Re-Tech Engineering Ltd of Bury St.Edmunds design and manufacture waste handling equipment. With the majority of Re-Tech equipment being bespoke products that are large in size using many components, Re-Tech needed to use more advanced 3D software rather than the outdated 2D system.

Re-Tech also needed a product that would provide customers with a 3D model and dimensional drawing(s), which they could review, showing what the finished product would look like, how much space it would need and its position within their building.

Re-Tech also wanted a product that would assist in marketing, plus reduce time and costs during the design and manufacture stages. Because of time constraints, it also needed to be quick to learn and easy to use.

After evaluating several other products, Re-Tech chose SolidWorks from Innova Systems, who were able to clearly show that SolidWorks would meet all requirements. Even at this initial stage Re-Tech could see advantages that would improve the design and manufacturing process, which hadn't been considered.

"We are now able to e-mail 3D models and 2D drawings to our customers very quickly using 'eDrawings'. Not all customers are trained engineers and fully understand complex 2D drawings, but being able to view and rotate the model clarifies all details for the customer.

We can quickly model parts and assemblies, showing personnel such as the machinists, fitters and MD the design intent. This allows input from others, which enables any modification to be low cost at this early stage, rather than well into manufacture, which can have far higher cost implications." said Steve White, Designer at Re-Tech Engineering.

The benefits
Design time has now been reduced by 50%, freeing up many weeks of valuable time for other projects and tasks. Complex large assemblies are now designed confident in the knowledge that all the parts will mate perfectly first time, eliminating the need for prototyping in most cases. Reduced scrap and assembly time also add to the cost effectiveness of SolidWorks.

"I believe SolidWorks to be the 'Total Solution' for our needs. Marketing, sales, design and manufacture have all benefited from its vast and varied abilities. Innova Systems have provided impeccable service, from the initial sales demonstration to the expert support service they still provide," said Keith Atkins - Managing Director at Re-Tech