A round-up of the latest news for the IT sector.
Autodesk launches 2012 manufacturing software portfolio
Autodesk has unveiled its new 3D design and engineering software portfolio for manufacturers, including updated product and factory design suites.
The Product Design Suite contains Autodesk’s leading design, visualisation and simulation software for manufacturers, providing flexibility to innovate and more easily respond to changing business requirements—and what’s more, offering Digital Prototyping capabilities bundled in a convenient, cost effective package.
Meanwhile, launched in 2010 and updated this year, the Factory Design Suite 2012 is a factory layout and optimisation solution that helps companies make better layout decisions through the creation of a digital factory model—and helping to save time and money by identifying bottlenecks and calculating the cost of interplant movement.
Stephen Hooper, European head of business development for manufacturing at Autodesk, said: “What we are offering is digital prototyping in a box, helping customers being more innovative and competitive, and produce more sustainable designs. We also help them react to an increasingly complex business environment and supply network.” As a result of a partnership with Granta Design, the company also introduced, within Inventor 2012, the Eco Materials Adviser, which helps designers estimate a product’s environmental impact and make more sustainable design decisions.
Inventor Fusion, included as a companion application to many Autodesk products, also made its début at the launch event in Farnborough, and offers 3D modelling ease of use and direct modelling for rapid design changes.
Also noteworthy are updates or new introductions of specialist design capabilities. Autodesk Moldflow 2012, for instance, introduces real time injection moulding simulation functionality, enabling dynamic evaluation of a range of plastic part design alternatives in a fraction of the time it takes to perform a standard simulation, helping to pinpoint the best design more quickly.
Sage ERP X3 gains traction
In the last twelve months, 300 new customers have adopted Sage ERP X3, reports the company, taking the total number of customers globally to more than 3,000.
Sage ERP X3 is now available in 53 countries, and has as more than 165,000 users worldwide, it adds.
Claimed as the first truly global ERP solution for the upper midmarket, Sage ERP X3 is available from a range of resellers that includes Acuity, Datel, DMC Ensphere, Inixion, Mysoft and Pinnacle Computer Solutions.
“Sage ERP X3 is proving to be a huge coup for enterprises looking to accelerate growth, streamline their operations across borders and enhance productivity,” says Greg Ford, managing director of Sage’s Mid Market Division. “As many of our UK customers increasingly expand their international footprint, Sage and our dedicated business partners have the understanding and expertise to help them avoid making costly, cumbersome and complex investments.”
Autodesk Inventor 2012 certification for Planit applications
Two separate Planit Software applications have recently gained Autodesk Inventor 2012 certification. Edgecam Solid Machinist is certified for Autodesk Inventor 2012 in its R2 release, while Radan 2011 has gained full certification in its respective R2 release.
Each claims a loyal corps of customers, many of whom can be expected to benefit from the news of Autodesk certification. Certified applications have to meet predetermined implementation guidelines and must demonstrate the highest levels of robustness, quality and inter-operability when working with Autodesk Inventor software.
Edgecam is a seamlessly-integrated CAM system for generating machining strategies and NC code, with an associative link between Edgecam Solid Machinist and Autodesk Inventor. It offers a comprehensive suite of intelligent manufacturing solutions for milling, turning, mill/turn and advanced free form machining.
Meanwhile, and encompassing design, manufacture and production control for all sheet metal components and products, Radan extends the digital prototyping philosophy into manufacturing, enabling users to see how their prototypes will be machined, and allows early identification of any potential manufacturing problems before they happen on the shopfloor.
In a neat twist, Edgecam turns out to be again sponsoring an exhibition team which highlights the ongoing restoration of the paddle steamer Medway Queen in Bristol’s floating harbour.
The ship played a leading role in rescuing British and French soldiers from the beaches of wartime Dunkirk, the rebuild is taking place under Heritage Lottery Fund supervision to the original 1924 drawings. The Medway Queen will be the first riveted ship to be built in a British yard for over 50 years.
