CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive

2 April 2009

Company News

ESI Group and the PPE Research Center Partner to Further Develop Composite Materials Design and Simulation

ESI Group and the Pôle de Plasturgie de l'Est (PPE), an applied research technology center specialized in composite materials, have signed an agreement to develop an offer covering the entire lifecycle of composite parts and structures manufactured through injection and infusion processes. The goal of this partnership is to provide a complete offering in response to new industry challenges for composite parts and structures development. This joint development aims at offering design and simulation tools to several industries, such as aeronautics, aerospace, transportation, shipbuilding, and wind energy.

The offering includes several of ESI Group’s composite simulation solutions and the PPE’s RTM PROCESS 2 software suite. RTM PROCESS 2, consisting of a permeability database and tools for pre-sizing and for technical and financial studies, will reinforce ESI Group’s composite simulation platform. This platform consists of solutions for mechanical analysis (SYSPLY) and virtual prototyping (PAM-CRASH, PAM-SHOCK), PAM-QUIKFORM software, PAM-FORM for pre-forming, and PAM-RTM software for RTM (Resin Transfer Molding) injection and infusion.

Engineering services offered by ESI Group and the PPE include software training and research to assist customers in the development of RTM injection and infusion processes. Thanks to this partnership, customers can now benefit from a more comprehensive services offering that includes crash simulation, composite parts impact, sizing simulation, as well as mold design and process development. These are a fundamental part of the PPE’s offering, which has a recognized expertise validated by more than 500 technology transfers around the world.

“The joint approach being established responds to a market need. This ESI Group/PPE platform will either work independently or be integrated into a PLM design platform. For the first time in the composites arena, the conceptual approach will be carried from the beginning to the end, from the part’s design with all the technical-economical constraints to the end of its life,” said Jean-Pierre Cauchois, Technical Director at the PPE. He added: “This is a world premiere in the revolutionary adoption of composite materials to lighten structures.”

“When dealing with composite materials, the characteristics and performance of the part are closely related to the material properties. The ESI Composite platform is based on this core characteristic: the material properties are tracked and transported through each step of the lifecycle: design, manufacturing, and ultimately usage, possibly involving an accident scenario. The result is a series of realistic simulations that allow you to rely even more on simulation when making decisions,” said Patrick de Luca, Composite Solution Manager at ESI Group. “The PPE’s expertise, allied to ESI Group’s knowledge of materials, will allow users to benefit from an End-to-End composite solution based on 30 years of experience.”

ESI Group and the PPE have already started to work on a new memorandum of understanding to integrate this new offer with a PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) simulation platform for injection and infusion technologies. This platform will bring significant productivity increase and opportunities for greater design optimization.

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