CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
26 June 2009
Implementation Investments
Syncromatics Uses Autodesk Inventor to Provide Smart Transit Information for Riders
Bus riders know when the next bus will arrive and how many passengers are riding thanks to Syncromatics' solar-powered transit signs, developed using Autodesk Inventor software.
Autodesk has named Syncromatics as the Autodesk Inventor of the Month for June 2009 for the company's real-time tracking and intelligent transportation systems. Since running power lines to bus shelters isn't always an option for cities -- or is too cost prohibitive to undertake -- Syncromatics' solar-powered signs represent an efficient new way to bring smart transit information directly to the rider at the bus or shuttle stop.
The Inventor of the Month program recognizes the most innovative design and engineering advancements made by the extensive community using Autodesk Inventor software, which takes manufacturers beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping. With Inventor software, manufacturers can create a single digital model that gives them the ability to design, visualize and simulate products before they are built to reduce the need for physical prototypes.
Syncromatics must design its products to meet the needs of transit agencies across the country and operate in a wide variety of climates -- from extremely cold winters in Philadelphia to seasonal hurricanes in Key West, Fla. The company uses Inventor to understand how its products will operate in these real-world environments -- for example, how much load they will bear and how much variance in movement they can withstand -- before they are deployed in the field.
"Inventor allows us to go straight from digital prototyping to production, without the time and expense of having to create and refine physical prototypes," said Stephen Salazar, chief operating officer of Syncromatics. "We can model a full assembly, see how it's going to perform and catch any mistakes ahead of time before anything has been built. That saves us a lot of time and money and earns customer respect."
Digital Prototyping enables Syncromatics to move quickly and nimbly as an organization, with less development time and faster time to market. This has enabled the company to gather considerable momentum in picking up new clients across the country and expanding service with existing transit agencies and numerous university campuses from California to Florida.
"Syncromatics' focus on developing innovative, customized solutions for transit agencies nationwide is delivering improvements that benefit transit riders and operators alike," said Robert "Buzz" Kross, senior vice president, Manufacturing Industry Group at Autodesk. "Inventor software continues to make a difference in helping green technology companies like Syncromatics deliver their innovations faster with less reliance on costly physical prototypes."
About the Autodesk Inventor of the Month Program
Each month, Autodesk selects an Inventor of the Month from the users of Autodesk Inventor software, which takes manufacturers beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping. For more information about Autodesk Inventor of the Month, contact us at IOM@autodesk.com.
An interview with Syncromatics is available on the Autodesk YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nATuTMSjxoo
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