CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
11 November 2008
Implementation Investments
Autodesk and CDW Government, Inc. Partner to Revitalize Iraqi Manufacturing Industry
Autodesk, Inc. and CDW Government, Inc. announced they have partnered with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to provide software and hardware solutions to the Iraqi-based manufacturing firm Heavy Engineering Equipment State Company (HEESCO).
The technology provided by Autodesk and CDW-G will help HEESCO’s engineers bring their technology infrastructure up-to-date, enabling more efficient design and production of commercially used electromechanical industrial equipment and contributing to the Iraqi government’s articulated goal of transitioning the Iraqi economy from a state-owned to an open-market model.
The DoD’s decision to assist in providing the software and hardware came after an evaluation of 57 Iraqi businesses that were considered best suited to help the country achieve long-term economic growth and stability. The project was sponsored by the Task Force to Improve Business and Stability Operations in Iraq, which works to reduce unemployment and bolster the Iraqi economy.
HEESCO will use AutoCAD software and Autodesk Inventor software to better automate its design process by migrating paper and pencil drafting documents into 3D digital models. Inventor software – the foundation of the Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping – will enable the company to virtually design and simulate machinery, car parts and heavy equipment before the product is built, saving both time and money from costly re-designs. The company will also be able to more easily share designs among themselves and with customers.
“Autodesk is one of the first U.S. technology companies to provide software to a company that will help the Iraqi people rebuild their manufacturing industry,” said Bill Goodson, vice president, Autodesk Government. “HEESCO joins companies from around the world who use Autodesk solutions to quickly bring their designs to life.”
HEESCO will modernize its data center and desktops with HP and APC hardware provided by CDW-G that will maximize the engineers’ design capabilities, streamline data center management and provide storage functionality. CDW-G, in cooperation with the Task Force, configured, installed and shipped an APC NetShelter® server rack complete with an APC Smart-UPS® (Uninterruptible Power Supply) and an HP ProLiant DL320 Storage Server backed up by an HP StorageWorks Ultrium 960-FC tape library. The server supports 40 HP xw4600 Workstations equipped with 80 GB hot-swappable hard drives and Intel Core 2 Duo processors for optimal flexibility and power. The CDW-G-configured workstations also include the Microsoft XP operating system, as well as high-end NVDIA Quadro graphics boards and 20-inch LCD monitors.
“Savvy use of new technology is vital for companies like HEESCO to prosper,” said Sami Zarzour, vice president, Public Sector Volume Sales, HP. “HP storage solutions and workstation computers, which are ideal for designing in AutoCAD, will enable the plant to design cutting-edge products that can compete in the global marketplace.”
“Choosing the right hardware is paramount to maximizing the capabilities of Iraq’s professional engineering capabilities,” said Andy Lausch, senior director of Federal sales for CDW-G. “Working with the DoD, CDW-G evaluated HEESCO’s specific needs to provide the data center and workstation equipment that would facilitate the quickest up-time, the right processing power, and convenient scalability – all of which will aid the Iraqi engineers in designing modern pressure vessels, circuit boards, pipes and other industrial equipment to meet the needs of Iraqi businesses today.”
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.