Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Noran Engineering Becomes UGS Channel Partner
(Noran Engineering) announced last week that it is expanding its business relationship with UGS by becoming a UGS Channel Partner. The change means Noran Engineering will market, sell, distribute, support and service the UGS portfolio of engineering software used for analysis and simulation. NEi previously distributed UGS' Femap software through an OEM agreement under the brand name NEiModeler.

"The FEA industry is experiencing fundamental business changes," said Dave Weinberg, CEO of Noran Engineering. "Customers want to know that they are choosing suppliers committed to software platforms, technical support and training that will keep them at the technological forefront in a globally competitive environment."

"The agreement reflects our understanding that in today's business environment it takes a strong, well-coordinated team of technologically savvy, dedicated and innovative partners like Noran Engineering to provide our customers with superior simulation tools and responsive support," said Jason Watkins, UGS vice-president of Americas Channels.

source : www.management.cadalyst.com

Synergis EDS Training Helps James R. Holley & Associates Streamline Processes From Days to Hours

QUAKERTOWN, Pa., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Synergis Engineering Design Solutions (EDS), a division of Synergis Technologies, Inc., announced today that James R. Holley & Associates, Inc., a full service Pennsylvania civil engineering firm serving residential, industrial and commercial land developers, chose Synergis EDS for training and support for Autodesk Civil 3D software. This helped the company transition from Autodesk Land Desktop to Autodesk Civil 3D software to stay at the forefront of technology and streamline processes, dramatically reducing the time to complete key tasks from days to just hours.

"The sheer time savings we realized by moving to Civil 3D from Land Desktop was remarkable," said Rick Graham, CAD manager, James R. Holley & Associates, Inc. "The customized training done at our site was great and was a perfect introduction to the software. We're still early in our pilot project phase and we've already experienced productivity increases and streamlined engineering processes. We know there are even more benefits to come."

James R. Holley & Associates is a repeat customer, looking to Synergis EDS for all of its Autodesk design software purchase and training needs. "Our experience with Synergis has been positive. The enthusiasm of their staff is infectious. They sincerely enjoy passing their knowledge onto us and have genuine concern for our company's success," said Graham. "The level of support we presently have with Synergis is invaluable to me. And, our success as a company would not be complete without assistance from Synergis Technologies."

Before formal training, the designers at J.R. Holley made due with help files, tutorials and other online resources. "Since our training session, there is solid Civil 3D understanding among the engineers and a strong level of confidence in their ability to manipulate the software to their advantage. With this new proficiency, the company is seeing great improvements in their capabilities, productivity and success," said Bill Frederick, the Synergis solutions engineer and Autodesk Civil 3D implementation certified expert who lead J.R. Holley and Associates' training.

Synergis EDS hosts learning events throughout the year to help companies better understand how to maximize their Autodesk investment through education and customized programs. The company boasts a pedigreed group of software and industry experts who teach classes. Classes are purposely small with up to eight students enrolled to ensure personal attention and can be held onsite at a host company or Synergis facilities.

About Synergis Engineering Design Solutions

Synergis' Engineering Design Solutions, an independent division of Synergis(R) Technologies, Inc., is a leading Autodesk(R) Value Added Reseller for Manufacturing, Infrastructure, and Building Solutions in the Mid-Atlantic region. Headquartered in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, it is also recognized as an Autodesk(R) Premier Solutions Provider (PSP), Manufacturing Specialist, Autodesk's highest level of authorization. The Engineering Design Solutions Division provides companies in Manufacturing, Government, AEC, and related industries the best quality Autodesk software, training, professional services, and support to ensure their maximum productivity, competitive business advantage, and return on investment. As an Autodesk(R) Authorized Training Center, Synergis provides onsite customized and classroom training at five convenient locations, taught by Autodesk Certified Experts. For more information on the Engineering Design Solutions Division, visit http://www.synergis.com/ or call 800-836-5440.

All products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Synergis Engineering Design Solutions

CONTACT: Sheri Sargent, of Synergis Engineering Design Solutions,
+1-215-529-9900 x102, Sheri.sargent@synergis.com; or Cindi Goodsell, Public
Relations, +1-510-479-9015, goodsell@peoplepc.com, for Synergis Engineering
Design Solutions

Web site: http://www.synergis-adept.com

SolidWorks Corporation Announces 1,000 Additional Software Grants for Stem Teachers


3D CAD software goes to instructors promoting science, technology, engineering, and math

CONCORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SolidWorks Corporation today announced it would grant as many as 1,000 new licenses of SolidWorks® Student Edition 3D CAD software to individual U.S. educators dedicated to improving students science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills.

The SolidWorks-STEM Educators II grant is the second consecutive year of the initiative and includes training and lesson plans to help teachers and faculty from elementary school through college integrate the four separate disciplines for more effective education.

