3D software aid knitting machine design

Manufacturer of circular knitting machines selects software for the virtual creation of a circular knitting machine to let the company visualise the process from design to manufacturing, in 3D.

Mayer and Cie, a manufacturer of circular knitting machines, has selected IBM and Dassault Systemes Catia V5 and Smarteam products for the virtual creation of a circular knitting machine that will let the company visualise the whole process chain, from design to manufacturing, in 3D.

Circular knitting machinery is a highly technical sector of the textile industry, supplying the huge T-shirt, underwear, hosiery and knitwear markets.

Mayer and Cie will implement more than 40 Catia V5 and Smarteam seats in its main factory and at its subsidiary Merz Maschinenfabrik, to manage the engineering data and make it easily accessible to all departments.

By using PLM, Mayer and Cie aims to reduce product development time and, as a result, cut time-to-market.

The PLM will also transform the manufacturing process chain, where the company will make use of virtual data for all numerical control (NC) programming.

"We are convinced these PLM products will bring improvements in our engineering of variants and in NC programming", said Marcus Mayer, Technical Director of Mayer and Cie.

"This project will enable us to react more quickly and be flexible to our customers' requirements, including making our offerings more customer-specific".

"With leading-edge technologies like the V5 PLM platform from DS, we can optimise the advantages of Germany as a future-oriented development and production location".

Mayer and Cie will implement IBM and Dassault's generative mechanical design (GMD) product in its design process, improving design productivity and facilitating innovation with predefined computer models of toolsets, for product development as well as manufacturing resources.

The GMD will integrate and define knowledge rules, reflecting design practices and past experiences, in the intelligent features of parts and assembly templates.

The models automatically adapt to the requirements of a new product or its corresponding manufacturing processes, and dynamically evolve as those requirements change.

"Implementing the world-class PLM platform from DS will allow Mayer and Cie to defend its leading position in its industry, where cost-cutting innovations are key to staying ahead of the competition", said Martin Grunau, Director PLM Channel Development, Dassault.

"Mayer's decision shows that PLM brings an important competitive advantage to small- and medium-sized businesses, helping them face the challenges of constantly changing markets".

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