Headlines
Back > Headlines
Simulation: a means to enhance competitiveness available to small and medium-sized industries
Simulation constitutes a priority and a way forward for many SMEs and small and medium-sized industries in the mechanical sector. This topic is comprehensively covered in Cetim Infos No. 230 dated June 2015. A congress on simulation specially designed for mechanical engineers will be held on 13 October 2015 in Saint-Étienne, France.
All large mechanical engineering corporations and several intermediate sized companies systematically use 3D numerical simulation. Their goal is to “get it right” the first time and above all to continuously improve the performance of their products. These companies understand that simulation is an essential, innovative and competitive advantage for them. “With simulation, we improve our cycle times and our performance. The machines are constantly optimised: their output is enhanced, they are more stable over a larger range of use”, explains Pierre Leroy, manager of R&D and design of hydraulic turbines for the Alstom group.
Why then are small and medium industries manifestly under-equipped in this area? The answer does not have to do with the cost of software or equipment. Both elements are within reach of any company. “The basic version of a structural calculation solution such as Castor starts costs approximately 5,000 Euros and the most powerful versions cost less than 10,000 Euros. The software runs on a computer and meets some 80% of the needs of small and medium-sized industries”, states Haidar Jaffal from Cetim.
The answer lies elsewhere. Regardless of the performance of the software and the power of the computers, in order to perform reliable simulation, it is essential that the company’s design office have a simulation specialist on hand. However, whenever simulation is not frequently used in the company, then, very few of these companies are able to justify hiring a full-time specialist.
Nevertheless there are two ways of getting around this and fully taking advantage of the benefits of numerical simulation. Firstly, the company could employ designers who are versed in calculation techniques. Accordingly, they can dedicate most of their time to design and adapt themselves whenever a simulation need appears. The other method simply involves subcontracting. There is no lack of specialised design offices and Cetim is one of them. Cetim provides companies with its powerful tools and experts to find solutions not only for those who do not have any tools but also for those who have more specialised requirements that standard software does not sufficiently fulfil.
Find the programme of the congress organised by Institut Carnot Cetim and Nafems France in the “Agenda” section.
Other informations
- Cegelec CEM selects AFT/Fathom to optimise its nuclear cooling systems Optimising the sizing and design of nuclear equipment cooling systems requires appropriate high...
- The European project EASI-Stress is launched ! Residual stress is easy with the EASI-Stress project! The general objective of the European pro...
- An International index for ISO 128. The ISO 128 series of standards has been given a makeover. Indeed, some parts of the standard a...
- A 1D simulation tool for Getinge Lancer. With the help of a calculation tool requiring no expert knowledge in hydraulics, developed by C...
- Duplication of a Renault wear test bench. At the request of Renault, Cetim has duplicated a test bench for the characterisation of fricti...
