CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
3 March 2009
Implementation Investments
Autodesk Names ADEPT Airmotive as Inventor of the Year for 2008
Autodesk has named ADEPT Airmotive, a South Africa-based manufacturer of general aviation engines for the light aircraft market, the Autodesk Inventor of the Year for 2008.
ADEPT relied on Autodesk Inventor software--the foundation of the Autodesk solution for Digital Prototyping --to develop the 320T, a 320-horsepower general aviation engine with a compact design that offers low vibration levels and high structural integrity. The 350-pound engine is more than 130 pounds lighter than a traditional piston engine of comparable horsepower, allowing the 320T to reap fuel savings of about 30 percent and decrease environmental impact.
Members of the Autodesk manufacturing community voted for the 2008 Inventor of the Year on the Autodesk community web site. Named Inventor of the Month for March 2008, ADEPT won the competition in a landslide, receiving nearly two-thirds of the votes cast.
"The fact that our peers voted us into the winning position makes the award even more gratifying," said Richard Schulz, managing director of ADEPT.
"We're thrilled to demonstrate that South African engineering is world-class as part of the global exposure that accompanies this prestigious award."
Digital Prototyping Powers Engine Design
Inventor software's Digital Prototyping capabilities helped ADEPT produce accurate 3D models of the 320T before anything was actually built, reducing the number of physical prototypes that needed to be constructed. Processes that once took hours--such as changing the wall thickness of an engine component--were completed almost instantaneously with Inventor software. As a result, engineers were able to spend less time constructing geometric models and more time creating innovative designs, and then simulating the performance of the designs under real-world conditions.
"ADEPT distinguished itself from a very accomplished field of nominees in 2008," said Robert "Buzz" Kross, senior vice president, Manufacturing Industry Group at Autodesk. "ADEPT earned the praise of the manufacturing community for its groundbreaking engine, and we are pleased with the role that Digital Prototyping was able to play in developing the innovative 320T."
About the Autodesk Inventor of the Month Program
Each month, Autodesk selects an Inventor of the Month from the more than 800,000 users of Autodesk Inventor software, the foundation for Digital Prototyping. Winners are chosen for engineering excellence and groundbreaking innovation. For more information about Autodesk Inventor of the Month, contact us at IOM@autodesk.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.