CAD converts gather in Cambridge

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Sep 24, 2004

Over 100 leading manufacturing companies from all over the East Anglia region converged on Cambridge last week to attend the inaugural Micro Concepts 3D Autodesk Inventor Technical Conference.

Over 100 leading manufacturing companies from all over the East Anglia region converged on Cambridge last week (16th-17th September) to attend the inaugural Micro Concepts 3D Autodesk Inventor Technical Conference.

The event, at Abington Conference Hall, was organised and hosted by Micro Concepts, a Cambridge-based supplier of engineering 3D CAD solutions and Autodesk's leading reseller in the South of England.

It was the largest ever gathering of 3D CAD users in the region demonstrating the success of both Autodesk Inventor Series, the world's number one selling 3D mechanical design software, and of Micro Concepts' sales and technical support team.

Delegates at the conference - adopters of 3D solid modelling software - were shown the road ahead with 3D as well as ways to increase personal and business productivity and how to extend their design capabilities by expanding on their use of 3D techniques in their businesses.

Peter Hurst, Managing Director of Micro Concepts, said: "The event has been a great success and feedback from customers attending has been extremely positive".

"To successfully sell 3D CAD solutions into the manufacturing sector today requires a new breed of reseller, one who has intimate knowledge of 3D modelling software and the multitude of complementary applications, but also has strong engineering skills, good knowledge of the manufacturing process and offers added value through close partnerships with its customers".

Speaking from the conference, Ralph Coulson, CAD Manager, e2v technologies (UK), said: "Micro Concepts has a skilled and friendly team who have supported e2v technologies (UK) to move forward with Inventor, AutoCAD, Viz and 3ds max over the last few years".

"Both companies understand each others' business requirements and have forged a strong partnership".

"They are to be congratulated on their commitment to both the products and the services associated with the successful implementation, training and support".

Micro Concepts was established in 1989 by a team of engineering consultants to provide the latest computer aided design (CAD) solutions to the mechanical design industries.

Based in Great Shelford, Cambridge, Micro Concepts is a certified Autodesk System Centre, an Approved Training Centre, and it sells and supports the full range of Autodesk 2D and 3D solutions, including Autodesk Inventor.

As a member of the Autodesk Developer Network, it also develops specialist applications and tools which further enhance its portfolio of third party software to support its customers.

Autodesk is highly supportive of this type of event.

Patrick Burgun of Autodesk Europe and MEA, who spoke at the technical conference on vault and data management, said: "The relationship between our customers and our partners has always been important but we are now operating in an environment where this relationship has become critical to our customers' successful implementation of 3D technology".

"When customers invest they need to ensure their chosen partner possesses the skills and knowledge to make these products work in a manufacturing environment".

"The Micro Concepts' team is totally focused on manufacturing, has a high level of technical expertise and staff, and works hard to keep their customers informed of improvements and developments in their technology as this inaugural technical conference demonstrated".