Okuma America Corporation Selects PTC CoCreate to Design CNC Machinery for Growing American Market

CoCreate Explicit 3D CAD Modeling Software Enables Okuma to Quickly Develop Adaptable Designs to Address Country-Specific Market Requirements

NEEDHAM, Mass - PTC® (Nasdaq: PMTC), The Product Development Company®, today announced that Okuma America Corporation, the US-based affiliate of Okuma Corporation and a world leader in the development of computer numeric controls (CNC) and machining technology, has selected PTC CoCreate® to design CNC machinery adaptations within their standard CNC product lines for North and South American markets. CoCreate is the explicit 3D CAD modeling and data management software that provides companies with a lightweight and flexible approach to designing products.

For manufacturers delivering products to a worldwide market, the challenges can be countless. For complex products, especially ones that are customized to meet localized needs, the barriers to success are even greater. Okuma America is one such manufacturer. With its parent company based in Japan, the majority of the product designs Okuma produces regularly require customization for application and use in the North and South American markets that Okuma serves. Its geographically distributed design teams need the ability to quickly develop unique and regionally appropriate customer designs that involve constant change across its variety of regional customer bases. Okuma America wanted a 3D CAD solution that would deliver a complete product design environment that would be flexible and easily adaptable for its design-to-order and custom product lines.

Okuma's US-based design team in Charlotte, NC uses PTC CoCreate to construct and adapt its existing product designs for these markets—custom designs that offer fast-on-the-fly interactions with geometry. Each month, the Charlotte team receives machines containing 2,000 to 10,000 components that require specific customization for these mixed American markets. By utilizing CoCreate explicit 3D modeling to adapt their existing product line, Okuma is able to satisfy the uniquely specialized customer requirements.

"Okuma America product engineers work in a global design environment and experience the constant pressure of needing to reduce design cycles of custom Okuma products in order to remain competitive," said Marc von Amsberg, senior mechanical engineer, Okuma America. "PTC CoCreate explicit design software gives Okuma America engineers the flexibility to address that challenge."

Explicit 3D CAD systems like CoCreate enable the import and adaptation of multi-source CAD data. This is a major benefit to companies working across an extended supply chain for procured components or subcontracted design, saving time, money and offering immediate benefits to both customer and manufacturer alike. For Okuma America, the CoCreate explicit approach to design offers a comprehensive method of product development tools that translate into speed, flexibility and responsiveness to change. Engineers are able to deliver fully customized products to customers fast—addressing and solving sudden complications that can often arise out of custom product design.

"PTC CoCreate provides speed, flexibility, and responsiveness-to-change for customers facing short design cycles, one-off product designs, or companies demanding a lightweight design process," said Martin Neumueller, director product management, CoCreate product, PTC. "The CoCreate explicit approach to 3D CAD software design delivers faster design cycles and flexibility to organizations like Okuma America."

Okuma America Corporation is the US-based affiliate of Okuma Corporation, a world leader in the development of computer numeric controls (CNC) and machining technology. Machines include vertical and horizontal machining centers, lathes, double column machining centers, grinders, and wheel machines that offer customers high throughput, accuracy, and reliable solutions to production machining operations. Okuma has entered into a partnership agreement with the National Hot Rod Association and has been named Official Machine Tool of the NHRA. This partnership is part of Okuma's High Performance Motorsports Industry program.