CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
20 January 2009
Implementation Investments
Felder Accelerates Design of Woodworking Machines with SolidWorks Software and 3DVIA Composer
Austrian Felder KG, a manufacturer of woodworking machines and tools, has chosen 3DVIA Composer as its documentation solution, Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. (DS SolidWorks) announced. Felder, which has used SolidWorks® 3D CAD software for seven years, is now deploying 3DVIA Composer to create and edit assembly documentation, generate exploded drawings of SolidWorks assemblies, and develop bills of material for assembly purposes. Thanks to SolidWorks and 3DVIA Composer, Felder remains competitive in a woodworking machine market facing intense price pressure. Since Felder switched from 2D to 3D CAD software in 2001, it has shortened design processes by up to 30 percent. In addition, SolidWorks and 3DVIA Composer save the company material and components, delivering designs that are optimized for assembly.
Headquartered in Hall, Tyrol, the family-owned business manufactures woodworking machines and tools for a wide range of do-it-yourself enthusiasts, small woodworking companies, large carpentries, and industrial enterprises. Its globally marketed brands include FELDER, FORMAT-4, and HAMMER.
“Aesthetics, short design processes, and high-quality products are very important to us,” said Engineer Robert Tratter, development manager at Felder KG. “SolidWorks is a reliable partner in all these areas. When the SolidWorks partner planetsoftware drew our attention to 3DVIA Composer, our previously installed documentation solution didn’t have a chance, because it was an isolated application. 3DVIA Composer allows us to create and edit assembly documentation directly within SolidWorks. The tight compatibility is a huge benefit that gives us both direct and precise data transfers and accelerated design workflows.”
SolidWorks and 3DVIA Composer software have enabled Felder to establish a seamless design process and create a wide range of valuable drawing/model derivatives, including bills of material, spare parts lists, design review documents, and the 3D data for CAM systems and 3D measuring machines.
The improved visualization and the option to create virtual prototypes has considerably reduced the error rate in the design process, according to Tratter. Another advantage is the design of configurations. “Each component needs just one data file that can be used in many different assemblies,” Tratter said. “This eases the modification and maintenance of the entire range of products.”
Felder’s customers benefit from clearly and intuitively arranged repair and service instructions as well as from photorealistic renderings and animations that explain the use of machines and tools.
“Felder fully benefits from the interaction between SolidWorks and 3DVIA Composer,” said Axel Spitzer, regional sales manager, central European countries, at DS SolidWorks. “Its customers are looking for high-precision machines and tools at competitive prices, which require design and documentation tools that shorten design cycles and optimize manufacturing processes. SolidWorks and 3DVIA Composer meet these requirements — today and tomorrow.”
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