CAD software helps slash development time

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 22, 2007

SolidWorks 3D CAD and PDMWorks Enterprise product data management software have helped Burlington Technologies to cut its development times in half.

Canadian automotive engine component manufacturer Burlington Technologies (BTI) has cut new product development time in half using SolidWorks 3D CAD and PDMWorks Enterprise product data management software.

For nearly 40 years, Burlington Technologies has delivered high-pressure aluminium die casting, machining and assembly for some of the most widely recognised brands in the automotive industry.

The company specialises in designing and making the die castings for a broad range of engine compartment components like brackets, hinges, housings, and transmission casings.

It standardised on SolidWorks Office Premium and PDMWorks to minimise design cycles, reduce errors, improve internal communications, and constantly refine product development.

"We had become used to working with complicated CAD software, so it is refreshing to use SolidWorks", said Rick MacMillan, Die Designer on BTI's tool design team.

"Its intuitive interface lets us do what we want to without a lot of extra steps".

"The fact that we can move a bolt hole in a couple of mouse clicks, and have all of the geometry remain intact, saves time, ensures accuracy, and lets us be more creative".

SolidWorks allows BTI's tool design team to work in both 3D models and 2D drawings depending on customers' needs.

When engineers change 3D models, the corresponding 2D drawings automatically update with the changes, saving them as much as a week in overall design time.

Reducing design cycles and errors allows engineers to focus on innovation so they can design better products.

PDMWorks provides the version control and security to help ensure the company's designs are accurate, yet accessible to authorised team members in the product development process.

It allows multiple designers and engineers to work on a project at the same time without introducing errors.

"PDMWorks gives everyone peace of mind because as designers, we wonder whether someone has changed our work", said MacMillan.

"PDMWorks lets us manage who has what access to designs, so we know every change that has been made".

"Between SolidWorks and PDMWorks, we're doing more in the same amount of time than before".

Burlington Technologies also streamlines communications between BTI's design team, engineers, the internal manufacturing team, and customers with eDrawings e-mail enabled design communication tool.

"High-pressure die casting is an exact science in which precision and experience count for everything", said Rainer Gawlick, SolidWorks Vice President of Worldwide Marketing.

"SolidWorks and PDMWorks allow Burlington Technologies to use the company's wealth of expertise to make its products accurate, while also changing die casting into an art form".

Burlington works with authorised SolidWorks' reseller Javelin Technologies for ongoing software training, implementation, and support.