CATIA V5 is a PLM solution from Dassault Systèmes and IBM which permits 3D visualization of every view. Using CATIA V5, Mayer & Cie. is not only able to substantially reduce the development time required for new systems and machines, but also to reliably implement special customer requests which necessitate design changes. This is made possible by the program’s capability for parametric calculation. If a certain machine type is parameterized for example with 30“, and the customer requires a different diameter which had previously not been envisaged by the design, CATIA V5 quickly and reliably permits all the associated design-related changes to be calculated and visualized in 3D. The acquired data is compatible with the processors of the computer-controlled machine tools used in the production department.
CATIA V5 also reduces the time required for new developments, as all the associated drawings are electronically generated in 3D. In a similar way to the method used for accommodating special customer requirements, changes are calculated on all associated levels and the relevant new views are generated and displayed. By reducing the idea – implementation time axis, new developments will be far more quickly ready for production and series manufacture in the future.
The time savings achievable in this way both for customer-specific designs and also new developments are passed on to Mayer & Cie. customers in terms of shorter delivery times. This system also permits possible sources of error to be reduced to almost zero, a particularly important issue when it comes to non-standard customer orders.
This advanced “capability” in a computer program naturally calls for extremely heavy investment, not only in the software itself but also in staff training and the amount of work involved in entering the huge amount of data into the system in the beginning.
This is one of the main reasons why CATIA V5 will be used initially in the development and design of new machines, followed successively by the existing machine range. As in parametric terms, every machine is structured practically from scratch, the engineers at Mayer & Cie. are anticipating that the new system will involve an enormous workload initially.
Mayer & Cie.’s aim is to offer a technologically cutting edge service to its customers, affording them the opportunity to respond more rapidly to new fashion and market trends. This innovative investment in CATIA V5 provides impressive proof of the company’s commitment to its corporate philosophy of strengthening the position of its customers through competitive advantages in the marketplace.
