Industry Summary Articles

3D seems to be the tech topic of the year in Canada's western provinces and the nation's own Javelin Technologies is leading the charge, partnering with creative engineers in sectors such as agriculture, oil and gas, water purification, manufacturing, health care, and education. Known across Canada for working alongside designers to help turn their concepts into reality, Javelin has gathered its nationwide team this week to learn, network, strategize, and socialize, and to celebrate all it has achieved since the purchase of Automated Design Systems (ADS). That move, in April 2013, gave Javelin four new locations and an established team in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg. Javelin's head office is just west of Toronto in Oakville, Ontario and it has an eastern Canada hub in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Intensely focused on training and ongoing support, Javelin is a Certified Reseller for SolidWorks® computer-aided design (CAD) software and a full range of Stratasys 3D printers that can produce finely detailed, true-to-life

Using Social Engagement to Drive Innovation Megan Pukala, Assistant Brand Manager, Fortune 500 company Innovation drives competitive advantage for today’s leading companies by seeding both the products and services that accelerate top-line growth as well as the cost and organizational efficiencies that deliver the bottom line. However, the large scale of these leading companies often includes processes and checkpoints that can slow the pace of innovation. One way big organizations have used “small” thinking to seed more disruptive and more frequent innovation is by encouraging and better-enabling employees to explore their own business-driving ideas outside of standard leadership-driven channels. In her talk, Megan Pukala will share her experience engaging employee minds across all levels to create ideas for a major category and brand. Megan will also discuss the collaborative backbone and the social platform used to facilitate ideation.

Megan Pukala, Assistant Brand Manager, Fortune 500 company Megan Pukala received a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University and more recently completed her MBA from The University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. Megan resides in Cincinnati, OH, and was recognized as one of the city’s 40 Great Leaders Under 40 by Venue Magazine. Professionally, Megan works in brand management for a Fortune 500 company.  

Cadimage, the developers of several ArchiCAD add-ons, have today announced their move to a subscription-based model, allowing their tools to be licensed on a low monthly fee. Customers will now have access to seven ArchiCAD add-ons including Doors+Windows,Stairs and Cabinets for just US$49 per month with no contract. To put this in perspective, the purchase of all Cadimage Tools would have previously cost in excess of US$3,300 over 3 years if upgraded yearly. Now access to the same tools over the same timeframe will cost little over half that. The subscription model also provides customers with the flexibility to only pay for what they need, as license quantities and plan types can be changed (or cancelled) at any time according to internal demands. Over the last 18 months Cadimage have undertaken a number of changes behind the scenes to provide the platform for this new Subscription model. In addition to being able to provide their tools

Mentor Graphics Corporation announced financial results for the company’s fiscal second quarter ended July 31, 2014. The company reported revenues of $260.2 million, non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.23, and GAAP earnings per share of $0.13. “System design strength, particularly with automotive customers, drove the second quarter with earnings solidly beating guidance,” said Walden C. Rhines, chairman and CEO of Mentor Graphics. “The automotive industry is in transition from mechanical to electronic differentiation and the rate of change is accelerating. Electronic content in vehicles is about 40 percent of the cost of a car. This is yielding considerable opportunities for Mentor. Second quarter automotive strength was broad, with orders for wire harness, embedded software and AUTOSAR tools and products.” During the quarter the company announced two acquisitions: XS Embedded, which has automotive-grade software and hardware to accelerate the start of production, and positions Mentor well to address integration of advanced driver assistance

Graphics Systems Corp. unveils plans for their annual premiere events featuring the newest release of SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD Engineering Software and customer appreciation events. The Graphics Systems team will introduce the SOLIDWORKS 2015 release and demonstrate how new tools, enhancements, and integrated solutions make the design process more productive. This year’s seminars feature exclusive presentations on new features and enhancements of the SOLIDWORKS 2015 Suite, a showcase of the latest engineering applications and technology, and a 3D Printing seminar discussing integration and practical applications.  Following the SOLIDWORKS 2015 Premiere, attendees are invited to an appreciation luncheon. There will also be opportunities for networking and a time for specific question and answers with top SOLIDWORKS engineers and users in the area. Events are held from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on the following dates: October 1, 2014 at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery in Madison, WI with a complimentary luncheon to follow with giveaways

ICAM Technologies Corporation announces that it will launch *Integrated PSE V21, the latest version of its integrated Post-processing, Simulation & Emulation software, at IMTS 2014 (Booth: E-3217). Inside a single software platform, Integrated PSE provides a unique environment for Post-processing, Simulation and Emulation (for G-Code) that interfaces with the most popular CAD/CAM/PLM systems, CNC controllers and machine tools on the market. Integrated PSE V21 features SmartPATH(TM), patent pending software created to optimize positioning tool paths during post-processing and simulation. SmartPATH provides savings both in CNC run-time positioning and in CAD/CAM tool path preparation. Rapid positioning motions generated by CAD/CAM software do not take into account machine tool kinematics, work piece setup and travel limitations and therefore, place the burden of responsibility for safe and efficient positioning onto the NC programmer. SmartPATH identifies inefficient and unsafe positioning motions and automatically replaces them with optimized collision-free safe motions based on the actual machine tool kinematics, physical

The exciting new functionality in Edgecam 2014 R2, which begins to show how Workflow will become the default method for using the game-changing software, will be highlighted at North America’s largest manufacturing technology exhibition – IMTS, from September 8 to 13. Part of the Vero Software Group, Edgecam Workflow’s unparalleled ease-of-use and sophisticated toolpath generation provides a one-stop solution for milling, turning and mill-turn machining. It is specifically designed for manufacturers to reduce costs, improve quality and achieve shorter lead times. Because the system understands the component topology and the required manufacturing environment, toolpath generation is accelerated. Edgecam Workflow has a significant impact on shortening programming time, and because it is simple to operate the learning curve for new users is considerably reduced. Visitors to the Vero booth – E-3114 at the McCormick Place complex in Chicago – will see for themselves that Edgecam Workflow represents a significant change in the way that

United Technologies Corp. has executed a licensing agreement with CGTech, a specialist in computer numerical control (CNC) simulation software for manufacturing, that will help improve productivity for machining equipment operators. The agreement allows CGTech to integrate UTC's PromptFMTM machining process optimization technology within CGTech's VERICUT cutting process simulation software. PromptFM, developed by UTC, is a physics- and mathematics-based modeling software designed to optimize machining rates for machined parts within aerospace, automotive, industrial and other markets that utilize automated machining. PromptFM seeks to determine the optimum speeds for a cutting process and make the CNC machine cut in the most efficient, fast and reliable way, based on the type of material being cut. The software was created by UTC specifically to be compatible with VERICUT, which is used throughout the CNC machining industry to simulate the cutting process to detect errors, potential collisions or areas of inefficiency. The licensing agreement will enable the development of

Microsol Resources Corporation is pleased to announce the addition of Asite to its growing association of Technology Partners. Asite’s cloud technology gives everyone involved in construction projects access to key information online; allowing for increased collaboration, fewer mistakes, reduced rework, and time and cost savings. Asite’s Adoddle platform allows firms to store and manage all of their project data in one central and secure repository. It also enables customers to fully customize the structure of their content with highly controlled access and rich configurable workflows to allow project controls. The Adoddle platform is used by leading architecture, engineering, construction firms as well as property owners worldwide to manage their largest and most demanding capital investment programs. “We are thrilled to be able to partner with Asite to provide our customers with a superb product for project information, data management and collaboration”, said Emilio Krausz, President of Microsol Resources. “Our customers have been