Zurich, Switzerland, November 18, 2010: AutoForm Engineering GmbH, the leading supplier of software solutions for the sheet metal forming industry and a member of the Dassault Systèmes software partner program, has announced a new project in collaboration with Volkswagen. The main goal of this project is to develop an advanced software product for die face design that enables users to rapidly create CAD quality die faces, which are required for CNC machining. The product under development is called AutoForm-ProcessDesignerforCATIA and will be available on the market in 2012.
Despite the widespread use of different CAD systems in engineering, such systems alone are not suited to fully and efficiently support all necessary stages of the sheet metal forming engineering process. This is particularly evident during the tool design stage, when a die layout for the complete sheet metal forming process has to be defined and validated. Both AutoForm and Volkswagen were interested in the development of a product tailored to the needs of process engineers. This product enables users to create CAD quality die faces in the CATIA environment while at the same time provides sophisticated functionalities for fast die face design. As a result, the two companies decided to combine their know-how and professional competence and began a new, three-year development project in 2009.
Volkswagen’s initiative was substantial for this successful joint project. Volkswagen started the project by offering its profound know-how in the tool design and application fields and by writing the general specifications. AutoForm as the software partner joined the project by providing its experience in process design, process simulation and analysis. The result of this joint project is a new product: AutoForm-ProcessDesignerforCATIA. In order to ensure that the new product covers the various needs of the automotive industry, AutoForm also collaborates with other OEMs such as Volvo. The first stage of the project has already been successfully completed with the delivery of a pre-release version of the new product. The collaboration between AutoForm and Volkswagen continues to evolve, and the finalized product is set to be available on the market in 2012.
AutoForm-ProcessDesignerforCATIA will bring tangible benefits to its users. It is fully integrated in the CATIA V5 environment and offers a new level of user friendliness and speed. The benefits further include company-wide standardization and transparency, data consistency, fast creation of CAD quality die faces, as well as valuable engineering process support by automatic update functions.
Ken Short, VP Strategy and Marketing, SIMULIA, Dassault Systèmes, stated: ”This project combines AutoForm’s expertise in sheet metal forming process simulation with the powerful design functionalities of CATIA V5. CATIA users will greatly benefit from AutoForm’s new product. It allows them to create the die layout, which includes not only deep drawing, but also all subsequent forming operations, without having to leave the CATIA environment. As a result, CATIA’s position in the tooling field will be strengthened.”
”Our joint projects are examples of how distinguished leaders in their respective fields can successfully combine and turn their know-how into substantial value. The most attractive benefits for our customers are the company-wide standardization in process engineering and a significant reduction in time needed to create CAD quality die faces, which can immediately be used for CNC machining. AutoForm-ProcessDesignerforCATIA is the result of an innovative, unique approach in process design and will greatly facilitate daily work in tool design departments globally”, added Dr. Markus Thomma, Corporate Marketing Director of AutoForm Engineering.
About Volkswagen Group
The Volkswagen Group, with its headquarters in Wolfsburg is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. The Group is made up of nine brands from seven European countries: Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, Škoda, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Scania. The Group operates 61 production plants in fifteen European countries and a further six countries in the Americas, Asia and Africa. Around the world, nearly 370,000 employees produce about 26,000 vehicles or are involved in vehicle-related services each working day. The Volkswagen Group sells its vehicles in more than 153 countries. It is the goal of the Group to offer attractive, safe and environmentally sound vehicles which are competitive on an increasingly tough market and which set world standards in their respective classes. For detailed information please visit: www.volkswagen.com
About Dassault Systèmes
As a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, Dassault Systèmes brings value to more than 115,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systèmes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance to recycling. The Dassault Systèmes portfolio consists of CATIA for designing the virtual product – SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design – DELMIA for virtual production – SIMULIA for virtual testing – ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, and 3DVIA for online 3D lifelike experiences. For more information, visit www.3ds.com.
CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA, SolidWorks, and 3D VIA are registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or other countries.
About AutoForm Engineering GmbH
AutoForm offers software solutions for the die-making and sheet metal forming industries along the entire process chain. With over 200 employees, AutoForm is recognized as the leading provider of software for product manufacturability, tool and material cost calculation, die face design and virtual process optimization. All of the Top 20 automotive OEMs and most of their suppliers have selected AutoForm as their software of choice. Besides its headquarters in Switzerland, AutoForm has offices in Germany, The Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, USA, Mexico, India, China, Japan and Korea. AutoForm is also present through its agents in more than 15 other countries. For detailed information please visit: www.autoform.com
Contact:
Dr. Markus Thomma
Corporate Marketing Director
AutoForm Engineering GmbH
Switzerland
Phone: +41 43 444 61 61
Email: markus.thomma@autoform.ch
www.autoform.ch