MECAPLAST Group, France, extends use of HyperWorks to optimize automotive equipment
Altair’s CAE product family helps automotive supplier to build lighter and better components
TROY, Mich., Sept. 17, 2009 – Altair Engineering, Inc., a leading global provider of simulation technology and engineering services that empower client innovation and decision-making, announced today that
MECAPLAST Group, France, one of the leading European automotive suppliers, has extended its use of HyperWorks to optimize its automotive products for weight and performance. Altair’s CAE software family will be used within the Finite Element Analysis Department for the Body Skills Centre of the company, which is working closely with the Design Department and the Test & Validation Laboratory of
MECAPLAST Group to evaluate technical specifications of its customers via simulation and to provide mechanical improvements toward a ‘right-at-first-time’ solution. In addition, the department is also working on the optimization of injection molded trim components taking into account tooling constraints.
Being a long-time Altair customer,
MECAPLAST Group started using the HyperWorks suite in 2005 with the implementation of HyperMesh. The suite’s finite element analysis (FEA) pre-processing software is used for the meshing of virtual models, such as garnish trims and door handles. Soon after,
MECAPLAST Group implemented RADIOSS, Altair’s FEA solver, into its development process for static and dynamic analysis. Recently, the company expanded its use of the HyperWorks suite to include OptiStruct for structural optimization. OptiStruct will be used to optimize the design of products, such as the inertia/weight ratio of garnish trims.
“When we first started to use HyperWorks, we were looking for an innovative meshing solution,” said David Queval, FEA manager, Finite Element Analysis Department of Car Body Skills Centre,
MECAPLAST Group. “The advantage of HyperMesh is the time savings we can realize with its automated meshing process. The open architecture design of HyperMesh also allows us to directly import and mesh any CAD model and export FE models to a large panel of commercial solvers. We discovered a cutting-edge solver technology in HyperWorks, RADIOSS, that addresses the needs of our Body Skills Centre and we are now beginning to leverage HyperWorks’ optimization solution, OptiStruct. Weight optimization is gaining importance within the automotive industry, and customers and end-users alike are looking for lighter and better products that help to save money and to reduce CO2 emission. OptiStruct will enable us to meet those demands by developing and producing better and lighter parts in less time.”
“We are very pleased with
MECAPLAST Group’s decision to extend its use of HyperWorks,” said Mauro Guglielminotti, regional director, Altair, France. “With our HyperWorks CAE suite, we offer engineering companies like
MECAPLAST Group all the simulation tools needed for an optimized development process. The extended use of HyperWorks at
MECAPLAST Group will help to streamline development processes and will soon lead to shorter development times and an even better product quality. With OptiStruct, companies can address industry demands for weight- and shape-optimized products and drive the design process with simulation to get better results faster.”
About HyperWorks
Built on a foundation of design optimization, performance data management and process automation, HyperWorks is an enterprise simulation solution for rapid design exploration and decision-making. As the most comprehensive, open-architecture CAE solution in the industry, HyperWorks includes best-in-class modeling, analysis, visualization and data management solutions for linear and non-linear, structural optimization, fluid-structure interaction and multi-body dynamics applications. For more information, please visit
www.altairhyperworks.com.
About MECAPLAST Group
MECAPLAST Group is one of the European leaders in automotive equipment. Founded in 1955 by Charles Manni, the Group designs, develops and manufactures parts and complete systems for vehicle body and engine. Today, managed by Thierry Manni, it reports a turnover of 740 million Euros, including 727 million Euros in the automotive sector. Its
5,580 employees are based in
14 countries to serve automotive markets across the world. For more information about MECAPLAST Group please visit:
www.mecaplastgroup.com
About Altair
Altair Engineering, Inc. empowers client innovation and decision-making through technology that optimizes the analysis, management and visualization of business and engineering information. Privately held, with more than 1,300 employees, Altair has offices throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. With a 20-year-plus track record for product design, advanced engineering software, grid computing technologies and enterprise analytics solutions, Altair consistently delivers a competitive advantage to customers in a broad range of industries. To learn more, please visit
www.altair.com.