PLM consultant and Dassault Systèmes reseller TechniaTranscat entered the new year with good momentum by securing several important orders for PLM systems with related services. This includes an order worth €8 million from a major German player in the automotive industry.

On Thursday, they followed up with a new prestigious PLM order, this time from the European Spallation Source (ESS), which has just started construction of a giant facility in Lund, Sweden.

The ESS is a facility where researchers explore the next generation of materials and their properties by accelerating protons and colliding them with neutrons in a huge underground facility.

To be more precise, the concept of spallation in this context is synonymous with the process of a heavy metal's atomic nucleus becoming unstable and emitting neutrons after being bombarded with protons.

“ESS will catalyze and stand for the next generation of research into pharmaceuticals, materials and physics. The PLM system that we deliver will enable the smooth functioning and secure planning, development and operation of the ESS,” said Jonas Gejer, CEO of TechniaTranscat.

The ESS in Lund will also do research in areas such as life sciences, energy, environmental and climate technologies, as well as more fundamental research in physics.

To support this giant undertaking, ESS chose to implement Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform. More specifically, ENOVIA V6 will be the database and backbone for product data management, while CAx work will be based on CATIA V6.

ESS will use these solutions to support the development of the neutron collider and related equipment, as well as the operation of the facility.

ESS will also implement TechniaTranscat’s proprietary solution TVC (Technia Value Components.) The program is based on the company's extensive experience in the implementation, operational support and methodology development of Dassault Systemes’ ENOVIA PLM software.

Besides making the implementation process easier, the software also adds a number of features, mainly centering around usability and data visualization.  It has around 300,000 users globally, and is also being resold by Dassault Systèmes.

It seems like PTC’s heavy investment into IoT is starting to bear fruit, at least when it comes to analyst recognition. The Massachusetts based PLM developer was recently named “Technology Leader in the Global IoT PLM Market” by the independent research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.

The award given to PTC recognizes companies that lead the development and successful introduction of high-tech solutions that have altered the industry or business landscape, and that have helped to shape the future of technology and its uses.

The judges looked at two key factors:

• “Technology Leverage,” which includes innovation, creativity, technology incubation, commercialization success, and application diversity and
• “Business Impact,” which includes financial performance, customer acquisition, operational efficiency, and growth potential.

Frost & Sullivan commented that PTC’s PLM suite Windchill 11 exemplifies PTC’s commitment to PLM technology innovation. They also acknowledged that the addition of the ThingWorx platform has enabled PTC to integrate data from physical products, web-based resources and enterprise software systems to enable increased access, insight and value in a modern and easily consumable user experience.

“We’re honored to receive this award,” said Jim Heppelmann, PTC’s president and CEO. “Windchill 11, a breakthrough smart, connected PLM solution, is a powerful example of how we are leveraging IoT capabilities in our core solutions to help our customers thrive in the Internet of Things era.”

In related news, Dassault Systèmes just released an industry specific PLM solution aimed at the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. The solution, called Perfect Production, is based on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and aims to improve plant efficiency, productivity and flexibility with powerful digital manufacturing operations management applications.

Perfect Production does this by introducing the concept of a “virtual twin,” which enables real-time visibility, control and synchronization of business processes and the supply chain. It also allows manufacturers to establish a common set of global operational standards.

“CPG has one of the highest business complexities of any industry, and this is in the context of a volatile marketplace where 80 percent of new products fail within their first year,” said Philippe Loeb, vice president, consumer packaged goods & retail industry at Dassault Systèmes.

“With ‘Perfect Production,’ companies can improve efficiency, lower costs and accelerate new product introductions. Some of our customers have already saved millions and seen triple digit growth among their product mix and markets thanks to leaner operations,” Loeb continued.

According to Dassault Systèmes, Perfect Production can do the following:

●     Lower cost of goods sold (COGS) by up to 27 percent

●      Accelerate new product introductions by up to 20 percent

●     Reduce defect rates regardless of plant or geographical location

●     Reduce inventory carrying costs while increasing production throughput

●     Institute a global approach to traceability and containment

●     Simplify IT and reduce total cost of ownership with a single global platform

Centric Software, which develops PLM software for the apparel industry announced that the apparel supplier Wilson will adopt Centric’s PLM suite Centric 8. Wilson said that efficiency, usability and communication were the criteria driving the choice.

Founded as a family business, Wilson offers personalised design, sourcing and supply chain services that cover the full spectrum of casual wear, footwear and accessories. The company has 200 employees, and has expanded quickly from a single location in Glasgow, Scotland to having global operations all over the world.

“We trusted Centric implicitly from day one,” said Gill Barr, head of merchandising at Wilson. “We investigated multiple PLM vendors and found that Centric’s out-of-the-box solution, straightforward usability and unparalleled fashion industry references made it the only sensible match for our business.”

“Wilson’s push to improve communication and collaboration across growing international teams is an important milestone in their growth plans,” said Chris Groves, CEO of Centric Software. “We are pleased to play a hand in helping them to continue to deliver great products to great brands.”