University of Delaware Purchases FiberSIM® Software
VISTAGY software for design of composite parts selected by the well-regarded Center for Composite Materials
WALTHAM, Mass., April 26, 2004 — VISTAGY, Inc., the leading developer of computer-aided-design (CAD) integrated software for composite design and manufacturing, announces the sale of FiberSIM‚ software to the University of Delaware (Newark, Del.). Researchers at Delaware’s prestigious Center for Composite Materials will use the software and other tools to design durable, cost-effective composite parts in collaboration with military and industrial partners.
The Center for Composite Materials was founded in 1974 to conduct academic and applied research into composites in conjunction with industry. Today the Center includes a research consortium with over 40 member companies and 250 affiliated researchers. The Center is internationally recognized for its contributions to composites manufacturing.
Among current projects, Center researchers are designing and evaluating composite replacement parts for the existing U.S. Army fleet of wheeled tactical support vehicles. A Department of Defense Center of Excellence funded by the Army supports this research. Design work focuses on exploring the potential for replacing sheet metal body parts of these vehicles with corrosion-resistant, lightweight, durable composites. FiberSIM software will support this research by giving engineers and technicians the means to document composite designs, simulate ply lay-up, assess producibility and manufacturing quality, and automate processes.
"Over the course of our 30-year history, we have watched the application of composites increase," says Stephen Andersen, research associate at the Center for Composite Materials. “During that time we have provided our partners with the best and most up-to-date software, hardware, and knowledge to create and improve their products. FiberSIM is an excellent addition to our expertise and capabilities.”
"The University of Delaware's Center for Composite Materials is an important resource because it serves as a valuable bridge between research and real-world application," says Steve Luby, president and CEO of VISTAGY. "The Center exposes composites engineers to best-in-class technologies so they can carry innovation into the marketplace."
About The Center for Composite Materials
Founded in 1974 within the University of Delaware's College of Engineering, the Center for Composite Materials (CCM) is an internationally recognized, interdisciplinary center of excellence for composites research and education. Its 34,000-square-foot Composites Manufacturing Science Laboratory houses some $8 million worth of composites manufacturing, characterization, testing, and computational equipment used by students, faculty, staff, visiting scholars, and industrial and Army interns from both the United States and abroad. CCM currently hosts three Department of Defense Centers of Excellence, funded by the Office of Naval Research and the Army Research Laboratory and focusing on intelligent processing, multifunctional materials, and mechanics, design, and performance of multifunctional composites.
CCM is supported by a variety of funding sources, including the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, the Army Research Office, the Office of Naval Research, industry (more than 100 companies representing materials suppliers and end users in the aerospace, automotive, civil engineering, and durable goods industries), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the National Academy of Science, the National Science Foundation, and the State of Delaware.
About FiberSIM®
FiberSIM® is a suite of software that turns major CAD systems into advanced tools for designing and manufacturing composite parts. The software enables engineers to create a complete digital product definition of a composite part within their 3D modeling environment. FiberSIM tools automate design and analysis and generate manufacturing information including documentation, flat patterns, and data to drive laser projectors, automated cutters and fiber placement machines. FiberSIM uses XML technology to share composites data with people and applications throughout the enterprise, such as software for procurement, quality assurance, cost modeling and manufacturing.
About VISTAGY, Inc.
VISTAGY, Inc., founded in 1991, develops software that is tightly integrated with popular CAD systems to create specialized engineering environments. VISTAGY software enables engineers to increase productivity, improve the communication of product information, and allow better-informed decision-making early in design. VISTAGY software is used throughout the world in the aerospace, automotive, marine, medical, and sporting goods industries. The company also offers training and consulting services. For more information, contact VISTAGY in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA, at +1.781.290.0506 x 300 or visit www.vistagy.com.
