May 2011 - Amtil

Industry News
Dassault Systèmes acquires Intercim
Dassault Systèmes is now offering the world's first end-to-end
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system following the
acquisition of process execution software specialist Intercim.
The $US 36.5m acquisition allows Dassault Systèmes
to combine its Delmia 3D virtual production software with
Intercim's software solution for a paperless manufacturing
execution system (MES) on the shop-floor.
Dassault Systèmes Australia General Manager Gilles
Cruanes says the combination of Delmia and Intercim brings
digital continuity to real-life factory operations.
"With digital continuity between design and shop floor,
customers can now fully leverage 3D digital for all functions
in the production chain - from concept design through to
product delivery," said Cruanes.
"This provides the ability to achieve real-time visual
status and control, and predictable product quality. The
results for customers are cost savings through better visibility
of unplanned events, decreased cycle times and better
material management."
Cruanes said the combination of virtual production
and production execution software delivers unprecedented
advantages for customers in advanced and highly regulated
industries.
"Product innovation requires production innovation.
"Our Delmia virtual production platform has previously
allowed 3D simulation of manufacturing environments,
but for the first time we can complete the PLM loop with a
single, integrated, tool."
Energy Minister Peter Collier has welcomed the official
opening of Western Australia’s newest clean energy
project, the Mt Barker Wind Farm.
Developed on a private sheep property north of the
Great Southern town, the site is expected to generate
about 8400 megawatt hours of electricity each year from
three 800 kilowatt turbines - enough to power up to 1500
homes in the Plantagenet Shire.
“The facility is expected to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by more than 8000 tonnes of carbon dioxide
each year,” Collier said.
“Power from the wind farm will be purchased under
a long-term agreement by energy retailer Synergy and
fed into the South West Interconnected System.”
The wind farm’s owners, Mt Barker Power Company
Pty Ltd, engaged SkyFarming of Fremantle to develop
and build the 73m tall wind generators that support the
local electricity system.
The Mt Barker Wind Farm was partly funded with
$4.2m from the Renewable Remote Power Generation
Program (RRPGP), an Australian Government-funded
initiative managed by the Office of Energy in WA.
A similar capital outlay was provided by major investor
and project partner Advanced Energy Resources.
Dassault Systèmes partner Memko, which has been a
reseller of Intercim software in the Asia Pacific since 2008,
says Intercim's integration with Delmia presents a great opportunity
for complex and highly regulated organisations
to transform operational productivity.
"In Australia and across multiple industries the overwhelming
majority of work instructions are still paper-based,
and most of the market is largely unaware of the benefits
a paperless solution like Intercim can offer," said Memko
Director Miro Miletic.
"This extension of digital PLM from design to process
execution provides a totally new way of operations, transforming
organisational efficiency and understanding and
preventing defects.
"Users are able to view and interact with the 3D model
to collect data and identify potential defects, thus improving
yield while decreasing the cost of rework and scrap.
"Eliminating paper on the shop floor also consolidates
various electronic shop-floor information formats into a
single revision-controlled electronic record that facilitates
smooth process flow. Ultimately, manufacturing quality
and through-put is improved."
"Engineers are empowered within manufacturing operations
to ensure their designs are compliant, so each
unit produced is 'built right' the first time and is certified
to operate," he said.
"The system also provides a complete 3D-as-built history
for immediate traceability.
State Government welcomes WA’s
newest wind farm
Mt Barker Wind Farm construction. Photo Peter Auer
“This development supports initiatives the Liberal-
National Government has already announced and introduced
to diversify the State’s energy sector and deliver a
cleaner energy future for WA,” the Minister said.
“It also supports the direction of the Strategic Energy
Initiative: Energy 2031, which will provide a practical plan
to meet our energy needs for the next 20 years.”
16 May 2011 Australian Manufacturing Technology