Designs on DEK: Imaging specialist extends PTC solutions into project collaboration
By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff -- Manufacturing Business Technology, 6/25/2008 6:00:00 AM
DEK Printing Machines (DEK) is expanding its deployment of the PTC Product Development System (PDS) to include Windchill for content and process management. With existing use of PTC Pro/ENGINEER parametric CAD/CAM/CAE software for product design, Windchill will enhance internal project collaboration within six global sites, and external project collaboration with DEK suppliers and partners.
DEK makes specialist electronics imaging systems used by major electronics manufacturers and subcontractors for surface mount silicon chip technology and PCB assemblies in cell phones, robots, missiles, toys, and medical equipment. The company has plants in the U.K. and China. Design teams are located in the U.K., Germany, India; and the U.S.; while DEK service centers are found in 18 locations.
"Using Pro/ENGINEER, we make a broad set of products based on a product platform strategy and modular sub-assemblies," says Dick Johnson, development manager, DEK Printing. "The introduction of Windchill enables us to make our product development data accessible beyond individual design teams to the entire global enterprise, giving the right people access to the right data at the right time."
Johnson adds that paper drawings created from the CAD models were causing delays and problems with interpretation. "Our suppliers were using different systems," says Johnson. "The introduction of Windchill enabled our suppliers to collaborate more efficiently by building components directly from DEK's 3D models, which led to improvements in our overall productivity."
