Using SolidWorks and Simulation Asa-Lift reduced product development time by 50 percent
Reusing parts keeps construction time down
Strength calculations provide the optimum ratio between strength and weight
«We are very pleased with both SolidWorks and SolidWorks Simulation, which have become indispensable tools in our development of new products.»
UTFORDRINGEN
ASA-LIFT is among the world’s leading manufacturers of vegetables harvesters. The company’s product range consists of lift mounted harvesters for mounting directly on tractors, tractor-drawn harvesters and self-propelled harvesters. ASA-LIFT had to develop ever larger and more powerful machines while decreasing the development time. Factors such as keeping weight down while retaining the robustness of the machines and streamlining the development process represent increasing challenges for the Danish company.
LØSNINGEN
To meet these challenges ASA-LIFT implemented SolidWorks Simulation to be able to construct new machines that are as light as possible, while not compromising on their strength.
When ASA-LIFT receives an order, the company has a very short timeframe to develop and produce the required machine. Compared to development time just a few years ago, the company has reduced development time by almost 50 percent.
According to Design Manager Niels Bendsen this wouldn’t have been possible without SolidWorks and Simulation. He also explains that “the CAD system allows us to reuse parts from existing 3D models of machines in new constructions, which keeps overall construction time down.”
The company’s machines are used under very varying conditions around the world. This results in vastly different demands on the strength of the machines’ individual parts.
«Our machines are gradually becoming larger and to avoid that they at the same time become much heavier, we use SolidWorks Simulation to reduce weight and ensure their necessary robustness. By performing strength calculations, we can get a clear picture of how the strength of the machines compares to real life situations,» explains Niels Bendsen and adds: «Using simulation, we can very quickly can make the strength calculations necessary to achieve the optimum ratio between strength and lowest possible weight of the machines.»
