Dassault Systèmes launches new version of design tool Solidworks

MANILA, Philippines – 3D design software company Dassault Systèmes has launched the latest version of its popular design tool, Solidworks, in the Philippine market.

Benjamin Tan, director of professional channels, AP South, Dassault Systèmes, said the design tool has been used by Filipino professionals across industries for the past 18 years.

The tool has over 400 customers in the country, mostly from the automotive, semiconductor, and technology industries, industrial machinery, consumer products and many more.

“Our tools are used by companies to design products but they are mainly behind the scenes. Many products you see around could have been designed by Solidworks,” he said, adding that among the globally known users of the brand are Fitbit, Trek Bicycles, New Balance, and Logitech.

The new version, Solidworks 2017, has over 200 enhancements, including new tools to help innovators design, validate, collaborate, build and manage their product development processes with integrated applications.

It also features more core power and performance, as well as new capabilities to address paperless manufacturing through the support of Model-Based Definition, and printed circuit board (PCB) design.

Tan said one of the major innovations of Solidworks is a feature that enables users to read native files done outside Solidworks. “We are now able to read these files without any adjustments,” he explained. 

Ba-Thong Phan, Dassault Systèmes senior manager of techical sales for AP South.

Solidworks 2017 also allows both new and experienced users to improve productivity with simulation to analyze, solve, visualize and verify the functionality of designs, before any prototype is created.

New tools unlock any 3D model for better collaboration with vendors and customers, and dynamic product data management (PDM) from concept through manufacturing allows for stronger support of multi-site and remote teams.

More than 3.1 million users can create multisensory experiences through innovative product design, with access to easy 3D design and development applications anytime, anywhere and on any device.

“This new release comes from feedback from end users. What we do is select the top few hundred from customer wish lists and develop these enhancements. So all our enhancements are based from requirements of end users,” Tan explained.

Andrew Harlan, principal mechanical engineer, Myomo, a company that has been a longtime user of Solidworks, said in a statement that they use Solidworks for the full spectrum of their design work.

“The ability to collaborate with industrial designers, consultants and manufacturers across different time zones simplifies the whole process. The Solidworks models are so accurate and appealing that we can quickly design, iterate and improve a highly technical part,” he said.

Some of the top user-requested features, new capabilities, and enhancements in the Solidworks 2017 portfolio include a user-friendly interface, incorporating Solidworks models within the PCB design environment, removing obstacles in creating complex 3D geometry, new surfacing features such as wrap, drag and drop, emboss, deboss, or 3D Curve, and visualizing all types of product design data for simple and accurate collaboration.

In the Philippines, Tan said Dassault Systèmes follows the channel model and works with partners to market Solidworks. “We believe in local support, we believe in local engineers supporting the customers,” he said.

 Ba-Thong Phan, senior manager of technical sales, AP South, Dassault Systèmes, said many of Solidworks’ existing customers are entitled to get the new version.

Both executives believe that the design tool is not only for the big companies. They said even startups could benefit from Solidworks.

“Today, there is a new type of company that use crowdfunding like Kickstarter to help them get off the ground. More and more of these small companies will grow and get there,” Phan said.