a new Redler chain conveyor using the 3D tools.
"I am able to easily bring in standard 3D components from sub-contractors and suppliers which is also helping to speed up the work," he said.
Kevin Ison, Autodesk sales director, Manufacturing Solutions Division, commented: "Stock Redler is typical of many companies that do not want the upheaval an 'all or nothing' total IT solution can bring.
By choosing this step-by-step approach, it will begin to see immediate benefits without any drop in productivity." * About Autodesk - Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) is wholly focused on ensuring that great ideas are turned into reality.
With six million users, Autodesk is the world's leading software and services company for the building, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital media, and wireless data services fields.
Autodesk's solutions help customers create, manage, and share their data and digital assets more effectively.
As a result, customers turn ideas into competitive advantage by becoming more productive, streamlining project efficiency, and maximising profits. Request a free brochure from Autodesk ...
• Autodesk: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
