Creator of Award-Winning Food Processing Machine Recognized for February 2006
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced that Planet Products, an innovative
manufacturer of food processing and automation machinery, was named Autodesk's
Inventor of the Month for February 2006. The program recognizes the most
innovative design and engineering advancements made by the extensive community
of customers using Autodesk Inventor software, the world's best-selling 3D
mechanical design software and best choice for AutoCAD software users.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050415/SFF034LOGO )
Recognized around the world for innovation in precision equipment design,
Planet Products used Autodesk Inventor software to develop the SP3 Next
Generation Loader -- a machine that places hot dogs into packaging. The SP3
was developed in response to customer demand for smaller machines with fewer
parts. The ability to easily disassemble and clean the machinery was of
paramount importance, given the stringent sanitation demands of the food
industry. Working with IMAGINiT Technologies, a leading provider of
CAD/CAM/CAE solutions to the manufacturing industry, Planet Products relied on
the 3D environment and sophisticated automation in Autodesk Inventor to test
out new ideas and come up with a fresh design that would set the industry
standard.
"The depth of detail captured in Autodesk Inventor 3D models makes it
dramatically easier to eliminate quality problems and costly delays,
ultimately enabling us to design smaller machines," said Bill Harrison, the
manager of engineering and R & D for Planet Products, and part of the team
responsible for designing the SP3. "With Autodesk Inventor, I had the ability
to do a virtual fly-through of the 3D model and zoom right into the middle of
the assembly. Having that perspective is tremendously helpful, particularly in
helping to remove interferences."
Thanks to Autodesk Inventor, the SP3 now has 50% fewer total components
and the least amount of surface area of any available hotdog unscrambling or
collating system. This comes in conjunction with the added ability to
disassemble the entire unit for cleaning in minutes without tools,
significantly improving sanitation. The SP3's combination of high performance
and hygienic design means that a steady flow of clean, safe franks are
available for the "dog days" of summer, when Americans consume 7 million hot
dogs.
"Planet Products' work with Autodesk Inventor is impressive, allowing them
to create a product that raises the bar for speed, performance and sanitation
within their industry," said Robert "Buzz" Kross, vice president of Autodesk
Manufacturing Solutions Division. "It is a pleasure to name them as our
February Inventor of the Month."
To view a model of the SP3 Next Generation Loader, please visit
www.autodesk.com/inventorofthemonth
Each month, Autodesk selects an Inventor of the Month from the more than
500,000 worldwide Autodesk Inventor users. Winners are chosen for engineering
excellence and groundbreaking innovation that changes the way we live, work,
or play. For more information on the Autodesk Inventor of the Month program,
contact us at IOM@autodesk.com.
About Planet Products
Planet Products has been recognized around the globe for ground-breaking
machine design. For more than 50 years, Planet Products has been an innovator
in precision equipment design. As an international supplier of equipment for
packaging processed meats and ready-to-eat foods, the company's outstanding
sanitary designs have been recognized and honored. The American Meat
Institute's 2004 Supplier of the Year, the equipment supplier was selected for
significant contributions to the meat and poultry industry. For more
information on Planet Products, visit: www.planet-products.com.
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is wholly focused on ensuring that great ideas are turned
into reality. With seven million users, Autodesk is the world's leading
software and services company for the building, manufacturing, infrastructure,
digital media and wireless data services fields. Autodesk's solutions help
customers create, manage and share their data and digital assets more
effectively. As a result, customers turn ideas into competitive advantage by
becoming more productive, streamlining project efficiency and maximizing
profits.
Founded in 1982, Autodesk is headquartered in San Rafael, California. For
additional information about Autodesk, please visit www.autodesk.com.
NOTE: Autodesk and Autodesk Inventor are registered trademarks of
Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names,
product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
Contact: Jeannie Hornung, 415-318-4118
Email: hornungj@fleishman.com
SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.
CONTACT:
Jeannie Hornung for Autodesk, Inc.,
+1-415-318-4118,
or
hornungj@fleishman.com.
Web site: http://www.autodesk.com
(ADSK)
