CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
7 March 2005
Product News
Actify Announces SpinFire for Microsoft Office; Provides Access to 2D/3D Design Information Directly from Microsoft Office Programs
Actify® Inc. announced SpinFireT for Microsoft® Office. SpinFire for Microsoft Office is a plug-in application that works with Microsoft Office allowing knowledge workers to leverage Actify's .3D file format to easily embed and widely distribute 2D and 3D CAD design data across the enterprise.
With the release of SpinFire for Microsoft Office, users can now leverage design information in common, everyday tasks by delivering CAD information into Office documents for quoting & estimating, technical publications, manufacturing specifications and supplier collaboration materials. Users have access to 2D and interactive 3D design information, both graphical and textual, from Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, without having to access the native CAD system or knowing how to use a CAD system.
"The exchange of design information has typically been a major pain point for manufacturing enterprises," said Don Richardson, director, manufacturing industry unit at Microsoft. "SpinFire for Microsoft Office brings a new level of collaboration to the enterprise and is a great example of how ISV's are leveraging the Microsoft Office platform to allow product design information to be exchanged easily within the context of an already familiar application suite."
The release of SpinFire for Microsoft Office complements The Actify Suite of Products helping companies manage the digital design communication process. The full suite of products includes Actify Publisher 2005, the automated creator of the .3D files; Actify Server, the repository to manage and share the files; SpinFire Professional, to view, measure and markup CAD files; SpinFire Reader, the free viewer that allows users to share .3D files created with SpinFire Professional in a view-only format; and now SpinFire for Microsoft Office, allowing access to 2D and 3D design data from within Microsoft Office applications.
"SpinFire for Microsoft Office is a strategic addition to our product suite, rounding out the product offering, while allowing everyone throughout the enterprise and supply chain, regardless of their technical aptitude, access to 2D & 3D CAD data from within the Microsoft Office applications they already use in their day to day processes," said Randy Ochs, president and CEO of Actify Inc. "The availability of this new product breaks down the traditional barriers that have made it difficult for information or knowledge workers to access the valuable 3D and 2D design data easily without needing the native CAD applications or any additional training."
With SpinFire for Microsoft Office users now can:
Access 2D and 3D CAD design information directly from Microsoft Office
Repurpose design information by embedding it directly within the Microsoft Office documents to complete tasks integral to the product lifecycle (i.e. quoting and estimating, technical documentation, product specifications, manuals and more)
Gain easier access and greater visibility of complex design data across the enterprise and supply chain
Improve accuracy through direct access to the product and meta data stored in the native CAD files
Achieve greater efficiency with easy communication of CAD data without needing native CAD systems or understanding how to use them
Additional Microsoft Office applications will be considered for inclusion in SpinFire for Microsoft Office later this year. Actify has already developed a Visio plug-in for Microsoft Japan for use in a pilot program with a large Japanese manufacturing customer. It was created so manufacturers could embed 3D models directly into Visio to allow the shop floor, in Japanese manufacturing companies, to easily access and review 2D and 3D product designs, ensuring that the correct tools and parts are created.
Actify's suite of products are designed to enable easy and secure access, communication and distribution of multiple 2D/3D CAD file formats, and related documents through global enterprises and supply chains, without requiring access to native CAD systems. This allows for paperless distribution of complex design data so companies will realize cost savings and productivity gains in product design, procurement, quoting and estimation, manufacturing, sales, marketing and support.
SpinFire for Microsoft Office will be available in late April and will sell for US$299. For more information or to purchase SpinFire for Microsoft Office, please visit http://www.actify.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.