Designed in SolidWorks, Foster refrigerators take a licking and still keep chilling
U.K. manufacturer halves development time, cuts prototyping costs by a third while designing better refrigeration products used in industrial kitchens
CONCORD, Mass., Sept. 17, 2007 - One of the largest commercial refrigerator manufacturers in Europe is using SolidWorks® 3D CAD and COSMOS® design analysis software to develop units that take a beating every day in industrial kitchens and other foodservice environments around the world. Foster Refrigerator has cut development time by as much as 50 percent, and reduced prototyping costs by as much as 30 percent after standardizing on SolidWorks software.
For more than 40 years, Foster Refrigerator has set new benchmarks for a broad range of products including blast chillers and freezers, refrigerated storage cabinets and counters, walk-in cold rooms, refrigeration systems, prep stations, ice makers, water coolers, and special refrigeration and temperature monitoring equipment for professional bakers. The company standardized on SolidWorks to speed new product design and reduce costs for the hundreds of different customized models it sells.
"Our products don?t get much respect in the average restaurant kitchen," said Andrew Hodges, senior development engineer at Foster. "Kitchen staff only care that they work. So we have to make sure they're durable, that they perform as we say they will, and that they meet the unique space and temperature needs for every customer. SolidWorks gives us the accurate design visualization, sheet metal capabilities, and table-driven modeling to constantly improve our products so they continue to perform to our customers' demanding expectations."
Using SolidWorks has enabled Foster to cut sheet metal design time in half and reduce the number of prototypes it builds from three to one for most every project, streamlining time to market and significantly reducing costs. The software also makes it easy for Foster to generate the geometry and other data needed for manufacturing, accelerating production and reducing the typical back-and-forth between designers and manufacturing engineers. "SolidWorks paid for itself in less than two years. That ROI, along with a rich feature set, is why we chose SolidWorks after an intense evaluation," said Hodges.
Foster uses COSMOSXpress' design analysis tool to test the load strength of brackets and similar features to make sure they can stand up to the hundreds of times doors are opened and shut in restaurant kitchens. The company also uses SolidWorks PDMWorks® Workgroup product data management software to securely store all design information, maintain version control, and allow multiple engineers to work concurrently on one design.
"Refrigerators may seem like an afterthought in industrial kitchens, but their reliability and durability are absolutely crucial," said SolidWorks Marketing Manager, Europe Simon Booker. "Foster refrigerators have an industry reputation for performing at their best day in, and day out, despite the constant use. That's attributable to quality design, and a passion for getting it right every time."
Foster Refrigerators relies on authorized SolidWorks reseller Solid Solutions Management for ongoing software training, implementation, and support.
About Foster Refrigerators
Headquartered in King's Lynn, Foster Refrigerators is the U.K.'s largest manufacturer of commercial refrigeration products. It is at the forefront of new technology, pioneering new standards in temperature control, hygiene, efficiency and appearance. Premier products, together with support services, enable the company to maintain long-term relationships with clients in leading restaurants, fast food outlets, hotels and airports, as well as being the government-approved supplier of equipment to non-profit organizations including colleges, hospitals, and the armed forces in the U.K. and abroad. For more information, visit the Web site (www.fosterrefrigerator.co.uk).
About Solid Solutions Management
Founded in 1998, Solid Solutions focuses on providing industry-leading software and services. This philosophy has helped Solid Solutions gain respect, recognition, and awards as an established and high-capability supplier of SolidWorks software. With main offices in Warwick and Fareham, and regional training facilities throughout the U.K., Solid Solutions supports thousands of customers encompassing all industry sectors and ranging in size from single-person operations to large multi-national organizations. For more information, visit the company?s Web site (www.solidsolutions.co.uk).
About Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp.
Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp., a Dassault Systèmes S.A. subsidiary, is a world leader in 3D solutions that help millions of engineers and designers succeed through innovation. Our products deliver an intuitive experience in product design, simulation, publishing, data management, and environmental impact assessment. For the latest news, information, or an online demonstration, visit our Web site (www.solidworks.com) or call 1-800-693-9000 (outside of North America, call +1-978-371-5000).
About Dassault Systèmes
As a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, Dassault Systèmes brings value to more than 100,000 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 lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance to recycling. The Dassault Systèmes portfolio consists of CATIA for designing the virtual product – SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design – DELMIA for virtual production – SIMULIA for virtual testing – ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, and 3DVIA for online 3D lifelike experiences. Dassault Systèmes’ shares are listed on Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) and Dassault Systèmes’ ADRs may be traded on the US Over-The-Counter (OTC) market (DASTY). For more information, visit http://www.3ds.com/.
CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA, SolidWorks, and 3D VIA are registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or other countries. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright © 2009 Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp.
