CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive

24 May 2004

Implementation Investments

SolidWorks-Designed Bumpers, Cart Corrals, and Beans Sprouting up at a Supermarket near You

Salem, Mass.-based McCue ( http://www.mccuecorp.com ) chose SolidWorks ( http://www.solidworks.com ) to switch from static 2D drawings to dynamic 3D models so that it could speed its products to customers such as Wal-Mart, The Home Depot, Winn Dixie, Shaw's, Albertson's, and Ahold. For more than 15 years, McCue Corporation has provided protective and decorative bumper and shopping cart management systems specifically designed for customers in the retail industry. It designs, manufactures, and sells the plastic bumper systems that prevent shopping and stocking carts from damaging walls and fixtures such as refrigerators and checkout counters. It also makes outdoor cart corrals and the Bean products, which combine full-capacity shopping carts with an easy-to-maneuver toy car that safely transports children while entertaining them.

"We're very customer driven because our customers' requirements are extremely specific, based upon aisle and checkout counter width, turning radius, and other mechanical considerations," said Adam Stevens, industrial designer at McCue. "And we deal with tolerances in fractions of an inch to match injection molded components for a smooth surface. SolidWorks lets us visualize our concepts and quickly overcome the challenges that aesthetics and in-store dimensions present."

Stevens and his team used SolidWorks to design and refine the models for Sprout, the smaller version of Bean that has modular basket sizes and is designed for stores with tighter spaces, such as CVS/pharmacy. SolidWorks enabled the engineers to identify and fix part collisions and test fits for internal assemblies prior to production to ensure durability and safety. The software also automated changes throughout the design, saving time and further reducing the risk of manufacturing errors. According to Stevens, sending 3D models to the manufacturing team significantly reduced the number of design reviews, edits, and questions that delay production, while accelerating quality control processes. McCue cut 20 percent from its normal product development time (including hand modeling and design iterations in 2D) for the Sprout using SolidWorks software.

McCue uses SolidWorks' eDrawingsT e-mail-enabled design communication tool to share 3D product models with colleagues, suppliers, manufacturers, and customers. It also uses PhotoWorksT and SolidWorks Animator to enhance design communication, sales, and marketing programs by presenting rich, 3D models of its products in its brochures. The company also uses SolidWorks exploded views to generate easy-to-follow assembly instructions.

McCue Corporation works with SolidWorks reseller CADD Edge for ongoing software training, implementation, and support.

CADD Edge is the developer of the Mechanical Engineering Productivity MachineT. For more information on CADD Edge, please contact the company at (508) 475-2900 or visit http://www.caddedge.com

 

Become a member of the CIMdata PLM Community to receive your daily PLM news and much more.

Tell us what you think of the CIMdata Newsletter. Send your feedback.

CIMdata is committed to your privacy. Your personal information will never be sold or shared outside of CIMdata without your express permission.

Subscribe