Tecnomatix Cape Speeds Development of Rover 75
4 February 1999
Tecnomatix Cape Speeds Development of Rover 75
HERZLIYA, Israel--Feb. 4, 1999---Revolutionary engineering process introduces engineering
excellence and shorter product development cycle-
Tecnomatix Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ-NM Symbol:TCNOF), pioneer and leader of computer-aided production engineering (CAPE), announced today that its CAPE products played an important role in the development of the Rover Group's new executive car, the Rover 75.
"Tecnomatix CAPE products have provided the catalyst for introducing engineering excellence and shorter development of a new car program," explains Paul Towers, Information Technology Manager, Rover Large Car Projects.
Since the beginning of 1998, Rover has increased its use of CAPE products throughout the Group from 6 to 43 seats. Rover uses Tecnomatix DYNAMO to package components into assemblies dynamically, define insertion and extraction paths for parts and check service and maintenance procedures even before the first prototype is built. The process, known as Electronic-Build, has highlighted a large number of potential problems at a stage when revisions could be made at minimal cost and without jeopardising the project timing. In addition, Rover uses Tecnomatix' software to optimize manufacturing operations and ensure product quality. VALISYS tolerance analysis software is used to study the assembly process and assess critical areas. ROBCAD is used to design, simulate and optimize critical manufacturing processes and ergonomic studies.
"The main purpose of the Electronic-Build process is to address the quality issues," says Paul Towers, adding: "By building the prototypes virtually with CAPE tools, in advance of the actual hardware, we can focus on the engineering performance as opposed to the fit or assemble ability of individual components. The use of visualisation and multi-functional design reviews are now standard procedures at Rover."
Over 500 Electronic-Build design reviews have been undertaken during the Rover 75 development and over 750 problems were highlighted and rectified by the process. Apart from the impact on the program time-scales, these would have resulted in considerable additional re-tooling costs had they not been highlighted early in the design process.
Tecnomatix CAPE tools are fully integrated into Rover's Information Technology environment which enables engineers direct access to data directly from multiple CAD systems. "The exploitation of Information Technology has resulted in a step change in quality, and significant lead time benefits. The integration of process information into our IT system has enhanced simultaneous engineering and strengthened our links with manufacturing." said Peter Morgan, Project Director, Rover 75.
"Tecnomatix is excited about Rover's aggressive approach to re-engineer its manufacturing processes using Tecnomatix' CAPE tools," said Harel Beit-On, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tecnomatix. "Rover's Electronic-Build process highlights the value, cost and time savings that can be achieved with our software."
TECNOMATIX TECHNOLOGIES LTD. is a pioneer and world leader of the computer-aided production engineering (CAPE) market. The Company develops, markets and supports industrial companies with software tools to fully computerize the industrial process and achieve a seamless transition from design to production. CAPE products enable production engineers to create an on-screen virtual manufacturing environment that graphically displays and simulates actual manufacturing operations. The Company's CAPE products include the ROBCAD line of products for manufacturing processes; the VALISYS line of quality engineering products; DYNAMO for the study of assembly and disassembly of newly designed products; SIMPLE++ for design, planning, and optimization of a complete factory; EXALINE for printed circuit board (PCB) assembly machines; and PART for generative machining and process planning.
Certain statements made herein that use the words "estimate", "project", "intend", "expect", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements, including, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions and specifically, changes in the level of activity in the automotive industry, decline in demand to the Company's products, inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications and loss of market share and pressure on prices resulting from competition. For additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business, reference is made to the Company's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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