Case Studies Whale uses Solid Edge to optimize design and cut development time

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	Whale uses Solid Edge to optimize design and cut development time

Whale uses Solid Edge to optimize design and cut development time

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization Functional Applications - Product Lifecycle Management Systems (PLM)
Applicable Industries	Construction & Infrastructure Consumer Goods Marine & Shipping
Applicable Functions	Business Operation Product Research & Development Quality Assurance
Use Cases	Digital Twin Predictive Maintenance Rapid Prototyping
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration Training
Challenge	Whale, a leading pump manufacturer, faced the challenge of designing and developing complex products under strict regulatory standards. The company needed to improve its product development cycle, which ranged from nine months to three years, depending on the complexity of the product. Gas products, in particular, required longer development times due to stringent regulations. Whale also needed to ensure that its designs were optimized for performance and strength, while maintaining clear communication with customers and protecting intellectual property. Additionally, Whale aimed to grow its business by providing design and prototyping services to other companies. Read More
About Customer	Whale is a renowned pump manufacturer with a rich history of innovation, dating back to the 1940s. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing freshwater, bilge, and waste pumps, as well as water and space heating systems. Whale serves a diverse range of markets, including leisure, domestic, and industrial sectors, with a particular focus on products for boats, caravans, and motorhomes. The company operates from sites in Bangor, Northern Ireland, and California, and is part of the Brunswick Corporation. Whale is known for its expertise in pump technology and continues to register worldwide design patents at an impressive rate. In addition to its core products, Whale offers design consultancy, 3D printing, and rapid prototyping services to other companies. Read More
Solution	Whale implemented Solid Edge software from Siemens PLM Software to enhance its design and development processes. Solid Edge provided Whale with comprehensive tools for 2D and 3D design, enabling the company to create detailed technical drawings and individual parts with confidence. The software's surfacing tools were particularly useful for modeling complex forms, while its simulation capabilities allowed Whale to conduct stress analysis and performance testing. By integrating Solid Edge with Femap, Whale could perform advanced finite element modeling when necessary. The use of Solid Edge also facilitated clear communication with customers, partners, and suppliers, as design data could be easily shared and rendered into photorealistic images using KeyShot. This integration supported marketing efforts and protected Whale's intellectual property by allowing the company to send simplified models without revealing internal design data. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization

Functional Applications - Product Lifecycle Management Systems (PLM)

Applicable Industries

Construction & Infrastructure

Consumer Goods

Marine & Shipping

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Product Research & Development

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Digital Twin

Predictive Maintenance

Rapid Prototyping

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Training

Challenge

Whale, a leading pump manufacturer, faced the challenge of designing and developing complex products under strict regulatory standards. The company needed to improve its product development cycle, which ranged from nine months to three years, depending on the complexity of the product. Gas products, in particular, required longer development times due to stringent regulations. Whale also needed to ensure that its designs were optimized for performance and strength, while maintaining clear communication with customers and protecting intellectual property. Additionally, Whale aimed to grow its business by providing design and prototyping services to other companies.

About Customer

Whale is a renowned pump manufacturer with a rich history of innovation, dating back to the 1940s. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing freshwater, bilge, and waste pumps, as well as water and space heating systems. Whale serves a diverse range of markets, including leisure, domestic, and industrial sectors, with a particular focus on products for boats, caravans, and motorhomes. The company operates from sites in Bangor, Northern Ireland, and California, and is part of the Brunswick Corporation. Whale is known for its expertise in pump technology and continues to register worldwide design patents at an impressive rate. In addition to its core products, Whale offers design consultancy, 3D printing, and rapid prototyping services to other companies.

Solution

Whale implemented Solid Edge software from Siemens PLM Software to enhance its design and development processes. Solid Edge provided Whale with comprehensive tools for 2D and 3D design, enabling the company to create detailed technical drawings and individual parts with confidence. The software's surfacing tools were particularly useful for modeling complex forms, while its simulation capabilities allowed Whale to conduct stress analysis and performance testing. By integrating Solid Edge with Femap, Whale could perform advanced finite element modeling when necessary. The use of Solid Edge also facilitated clear communication with customers, partners, and suppliers, as design data could be easily shared and rendered into photorealistic images using KeyShot. This integration supported marketing efforts and protected Whale's intellectual property by allowing the company to send simplified models without revealing internal design data.

Impact #1	Whale significantly reduced its product development time by leveraging Solid Edge's capabilities. The design process for complex products, which previously took 12 to 14 months, was cut down to just four months. This efficiency was achieved through rapid prototyping and iterative design processes, supported by Solid Edge and 3D printing technology.
Impact #2	The use of Solid Edge enabled Whale to optimize its designs early in the development process, minimizing the need for extensive physical testing and setup of test rigs. This approach allowed the company to quickly identify and implement necessary design changes, improving overall product quality and performance.
Impact #3	Whale's ability to generate lifelike images for presentations and marketing materials was enhanced by the integration of Solid Edge with KeyShot. This capability improved communication with customers and supported the company's marketing efforts.

Impact #1

Whale significantly reduced its product development time by leveraging Solid Edge's capabilities. The design process for complex products, which previously took 12 to 14 months, was cut down to just four months. This efficiency was achieved through rapid prototyping and iterative design processes, supported by Solid Edge and 3D printing technology.

Impact #2

The use of Solid Edge enabled Whale to optimize its designs early in the development process, minimizing the need for extensive physical testing and setup of test rigs. This approach allowed the company to quickly identify and implement necessary design changes, improving overall product quality and performance.

Impact #3

Whale's ability to generate lifelike images for presentations and marketing materials was enhanced by the integration of Solid Edge with KeyShot. This capability improved communication with customers and supported the company's marketing efforts.

Benefit #1	Product development time was reduced by 20 percent on average.
Benefit #2	Design time for complex products was cut from 12 months to four months.
Benefit #3	Time-to-market for new products was sped up by an average of 20 percent.

Benefit #1

Product development time was reduced by 20 percent on average.

Benefit #2

Design time for complex products was cut from 12 months to four months.

Benefit #3

Time-to-market for new products was sped up by an average of 20 percent.

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Overview

Whale uses Solid Edge to optimize design and cut development time

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit