Solid Edge Helena Laboratories

Medical device maker enables CAD data preservation and stable future using with synchronous technology

Industry Helena moves to Solid Edge Life sciences ahead of modeling kernel change of SolidWorks; use of Business challenges Solid Edge enables 100 percent CAD system to CAD system data Need to redesign popular product but ensure data conversion longevity Clinical laboratory instrument and Avoid SolidWorks kernel reagent manufacturer change and major data Helena Laboratories is a clinical laboratory re-conversion instrument manufacturer. Its clients Leverage 18 years of 3D include major medical centers, small wireframe data hospitals, large reference laboratories and Simplify process for key small private doctors’ laboratories. With veteran designers hundreds of laboratory products and more than 40 registered patents, Helena Import of purchased parts continues to be a market leader in Need to reduce very large the design and development of new SolidWorks data files diagnostic tests. Need secure data manage- In 2007, Helena switched from an aging ment future Undertaking this and other major design 3D wireframe design tool to SolidWorks® work using SolidWorks seemed logical. software, the popular computer-aided But recent press and blog posts from Keys to success design (CAD) system from Dassault SolidWorks users that Dassault planned to Systèmes Solidworks Corporation. Find a way to protect CAD remove the ® software modeling Recently, Helena decided to redesign one data’s shelf life kernel from its SolidWorks product of its most popular electrophoresis sample Convert SolidWorks data to worried Helena. handlers. Handlers are used in applications Solid Edge using synchronous such as forensics, molecular biology, technology Before the redesign projects could begin, genetics, microbiology and biochemistry. Helena needed an answer on the Convert 3D wireframe data to The issue was that replacement parts SolidWorks kernel change reports. Solid Edge using synchronous for the unit were becoming scarce technology and Helena needed to redesign it with Billy Oliver, a longtime SolidWorks user new components. Move from complex history- and design engineer at Helena, started based modeling to reading in 2010 about SolidWorks moving synchronous technology to another modeling kernel. The veteran

www.siemens.com/plm Keys to success continued Implement Express for CAD data management

Results 100 percent SolidWorks to designer says Helena didn’t want to SolidWorks, I thought we shouldn’t have to Solid Edge data conversion redesign its products in SolidWorks if the design this way. It’s not the way we think. modeling kernel was changing. To When I picked up Solid Edge and Bypassed multi-year data con- understand the impact, he cites one of the synchronous technology, I got it, fast and version delays caused by products needing redesign contains about easy.” kernel change uncertainties 2,000 unique parts at 12,000 pieces per Cut design and edit time unit. Oliver started working at Helena in 2007, Eliminated difficult ordered- shortly after the company bought licenses feature design processes to “Our SolidWorks channel partner told us for SolidWorks use. “Helena knew they leverage creativity and we would have to wait for details. The needed to upgrade and they went with the experience of design team value added reseller (VAR) says SolidWorks SolidWorks marketing machine,” says had not told them anything, that they Oliver. “It’s all marketing. The hook was a Veteran engineers able to knew about as much as I did from the lot of companies were using it, so it must convert valuable wireframe SolidWorks blogs. So I called (SolidWorks); be the best.” designs I needed to know. They confirmed the Synchronous technology kernel change. Oliver notes, “Our two main engineers leverages all imported never really liked history-based modeling. supplier data “We don’t want to waste valuable It was clumsy for them. They thought it Solid Edge data files resources, time and money to keep was way too difficult. They get synchro­ much smaller and easier to implementing changes. It will be years nous technology and they’re excited about work with before SolidWorks can convert into the it. Bob (Sarrine) was going through some Catia kernel,” says Oliver. “I don’t want to Solid Edge tutorials one day and was Future of CPDM enabled have to redesign our products twice or actually giggling. He would get frustrated with expandability to full stagnate for 10 years.” when using SolidWorks tutorials.” Teamcenter

Once the kernel change was confirmed, Sarrine says that after he had gone Helena switched to Solid Edge® software. through a few Solid Edge tutorials, he Helena now achieves 100 percent decided to design an airplane structure conversion of its SolidWorks and CADKEY® containing a lot complex curves. “I just software wireframe designs into Solid push a button and boom, it’s there. I don’t Edge and preserves its valuable data. There see how this Solid Edge implementation were added business and technical can possibly fail,” he says. benefits too, such as the ability to upgrade to Teamcenter Express for product data Helena has 18 years worth of 3D management. wireframe design data that represents about 10 major products still in the The synchronous technology dividend market. Moving that data to a new CAD Bob Sarrine, a long-time design engineer system is very important to Helena. at the company, said most of Helena’s data “Synchronous technology blew me away, remains in the old 3D wireframe format. especially the ease of importing CAD data “Redesigning it in SolidWorks was less than like our 3D wireframe data,” says Oliver. smooth,” says Sarrine. The issue was the complex process of history-based modeling. He explains, “When we bought Solutions/Services Solid Edge www.siemens.com/solidedge

Customer’s primary business Helena specializes in clinical laboratory instruments. CAD technology leadership SolidWorks, sheet metal design for www.helena.com In a recent post on the Dezignstuff blog, example. You can tell Solid Edge is the Oliver suggests that SolidWorks users original and SolidWorks is the clone, should “run not walk” away from their using Siemens PLM Software’s Parasolid Customer location software. He cites several observations technology that was not invented by Beaumont, Texas from his research that ultimately led to the SolidWorks. It (SolidWorks) has run into a United States Solid Edge license purchase: “Solid Edge dead end because they can’t use Siemens in the last three to four years has been PLM Software’s synchronous technology. working on a technological evolution Solid Edge is leading the field in direct “It will be years before while SolidWorks has been working on modeling with synchronous technology.” SolidWorks can convert into menu bar icons, shading and colors. the Catia kernel. I don’t want Everyone on this blog has been com­ Product data management leadership to stagnate for 10 years.” plaining over the last few years about Helena also had concerns about its CAD “Solid Edge in the last three SolidWorks development, direction and data management in the future with to four years has been work- why they are not fixing bugs, just interface SolidWorks. “We need a stable path for the ing on a technological stuff, etc. The kernel change is going to be next 5 to 10 years,” says Oliver. “We found evolution while SolidWorks long and painful.” that stability with Teamcenter Express and has been working on it’s expandability to full-blown Teamcenter menu bar icons, shading Oliver notes several other comparisons from Siemens PLM Software. The and colors.” that led to Helena’s switch: “There’s more SolidWorks path seemed uncertain to us.” sophistication in Solid Edge than Billy Oliver Design Engineer Helena

“When we bought SolidWorks, I thought we shouldn’t have to design this way. It’s not the way we think. When I picked up Solid Edge and synchronous technology, I got it, fast and easy.” Bob Sarrine Design Engineer Helena

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