Innovative Thermal imaging company increases sales, reduces development time and costs, and designs better products with the help of 3D SolidWorks software
Cambridge based company Thermoteknix www.thermoteknix.com has much to celebrate in its 25th Anniversary. Fresh from the Cambridge Evening News Business Excellence awards for Innovation, Thermoteknix has now received the highly prestigious Queens award for Enterprise in the Innovation Category.
The Award recognises Thermoteknix for developing the MIRICLE range of high performance, ultra miniature thermal imaging cameras. Utilising complex electronics and packaging, the cameras are used in many moving target or camera applications. The range includes hermetically-sealed units for use in space exploration, hand-held imagers, surveillance cameras, cameras for unmanned vehicles and the world’s first shutter less thermal imaging camera. Using proprietary algorithms and control circuits the need for heating/cooling systems used in infrared cameras has been eliminated thus manufacturing costs and power consumption have been reduced and operational temperatures extended.
These awards are the latest in a series of accolades the company has received recently. In October 2007 Thermoteknix was named Innovative Company of the Year at the iDEA (Innovation and Design Excellence) Awards followed soon after by runner-up in the IET (Institution of Electrical Engineers and Technologists) Innovation in Engineering Awards.
SolidWorks has played a crucial part in the company’s success, being used to produce variants for its customers’ in aerospace, defence, surveillance and industrial applications. It could be matching different lens or electronics combinations or a more significant customisation to fit the customer’s metalwork. The result can then be sent to the customer in 3D format enabling a rapid visualisation and incorporation into the customers design.
Since our introduction of SolidWorks four years ago, we have seen many benefits said Senior Mechanical Designer Ben Pemberton . The improved 3D visualisation has helped to involve other parts of the business such as Sales and Marketing, early in the design process, so we can be confident that designs will be right first time. We know that rectifying changes late in the design process will add cost and time to our tight development cycles. We also utilise the powerful E Drawings capability to send design information to our suppliers and customers which helps to clarify exactly what we need and minimizes the opportunity for errors.
We can send Solidworks 3D files direct to subcontractors and one machine shop can program their CNC Machines directly from our SolidWorks 3D models saving cost and improving lead time. We can easily obtain 3D information such as Connectors and Lens information from suppliers in 3D formats which we can readily incorporate into our designs.
Another downstream benefit is the use of 3D Images in promotional materials such in Company brochures together with exploded assembly views helping to produce Installation manuals and supporting documentation.
“Getting our product from Concept through development and into production in the shortest time cycle has been critical for the development and growth of our business” Said Dr. Richard Salisbury, founder and Managing Director of Thermoteknix Systems Ltd
"We are delighted to see the success of Thermoteknix" said Mark Bradford, Managing Director of Innova Systems. Thermoteknix are proof that to be successful in rapidly changing face of manufacturing, you have to continue to design and develop new innovative products to maintain competitive advantage.
About Innova Systems
Innova is the leading UK distributor of Solidworks, an advanced 3D Mechanical CAD system that enables engineers to rapidly develop and refine ideas to create innovative products. By combining SolidWorks with Innova Systems’ expertise, training facilities and commitment to support customers, Innova is helping companies across the UK to significantly change and improve the way new products are created. SolidWorks® is a registered trademark owned by the SolidWorks Corporation
Contact:
Innova Systems Contact: Mark Bradford
Tel : +44 (0)1223 200 690
E-mail : Mark@innova-systems.co.uk
Media Contact: Richard Blackburn, Energi Technical Limited
Tel: +44 (0)1603 278228
e-mail: richard@energi-tech.co.uk
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