CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
12 March 2009
Implementation Investments
ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd. Adopts Altair's HyperWorks Enterprise Simulation Solution for Automotive Chassis Design
Altair Engineering, Inc. announced that ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd. has adopted the HyperWorks CAE platform as an enterprise simulation solution for design, optimization and virtual manufacturing of their automotive chassis components. The flexibility of HyperWorks has proved instrumental in the design of chassis components, subframes and suspension arms in which optimization has been used throughout to improve component performance while maximizing efficient material utilization. ThyssenKrupp Tallent's HyperWorks decision has also allowed them to take full advantage of Altair's HyperWorks Enabled Partner Program. As a new HyperWorks Enabled Community Member, ThyssenKrupp Tallent has access to participating partner solutions including nCode's DesignLife, their preferred fatigue analysis solution, directly from their existing HyperWorks licence pool at no incremental cost. This not only improves operational efficiency through reduced software licensing cost and administration, but also demonstrates the power of the HyperWorks licensing system in a challenging and highly competitive global market. www.enterprisecae.com.
In addition to adopting HyperWorks, ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd. works closely with Altair ProductDesign, Altair's product development division, to create process templates to automate the design of optimal structures. The result of this cooperation is ThyssenKrupp's unique eDICT system, which, when combined with HyperWorks, has allowed ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd. to increase productivity and deliver lighter products to their clients in much shorter timescales.
"We see an increasing need for optimization tools within the automotive industry," said Adrian Chapple, Analysis Supervisor at ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd. "Cars have to become lighter due to new laws concerning CO2 emission and the need to reduce fuel consumption. The use of advanced optimization techniques helps to eliminate parasitic mass -- potentially avoiding considerations of exotic materials or processes which may add cost or risk to the program. In Altair, we see a partner that can help us to meet those requests. By using HyperWorks we are able to define an optimized component before we build the geometry of a model in our CAD system. Using this approach we have reduced the mass of certain components by up to 25% compared to a conventional design. We have also benefited greatly from the HyperWorks Enabled Partner Program because it gives us access to additional products at no additional cost and helps us to reduce development time. These benefits we can pass on to our customers."
"Our analysts find the HyperWorks platform is very easy to use and the HyperMesh interface enables them to build a full geometry model up to an initial design," adds Tom Larsen, Design Manager, ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd. "In companies such as ours, the design and analysis functions are linked closely together. Where the market demands a quick response to a study and the product requirement is primarily structural, it is important to have the analysis tools that enable the engineer to present a solution, not just a result. Thanks to the ThyssenKrupp eDICT solution, we can look at the entire design and development process, up to checking the feasibility of a design for production, within one software package. The software built around the HyperWorks suite allows us to bring our products to market faster with a 'right-first-time approach'."
"Weight optimization is key in all industries, but especially in the automotive industry where OEMs are looking to optimize every single component in a vehicle to come to the lightest and best possible result," said Maurice Linscott, Regional Director, Altair Engineering, UK. "With the open architecture of HyperWorks coupled with our partner products in the HyperWorks Enabled Partner Program and the support of Altair ProductDesign, automotive OEMs and suppliers such as ThyssenKrupp Tallent Ltd. have a complete solution to handle all relevant simulation tasks for developing their products in a timely and cost effective manner."
For more information about the HyperWorks Enabled Partner Program, visit http://www.hyperworkscommunity.com.
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