Knapheide Manufacturing Company

Using SolidWorks design, simulation, PDM, and technical communication solutions, Knapheide has accelerated product development and throughput, enabling the company to expand its products into six new markets.

SUCCESS METRICS

Increased speed of product development
Created more complex design solutions
Automated sheet metal design and fabrication
Expanded business into new markets

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The Challenge

The Knapheide Manufacturing Company is the leading U.S. manufacturer of service and utility truck bodies. As part of the company’s new product development strategy, Knapheide moved from AutoCAD® 2D design tools to a 3D development platform in 2003. After becoming dissatisfied with its initial Autodesk® Inventor® 3D CAD system, the company benchmarked other 3D CAD systems.

The Solution

Knapheide standardized on SolidWorks® solutions in 2006 and utilizes SolidWorks Standard, SolidWorks Professional, and SolidWorks Premium design software; SolidWorks Simulation Professional and SolidWorks Simulation Premium analysis software; SolidWorks Enterprise PDM product data management software; and SolidWorks Composer technical communication software. The company chose SolidWorks software because it is easy to use, includes a variety of integrated tools, and is configurable through the open SolidWorks Application Programming Interface (API). By implementing SolidWorks solutions, Knapheide has increased the speed of its product development, created more complex design solutions, automated sheet metal design and fabrication, and expanded its business into new markets.

"What SolidWorks Solutions have allowed us to do is increase the speed of development and design more complex solutions. That has enabled us to significantly grow our business. We value the SolidWorks platform."

- Chris Weiss , Vice President of Engineering

Industry: Transportation & Mobility
Previous CAD: AutoCAD,Inventor
Products(s) Used: SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional, SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium, SOLIDWORKS Enterprise PDM, SOLIDWORKS Professional, SOLIDWORKS Premium, SOLIDWORKS Composer
Benefit: Value, Results, Power, 2D/3D Integration, 2D/3D Transition, Implementation, Ease of Use, Data Exchange, Career Advancement, Focus on Design, Design Better Products, Innovation, Manufacturability
VAR: Computer Aided Technology Inc.