3D CAD software is a perfect storm of science, technology, engineering, and math, and it brings these disciplines home in a vivid, interactive way that nails the question, how is this relevant? said Herbert Crosby, professor of mechanical engineering technology at the University of Maine. Crosby was among the first educators to secure a SolidWorks STEM grant and create a course using SolidWorks software to strengthen STEM instruction.

CAD software is adept at conveying 2D and 3D geometry concepts to younger students and illustrating algebra and physics principles in later years. Teachers can apply these topics in a wide range of engineering projects for example, designing small-scale cars or simulating the effects of design changes on air flow.

With backing by the National Science Foundation (NSF), STEM is an emerging movement in American education aimed at improving technological literacy and global competitiveness. STEM addresses warning signs found in numerous studies showing the United States falling behind in engineering graduation rates and math/science proficiency.

3D CAD brings science, technology, engineering, and math together in a dramatic and effective way that foreshadows how students can apply their skills in high-paying careers, said Marie Planchard, director of education at SolidWorks Corporation. STEM education with SolidWorks gives students the ability to compete in a global engineering design world.

The SolidWorks-STEM Educators II grant includes:

  • One copy of SolidWorks Student Edition software;
  • SolidWorks Education Edition curriculum and courseware CD for instructors;
  • A self-paced online course that demonstrates ways educators can incorporate 3D geometry with STEM concepts;
  • 20 hours of step-by-step tutorials;
  • Access to the SolidWorks Teacher Community Web site at http://blogs.solidworks.com/teacher;
  • Monthly online SolidWorks-STEM symposia focusing on new approaches to math (including algebra and geometry), biology, chemistry, physics, art, and economics;
  • Opportunity to become certified as a Certified SolidWorks Associate; and
  • Opportunity to accredit ones institution as a Certified SolidWorks Associate Exam Provider.

After completing the online course, teachers must demonstrate their competency by producing a short STEM lesson for the classroom that will be shared on the SolidWorks Teacher Community Web site. SolidWorks will then provide an electronic certificate to the teacher documenting 30 hours of professional development work.

Teachers that receive a certificate are eligible for additional advanced online training classes preparing them for the Certified SolidWorks Associate (CSWA) Exam. Primarily for students, the CSWA Exam is a comprehensive assessment that measures competencies in 3D CAD modeling technology, engineering principles, standards, and industry practices. It helps educators gauge individual student progress as well as curricula effectiveness. The CSWA certification gives

manufacturing companies and design firms tangible proof of competency as students enter the job market. When a grant recipient passes the exam, the institution becomes eligible to become a CSWA Provider. The CSWA Exam is available in the following languages: English, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese.

How to apply

Teachers must apply for SolidWorks-STEM Educators II grants by May 30, 2007 at www.solidworks.com/stemgrant. Grants will be awarded in May and June 2007, and assignments must be completed during the summer of 2007. For more information, listen to a podcast on the SolidWorks-STEM Educators grant at http://www.solidworks.com/mediapodcast.

About SolidWorks Corporation

SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systรจmes S.A. (Nasdaq: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) company, develops and markets software for design, analysis, and product data management. It is the leading supplier of 3D CAD technology, giving teams intuitive, high-performing software that helps them design better products. For the latest news, information, or an online demonstration, visit the companys Web site (www.solidworks.com) or call 1-800-693-9000 (outside of North America, call +1-978-371-5000).

Noran Engineering and UGS Corporation Expand Business Relationship ...
Designer Today (press release), GA - Apr 9, 2007
The change means NEi will mark et, sell, distribute, support, and service UGS ’ portfolio of engineering software used for computer aided analysis and ...

Autodesk Introduces Free Design Review 2008, Freewheel Web Service
IT News Online Staff
2007-04-10

Autodesk Inc. announced that Autodesk Design Review 2008, its review, mark-up and design collaboration software, is now available worldwide for download free of charge. The company also released its free Autodesk Freewheel on-demand Web service that enables CAD teams to view and print designs within a Web browser, without installing any software.

For design professionals who work in the manufacturing, geospatial and AEC industries, the company said these solutions strengthen their ability to share and communicate design comments from non-CAD reviewers-digitally and globally. Tight integration of Design Review and Freewheel with AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor and Revit software products provides an easy-to-use, seamless solution for Autodesk customers collaborating in both 2D and 3D


Autodesk Design Review 2008 is a free download, available today in English, Chinese Simplified and Traditional, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish and Portuguese at www.autodesk.com/designreview-download. Autodesk Freewheel Web service is also available free of charge in English at freewheel.autodesk.com. AutoCAD 2008 DWFx Driver is a utility download available at www.autodesk.com/autocad in the utilities and drivers section.