In 1998 during a business trip to Europe I was in Geneva, Switzerland visiting the Charmilles plant there. At the end of the tour my host pointed out some Indian gentlemen across the room and said “India is one of our biggest customers right now.” As I write this, it is ten years later and it was relatively recent that Tata, the Indian company that produces the Nano, the cheapest ($2,500) car in the world, has purchased both Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Company. Our world has changed, and continues to change fast and hard.
How do we compete with developing countries? Of course we all know that we cannot pay the same wages as they do, partially because they have significantly more people. The one thing that we have significantly more of is our many years of experience. Today, developing countries have access to the same modern software and equipment that we do, and are investing in it. One of the things we need to do in order to stay ahead is to continue to invest in the modern tools that increase our productivity - as they are.
2D die design is technology that is now over two decades old - an entire generation old. If you are considering a move to 3D die design and would like to know what to expect, please give us a call. For those who have already moved to 3D die design before 3D die design specific software was available, I tip my hat to you for your forward thinking. But I've been there too, and I know that it is far easier and far more efficient when done with a 3D die design package. Our customers estimate that on average the productivity increase with Logopress3 is about 30 %.
Today most folks don't ask whether or not they should move to 3D die design software, their question is when should they do it. A few months ago, a very wise general manager of a fine tool and die company said to me "We know we need to do it, but we're really just too busy to do anything right now." He then immediately went on to say "Isn't that what you always hear, either 'We're too busy' or 'We're too slow'?" I'm happy to report that he has since moved ahead. There's no time like the present.
If you are working with automotive-type or double-curved parts, then part of the 3D die design need is flat blank prediction / forming analysis software. Logopress3 has an accurate and feature rich SolidWorks-based solution that is included in the Logopress3 strip design and tool design packages. For those who don't need tool design software, or for those who aren't ready for the full purchase yet, it is also available as a separate package. It is very affordable and can be upgraded to the full tool design package at a later date.
For those who recognize the fact that there is great benefit in going further by doing their development in minutes or hours on the computer screen, we also sell, train and support FTI products. FASTFORM Advanced, FASTFORM MultiStage or FAST Incremental softwareby FTI are all incredibly easy to use. They will dramatically cut down development time.
Your competitors are doing the vast majority of their development on their computer screens because it is much more efficient. A few years from now young die designers and tool and die makers won't believe it when you tell them how you used to do development "back in the day".
Sincerely,
Raymond J. Proeber, CSWP