CATIA helps K-Challenge innovate design

by K-Challenge Media on 9 Jul 2008 Dassault Systèmes, a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced that it has renewed its R&D partnership with K-Challenge, providing the America's Cup team with CATIA virtual design solutions to help them prepare for the 34th America's Cup. K-Challenge will use CATIA to design and optimize its hull drawing as well as the boat's structure.

The yachting industry is a fast growing, competitive market undergoing profound changes from craftsmanship towards more industrial processes. Some of the most famous yacht designers, naval architects, small/large yacht shipyards and suppliers across the globe are using Dassault Systèmes solutions based on CATIA.

'The value of CATIA lies in its ability to provide a seamless flow of information and integrate all the disciplines throughout the design process all the way to manufacturing, in particular for the definition, calculation, optimization and manufacturing of composite structures, as well as the integration of the naval 'design spiral' and advanced hydrostatic calculations,' explains Dimitri Nicolopoulos, technical director for K-Challenge. 'It is the early development of these tools and methodologies that will really enable us to move much faster once the measurement rules are set. I'm delighted to continue working with Dassault Systèmes. Their support is a true added value for our work, and it confirms our strategy to prepare all our tools upstream.'

'By renewing its partnership with K-Challenge for the next America's Cup, Dassault Systèmes confirms its support to K-Challenge's design innovation,' says Laurent Couillard, vice president PLM value channel, Dassault Systèmes. 'The preliminary design phase should allow the development of new methods for the definition and optimization of the hull. Dassault Systèmes will contribute actively to this stage, drawing on its powerful collaborative design technologies and expertise in cutting-edge industry sectors.'

Dassault Systèmes provides yacht professionals from small and large yacht builders to naval architects and subcontractors with packages dedicated to their specific line of business. These solutions address the associated processes with the right styling, hull design integrating hydrostatic calculations, structure, and composite design products, industry methodologies and best practices.

For more information: http://www.3ds.com/catiaforyacht