Leading Knitting Machine Manufacturer Selects PLM Solutions from IBM and Dassault Systèmes

09/03/2006

Mayer & Cie. to use CATIA V5 and SMARTEAM solutions to create virtual machine that will drastically reduce time-to-market

Paris, France, March 9, 2006 — IBM and Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced that Mayer & Cie., a leading manufacturer of circular knitting machines and a long-time customer, has selected CATIA V5 and SMARTEAM solutions for the virtual creation of a circular knitting machine that will enable the company to visualize the whole process chain, from design to manufacturing, in 3D.

Circular knitting machinery is a highly technical sector of the textile industry, supplying the huge T-shirt, underwear, hosiery and knitwear markets. After intensive comparisons, Mayer & Cie. will implement more than 40 CATIA V5 and SMARTEAM seats in its main factory and at its subsidiary Merz Maschinenfabrik, to manage the engineering data and make it easily accessible to all departments.

By using PLM, Mayer & Cie. aims to reduce product development time and, as a result, cut time-to-market dramatically. The new PLM solution will also transform the manufacturing process chain, where the company will make use of virtual data for all Numerical Control (NC) programming.

“We are convinced these PLM Solutions will bring improvements in our engineering of variants and in NC-programming,” said Marcus Mayer, Technical Director of Mayer & Cie. “This project will enable us to react more quickly and be flexible to our customers’ requirements, including making our offerings more customer-specific. With leading-edge technologies like the V5 PLM platform from DS, we can optimize the advantages of Germany as a future-oriented development and production location.”

Mayer & Cie. will implement IBM and Dassault Systèmes’ generative mechanical design solution (GMD) in its design process, improving design productivity and facilitating innovation with predefined computer models of toolsets, for product development as well as manufacturing resources. The GMD solution will integrate and define knowledge rules, reflecting design practices and past experiences, in the intelligent features of parts and assembly templates. The models automatically adapt to the requirements of a new product or its corresponding manufacturing processes, and dynamically evolve as those requirements change.

“Implementing the world-class PLM platform from DS will allow Mayer & Cie. to defend its leading position in its industry, where cost-cutting innovations are key to staying ahead of the competition,” said Martin Grunau, Director PLM Channel Development, Dassault Systèmes AG. “Mayer’s decision shows that PLM solutions bring an important competitive advantage to small- and medium-sized businesses, helping them face the challenges of constantly changing markets.”

Mayer & Cie. is supported by Transcat - PLM, IBM/DS’ business partner in Germany.

 

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Über Dassault Systèmes

As world leader in 3D and PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) solutions, the Dassault Systèmes group brings value to more than 80,000 customers in 80 countries.  A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systèmes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire life cycle of products from conception to maintenance.  Its offering includes integrated PLM solutions for product development (CATIA®, DELMIA®, ENOVIA®, SMARTEAM®), mainstream 3D design tools (SolidWorks®), and 3D components (Spatial/ACIS®).  Dassault Systèmes is listed on the Nasdaq (DASTY) and Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) stock exchanges.

 For more information, visit http://www.3ds.com

http://www.3ds.com/

 

Über Mayer & Cie.:

The circular knitting machine manufacturer Mayer & Cie. was founded in 1905. Now in its fourth generation of family ownership, the company is acclaimed today as the world market leader, setting the international standard for top quality fabrics manufactured on highly productive machines, based on innovative technology. Almost 60,000 circular knitting machines have been shipped to date from the company’s production plant in Albstadt to destinations around the world. Mayer & Cie. estimates that a good 60% of them are still in operation. The innovative drive which lies behind the competitive benefit Mayer & Cie. provides for its customers is due not only to an enormous fund of experience stretching back over a hundred years, seventy of them specializing in circular knitting technology, but also in the outstanding qualifications of its workforce. The company has also continued to invest millions in new machines and technologies year after year, over a period of decades, Because it is only with ultra-modern production technology that a top standard of quality, minimal tolerances and absolute precision can be achieved – part for part. What emerges – piece for piece - is an example of international acclaimed precision engineering - a Mayer & Cie. circular knitting machine. Visit the webs site: www.mayercie.de