Michelin Agrees to Purchase Up to 1,000 Design Licenses

Michelin has agreed to purchase up to 1,000 licenses of SolidWorks three-dimensional computer-aided design (3D CAD) software to design new tyre manufacturing machines. Michelin expects SolidWorks to reduce its tyre manufacturing machine design time significantly throughout its global operations. It will also use SolidWorks to convert existing 2D designs to 3D and effectively communicate designs with customers, suppliers, and different departments in the company.

Michelin engineers will rely on SolidWorks’ design capabilities for complex assemblies to rapidly develop new designs for its production machines. Improving the speed of machine design and production will help Michelin get products to market faster than it had with previous software. When engineers complete a first draft of a design, they will use SolidWorks COSMOSWorks(TM) analysis software to ensure that the machines meet exact structural specifications to eliminate costly and time-consuming errors.

Michelin will also use SolidWorks to convert 2D designs to 3D as part of its migration to overall 3D design.SolidWorks’ ability to show exploded views helps engineers to identify potential problems and fix them before production begins. This facility will also aid in training maintainance engineers.

Michelin is also using SolidWorks Animator to see how its products will function in motion. This view will help to explain to users, and customers how these new machines will function.”SolidWorks has the proven functionality and market reputation that we were looking for,” said Jacques Lombardy, corporate project leader and engineering department IS manager for Michelin.

“Moreover, SolidWorks will continue to refine its CAD platform and pass on the benefits to us. That dedication will help us stay at the top of the global tyre market.”.