PLM changes the face of coal plant design

An IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team May 17, 2005

Using Catia V5 and Enovia engineers at Farnham and Pfile are now able to design and build a coal-processing plant very differently than they would have a decade ago.

Farnham and Pfile, a turnkey engineering and contracting company that specialises in complex coal and power industry plant projects, now relies on PLM solutions from IBM and Dassault Systemes to streamline the design, operation and construction of high-capacity coal processing plants, thus achieving concrete business benefits.

Using Catia V5 and Enovia, both IBM PLM solutions developed by Dassault Systemes, engineers at Farnham and Pfile are now able to design and build a coal-processing plant very differently than they would have a decade ago.

Using the virtual design review capabilities of Enovia, before a project physically commences, engineers and clients are able to meet at regular intervals and interact inside a perfect 3D rendering.

With the virtual product design capabilities of Catia V5 and the product data management applications of Enovia, Farnham and Pfile can now collaborate better with partners and resolve potential problems in complex projects up front, more quickly and effectively.

Process plant design and construction represent multimillion-dollar investments.

Like new-product developments, plants have a lifecycle.

Catia V5 and Enovia enable Farnham and Pfile and its customers to leverage their investments to reduce costs and maximise efficiencies all along the lifecycle of the plant, from design to maintenance and upgrades of existing plants.

For Farnham and Pfile, the inherent efficiencies of an Enovia/Catia 3D PLM environment have had a big impact on the company's ability to attract and retain clients.

"The $300,000 investment we made in Catia and Enovia virtual product design and product data management applications has helped this company repeatedly compete for and win big design contracts", said Tom Porterfield, Vice President of Operations, Farnham and Pfile.

"Enovia helps us nail the design with few mistakes and reduce supplier costs by 30%".

"The potential to correct mistakes early in the process can definitely save us and our clients money and time".

"Like many of its industrial equipment suppliers who have been using IBM PLM solutions, Farnham and Pfile has entered a new world of extended enterprise collaboration and value chain integration incomparable to the past", said Walter Donaldson, Vice President, IBM PLM Americas.

"We are very excited about helping them pioneer this breakthrough business model from which they are already reaping concrete business benefits".

"Farnham and Pfile's use of Catia and Enovia illustrates the tremendous impact that our PLM solutions can have on an enterprise of any size and industry", said Joel Lemke, CEO, Enovia Corp and General Manager, PLM Americas, Dassault Systemes.

"In addition to driving innovative operational processes internally, Farnham and Pfile is also extending these innovative processes to its suppliers and partners".

"By increasing the number of engineers and suppliers using Catia V5 and Enovia, Farnham and Pfile will continue to see increased benefits and cost savings from its PLM investment".