Weir pumps slashing development times in half

Weir Pumps says it expects to cut product design and delivery time in half and reduce production errors as a result of using 3D mechanical design CAD/CAM software to facilitate collaboration between departments. The firm, one of world’s largest industrial pump manufacturers, is replacing its 2D software with SolidWorks 3D as part of a project to streamline engineering integration in what is a demanding environment. The firm serves industries from oil and gas in the North Sea, to wastewater treatment plants in the Middle East, and power plants around the globe, so engineering standards are high and variety and operations widespread. It’s already going well, says Nick Muntz, Weir engineering director. “SolidWorks has helped us identify and rectify potential design problems before we get to the manufacturing stage because our engineering teams can collaborate.” He says it’s already helping with its ‘right the first time’ initiative and pulling production of new products forward. “That’s a significant advantage in a fiercely competitive global market,” he observes. Weir initially deployed 12 CAD licenses, then expanded to 33, and is to move up to around 40 soon. The company receives ongoing software, implementation, training, and support from SolidWorks’ reseller NT CADCAM.