CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
14 August 2007
Implementation Investments
Right Hemisphere and PROSTEP Implement Automated 3D Communication Solution at Continental Automotive Systems
Right Hemisphere and PROSTEP AG announced that the Continental Automotive Systems Division -- one of the world's leading system suppliers of vehicle safety, comfort and drive technology -- has completely automated its parts documentation process using a solution integrated by Darmstadt PROSTEP AG and based on 3D Adobe® PDF® and Right Hemisphere Deep ServerT software.
In order to make it easier for employees from non-technical divisions to access 3D product data, the specialists at PROSTEP implemented a solution at Continental Automotive Systems that automatically converts models from the CATIA® computer-aided design (CAD) format into the lightweight Universal 3D (U3D) format. This 3D data is then published together with product data from Continental Automotive Systems' SAP PLM system as 3D PDF documents.
"We needed an efficient and automated way to make 3D data available to our employees in departments beyond engineering and, at the same time, we needed to simplify the filing of data in our SAP system," said Joachim Schemainda, head of the Central Standardization unit at Continental Automotive Systems. "The technology from Right Hemisphere offers us an efficient and cost-effective solution with which we can convert native, large-volume CAD data into predefined 3D PDF documents that each client computer in our network can deal with."
The 3D communication solution was implemented by PROSTEP AG, a company that has been working closely with Continental Automotive Systems for years on successful data integration and communication projects.
The Darmstadt integration specialists also handled the integration of the Right Hemisphere solution with the SAP PLM system at Continental Automotive Systems. This integration makes it possible to read metadata via XML from SAP and to merge it with lightweight U3D models in templates. The 3D PDF documents are then saved again into the SAP PLM system so that employees can open and view the documents using Adobe® Reader® software.
"Like many other automotive suppliers, Continental Automotive Systems is faced with multiple challenges including growing product complexity, increasing volumes of non-uniform 3D CAD data and the need to provide easy access to that data in order for employees to efficiently collaborate with their counterparts in development, production, operations and maintenance," explained Michael Lynch, CEO of Right Hemisphere. "Right Hemisphere's solutions completely automate the processing, merging and preparation of native CAD data into 3D PDF documents. These capabilities save our customers from repeated entry of this information and help them to get the most out of their intellectual property."
About PROSTEP AG
PROSTEP AG is an integration specialist in the field of product data integration. The company offers its customers -- among them leading multinational companies -- the integration of CAD, PDM and supplier communication in order to allow for e-engineering to become reality. The PROSTEP group currently employs more than 260 workers in Germany, France and the U.S. Their turnover for 2006 was about 21.7 million. In addition to the company headquarters in Darmstadt, PROSTEP has branch offices in Berlin, Bexbach, Hamburg, Hannover, Lyon, Munich, Stuttgart, Troy (Michigan), Wolfsburg and Wuppertal.
Become a member of the CIMdata PLM Community to receive your daily PLM news and much more.
Tell us what you think of the CIMdata Newsletter. Send your feedback.
CIMdata is committed to your privacy. Your personal information will never be sold or shared outside of CIMdata without your express permission.